Make this the year of the apology

Published on September 27, 2011

In the words of Elton John, why is it that “sorry seems to be the hardest word?”

Israel hopes to mend ties with Turkey, government official says

Published on September 2, 2011

Israel will work to mend ties with Turkey, a government official said on Friday, after Ankara expelled the Israeli ambassador and suspended military agreements with the Jewish state, deepening a feud between the two former allies.

Designer Galliano denies anti-Semitism, apologizes

Published on March 2, 2011

Fashion designer John Galliano denied accusations of anti-Semitism and racism that cost him his job, but he also apologized for his behavior and "personal failure." "I must take responsibility for the circumstances in which I find myself," Galliano said in a public statement issued Wednesday, adding that he is "seeking help." The fashion house Dior announced Tuesday that it was firing its star creator after a video surfaced this week showing Galliano praising Hitler, and a second complaint of anti-Semitism was filed against him regarding events that took place last October.

Charlie Sheen demanding apology from ADL

Published on March 1, 2011

Actor Charlie Sheen is demanding an apology from the Anti-Defamation League for saying that his rant against the executive producer of his hit TV sitcom was "borderline anti-Semitism." A letter from Sheen's attorney Marty Singer demands a retraction because, it says, Sheen's only intention was to "address the man rather than his television persona," the TMZ website reported Tuesday.

Beck apologizes to Reform Jews

Published on February 25, 2011

Fox News host Glenn Beck apologized for comparing Reform Judaism to radical Islam. In an apology on his radio program Thursday, Beck said he had made "one of the worst analogies of all time" in saying on a radio show on Tuesday that, like Islamic extremists, Reform rabbis place politics ahead of religion. He delivered a special apology to Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham Foxman, who was among the Jewish leaders who slammed Beck for his comments and demanded he apologize.

The spirit of Jonathan Swift, Rotbart should apologize

Published on November 20, 2008

" . . . Rotbart wants us to feel guilt, regret and fear; the very emotions that the conservative party and our past presidential party have been trying to make us feel for years now. I'm happy to say that we voted for change, and the days of Jews being stuck in an uninformed past are over . . . "

Dear Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin: I apologize for the Jewish vote for Obama

By Dean Rotbart
Published on November 13, 2008

For now, we must leave the Lost Tribes of Obama on their own. If their ears could not hear and their eyes could not see all the pre-election warnings that a President Obama may cost Israel its very survival, and in a domino effect destabilize the Western world and America, I have yet to discover the magic words that would wake them from their trance.

Got forgiveness?

By David Suissa
Published on September 25, 2008

Most of us neglect what is arguably the most difficult and meaningful ritual at this time of year: Going to the people we've hurt, recognizing our hurtful actions and asking for their forgiveness

Rude Israeli Olympic medalist ticks off Chinese, Peres apologizes

By Alison Klayman
Published on September 15, 2008

Israel’s biggest source of pride at the Beijing 2008 Olympics became its biggest blight this past week, after bronze medal-winning windsurfer Shahar Zubari called Chinese people “sh*ts” in an interview published September 5th in Israel’s Yediot Aharanot.

Aussie Jews play key role in apology to aborigines

By Dan Goldberg
Published on February 21, 2008

In what could be described as Australia's Yom Kippur, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week expressed the one word his predecessors refused to utter to indigenous Australians: Sorry.

UCLA Hillel rabbi apologizes, settles 2003 case with woman journalist

By Gaby Friedman
Published on February 15, 2007

A UCLA Hillel rabbi accused of accosting a freelance journalist in October 2003 has sent the writer a letter of apology as part of a court settlement. Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, UCLA Hillel director, was accused by Rachel Neuwirth of verbally and physically assaulting her outside Royce Hall, on the UCLA campus, during a speech by Alan Dershowitz more than four years ago.

Michael Richards: still not a Jew

Published on November 20, 2006

As Cosmo Kramer in "Seinfeld," Richards played one on TV. But he himself is not Jewish -- not that there's anything wrong with that.Richards lashed out a heckler at the Laugh Factory last Friday, spitting out the "N" word without humor and with abandon. Audience members booed, several walked out, then Richards himself walked off stage.Fellow comedians and fans have been quick to criticize Richards -- and misrepresent his religious background.

Gibson’s Defenders Aren’t Hearing Him Right

By Michael Tolkin
Published on August 10, 2006

Let Gibson beg for chastisement, let him call and beg to be told he's been a bad boy, a very bad boy, who needs to be stripped in public and whipped. I'll never give in.

Deeds Not Words Will Reveal Real Gibson

By Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
Published on August 10, 2006

If the day ever comes when someone makes anti-Semitic attacks in the United States and the attacks enhance the person's reputation, we Jews will know we are in danger. In the 1980s, Jesse Jackson started attacking Jews and Zionism, which he called a "poisonous weed." When an African American journalist reported some of Jackson's anti-Jewish comments, Jackson felt constrained to issue an extended apology to the Jewish community and has avoided such comments since.

A Holocaust-Inspired Vegetarian

By Noam Mohr
Published on June 23, 2005

Recently, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued an apology for its Holocaust on Your Plate campaign and exhibit, which showed concentration camp images next to photos of animal abuse on factory farms. The comparison was extraordinarily tasteless, and widely condemned. PETA expressed surprise at the negative reaction, and while they should have known better, their campaign has thankfully ended.

Rabbi to Undergo Anger Management

By Marc Ballon
Published on December 25, 2003

The UCLA Hillel rabbi who allegedly lost his temper and assaulted a freelance journalist who called him a derogatory name has agreed to a recommendation that he undergo 36 hours of anger management and pen a letter of apology to his reported victim.

Unacceptable

By Michael Tolkin
Published on October 23, 2003

After The New Republic's Gregg Easterbrook wrote in his online column that Jewish executives in Hollywood "worship money above all else," he apologized.

Sorry, Cybill…

By Michael Aushenker
Published on July 5, 2001

Apology to Cybill Shepherd.

Outsiders

Published on August 5, 1999

Are we destined always to play the role of history's outsiders? I am reminded of that question after reading the story about Ignatz Bubis, 72, who is president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany (see page 12), a legislative body that represents all of Germany's Jews.

Vienna Opens

By Tom Tugend
Published on March 26, 1998

With a week-long celebration to mark theopening of the Arnold Schoenberg Center, Vienna heaped honors on theseminal composer of 20th-century music, while visibly agonizing overthe sins of its Nazi past.