Mark Furman JZAP (Jewish Zionist And Proud) Johannesburg
There is enough Israel bashing from the mainstream media. I don’t expect it from a Jewish community newspaper. It is supposed to be a community newspaper and not a left-wing political mouthpiece.
I take issue with Geoff Sifrin. Get rid of him. I am sure the Mail and Guardian will appreciate his viewpoints.
In his last column he calls Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely an ardent right-winger and settlement supporter. Why “ardent”? And why “ contemptuously “ criticised American Jews? Why not just right- winger? And why not just “criticised”? And what is wrong with being a right-winger or a conservative or anything else that is not left-wing liberal?
And what is wrong with being a settlement supporter? It is our land! It has been for thousands of years and we are taking it back. End of story.
And then Sifrin talks about “South African Jews who support Israel but oppose the occupation”. What occupation? There is no occupation. It is our land and at worst it is contested. Sifrin is obviously one of those who oppose the so-called occupation. He and a small number of left- wing liberals.
The vast majority of Jews do not think of it as an occupation, in spite of journalists like Sifrin spewing out the garbage that he does. He talks about “praise and criticism” for Israel. Israel gets enough criticism from Jew-hating and Israel-hating media. We don’t have to read about it in a Jewish community newspaper.
And then he talks about “struggle veterans”. Why is he not critical of this group of Israel-haters? The ANC regime is the single biggest critic of Israel outside of the Arab world. Who cares about what the group of incompetent, racist, crooks have to say about Israel?
Have you ever seen any of these self-proclaimed human rights fundis come out in support of SA Jewry or Israel? Where were they when that BFLF Jew-hater Mngxitama made those vile remarks about the Holocaust?
Have any of these so-called “struggle veterans” ever attended Yom Hashoah ceremonies? Not a chance. And by the way, as nice a guy as he was, neither did Nelson Mandela. So, who besides Sifrin and some of the left-wing Jewish apologists give a damn about these “struggle veterans” or the ANC regime or Tutu or any of Israel’s multitude of enemies and critics?
A little while back Sifrin and the SA Jewish Report made such a fuss of “ struggle icon” Ahmed Kathrada. The man hated Israel. Why give him any recognition or publicity? The same praise and attention will be given to Tutu when he dies. Another Jew-hater and “ardent” critic of Israel.
The SA Jewish Report probably mentions Nelson Mandela more times than any other newspaper I have ever read. Was Mandela Jewish? No. He was a good man. A real mensch, but not Jewish. There are so many Jewish heroes that the community and especially the youth, are not even aware of.
People like Janus Korcjak., Irena Sendler, Oskar Schindler and thousands more who sacrificed so much during the Holocaust. What about Natan Sharansky who spent nine years in soviet prisons just for being Jewish? Siberia- not Robben Island.
What about Gilad Shalit who was held for five and a half years in inhuman conditions? These are Jewish heroes. And there are many more that young Jewish kids can look up to. Sportsmen, actors, musicians. Make Jews proud.
Why not run a column on one or more of them every week? The Jewish Contribution to the 20th Century, a book by Alan Symons, has 1 000 mini biographies of Jews who have made a huge contribution to the world in medicine, sport, politics, etc. There are other similar books.
To me, every Holocaust survivor is a hero, as are the six million who were murdered in the Holocaust. Every Israeli who lives in Israel is a hero. It is people like these who have fought in numerous wars, who have lost family and friends.
It is only because of Jewish Israelis that we have a Jewish Israel. If it was up to left-wing journalists like Sifrin and his sort, there would be no Israel. And if it was up to those American Jews who were offended by Tzipi Hotovely’s remark, there would be no Israel. And just because an Israeli takes steps to ensure the safety of Israel and its Jewish citizens, it does not make them a “hard liner” or “ardent right-winger”. It makes them heroes in my eyes.
To Bibi Netanyahu and the rest of the so-called “right wingers” I say thank you and salute you. You are my heroes.
To the editor of the SA Jewish Report, I say the following: Get rid of Sifrin and replace his columns with those of someone like Ben Shapiro, a proud, conservative, frum, pro-Jewish and pro-Israeli American political commentator. Make more Jews proud to be Jews and Zionist.
nat cheiman
Dec 9, 2017 at 7:04 am
‘liberals are a problem. The issue is simple. Get rid of the palestinians and also muslims from Israel. The torah talks about a thorn in the eyes of Jews.
Once this is done, there can be no other isues such as "occupation""day of rage" intifada etc etc.
‘
David B
Dec 10, 2017 at 9:04 am
‘@Mark Furman — do you really believe that you are the only one who is right , and that everyone with a different opinion is wrong and has no right to be published ?
Free Speech seems to only exist for you and no one else. We should offer Mark the position of Editor Supreme , and then there will be no readers at all’
Choni
Dec 13, 2017 at 4:34 pm
‘Sifrin’s biggest ‘crime’ was his support of U.N. resolution 2334.
I agree with Mark. Any columnist who supports this resolution has no right of opinion in any true Jewish newspaper. It is anti-Semetic/Zionist at its strongest.’
Choni
Dec 14, 2017 at 11:55 am
‘It is one year since the passing of U.N. resolution 2334.
It is because Sifrin’s approval of this resolution that he should never be allowed write in this newspaper.
Marc, your letter is brilliant. Sifrin must go.’
Rafi Plotkin
Dec 14, 2017 at 3:46 pm
‘Despite the fact that Mark’s opinion is puerile,illogical and emotional it is a credit to the editor of this newsletter that such poppycock is published.
Geoff Sifrin is a journalist of repute and he has an enormous following.
Mark I suggest that you not only stop reading this newsletter but in addition stop writing such immature rubbish which exposes you as a troglodyte.
‘
Ann Nathan
Dec 15, 2017 at 6:54 pm
‘Geoff Sifrin is the SAJR writer I respect most. His articles are thoughtful, wise and well-written. Keep publishing his articles.’
Ann Nathan
Dec 15, 2017 at 6:56 pm
‘Geoff Sifrin is the SAJR journalist I, as well as many people I know, respect the most. His articles are unfailingly wise, thoughtful and well-written.’
Sgaron Suttner
Dec 19, 2017 at 5:29 am
‘It’s becoming increasingly clear that the world including many Arab accademics are accepting archeological evidence that Israel has always been the home of the Jewish people
Being politically correct is out and being accurate and saying it like it is in in
thank goodness for Nicky Hailey and dare I say it Donald Trump
it obviously needed a person like him to do the unthinkable to achieve world recognition for Israel as the home of the Jewish people since 3000 years ago
let Sifrin have his opinions
we live in a democracy
‘
harvey rose
Dec 21, 2017 at 4:18 pm
‘Mark I do believe that Geoff Sifrin is a proud Jew like you.He is a well respected journalist and addresses issues that are relevant and pertinent for all Jews.He is entitled to his views and to challenge us to think and debate.
It is wonderful that this Newspaper welcomes debate and a wide range of opinions,epitomized by having journalists of the calibre of Geof Sifrin.’
Jeff Hirsch
Jan 3, 2018 at 12:30 pm
‘I agree fully with the sentiments expressed by Mark Furman. These liberals are so politically correct that they would rather support the perceived underdog than support Israel.I for one don’t need to hear these opinions expressed in pro Zionist publication. I can read the Star for that. The Jewish Report should know its target market.’
M
Jan 18, 2018 at 3:09 pm
‘Natan Sharansky did not spend time in Soviet prisons just for being jewish, as claimed. He was jailed for being an activist and a thorn in the side of the authorities.’