David A. Lehrer

Some ‘Profiles in Courage’

Published on August 23, 2007

South L.A. will, hopefully, have a hospital that won't have the term "killer" in front of its name, because of the very difficult steps that have been taken over the past two weeks and the hospital is reborn. Perhaps, Turkish governmental leadership will begin to confront its dreadful past vis--vis the Armenians when they realize they can no longer successfully bully organizations to ignore history to its benefit.

L.A.‘s Jews and other minorities: oh, how we’ve danced!

Published on November 9, 2006

In Los Angeles, the most diverse city in the world, we Jews have grappled long and hard with our sense of place in America. Ultimately, having found our "place in the sun," we have forged meaningful relations with many of the communities that make up this complicated goulash.

The ‘Munich’ Concern Is Us—Not Film

Published on January 19, 2006

Were Spielberg another too-left Hollywood type who cavalierly flirted with the tough issues posed by "Munich" with no previous record of involvement or concern about Jewish matters, one might begin to fathom the nastiness of the attacks and the gratuitous personal barbs. But he comes to the movie with a distinguished, if not unparalleled, track record of achievement vis a vis the Jewish community, Israel and its image.

‘Munich’ Portrays Real World Issues

Published on December 22, 2005

In recent days, several pundits have criticized "Munich," the new film by director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner, for drawing a "moral equivalency between the Israeli assassins and their targets -- both explicitly ... and implicitly." Furthermore, they argue that it has inaccurately portrayed the Israeli avengers as morally conflicted about their mission to eliminate the perpetrators of the Munich massacre.

‘New’ Farrakhan Embodies Old Message

Published on October 20, 2005

Last weekend, the nation's capital hosted the Millions More March, a gathering commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Nation of Islam's

Million Man March. The Rev. Louis Farrakhan, the main convener of the march, led tens of thousands in a daylong marathon of blame, calls for "self-help" and extremism.

Leaders Lagging Behind Positive Trends

Published on May 6, 2004

Just the Facts

Published on September 25, 2003

Jews in America are more favorably regarded than Catholics, barely less well liked than Protestants and far more highly viewed than Evangelical Christians.

Court’s Race Rulings Raises Deeper Issues

Published on July 10, 2003

The United States Supreme Court has handed down its decisions on the issue of affirmative action. In the cases of Grutter vs. Bollinger and Gratz vs. Bollinger, the court has ruled on the constitutionality of race-conscious programs and their viability in educational institutions across the country.

The Lure of Extremism

Published on November 14, 2002

For a man who was rational, and with whom one could discuss cause and effect and the logic of doing things one way (the non-inflammatory way) as opposed to another, it always amazed me how he would invariably choose the wrong path.

Don’t Circle the Wagons

Published on July 4, 2002

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) just issued a report headlined, "Anti-Semitism on the Rise," announcing that "a strong undercurrent of Jewish hatred persists in America."