August 8, 2008 | 1:09 am

The end of Hebrew?

The New York Times asks that question in an article about the Isaiah Scroll that unconvincingly argues Hebrew is vanishing faster than the American Jew:

Its revival is often hailed as one of the greatest feats of the Zionist enterprise; today Hebrew is the first language of millions of Israelis, a loquacious and literary nation that is said to publish an average of 5,500 books a year.

But in a country where self-doubt and insecurity run deep, even a linguistic triumph can be a cause for concern. After such a meteoric comeback, some worry that the common language may already be in decline, popularized to the point where many Israelis can no longer cope with the rich complexities of traditional Hebrew prose.

“There is a feeling of anxiety,” said Ruvik Rosenthal, a popular Israeli language guru and author of a best-selling dictionary of Hebrew slang.

There is the creeping foreign influence, as urban sophisticates pepper their Hebrew speech with accented English affectations like “please,” “sorry” and “whatever,” along with a noticeable loss of nuance and relative paucity of vocabulary in regular use.

Israelis can obsess about language. “We speak with mistakes,” Mr. Rosenthal said. “Everyone does, and everyone corrects everyone else.”

But he and other Hebrew watchers point to a potentially more disturbing trend: living Hebrew has moved at a fast pace, and in the process, it has become increasingly estranged from its loftier ancient form.

“We used to understand the biblical language better, and our language was closer to it,” said Ronit Gadish, academic secretary of the Academy of the Hebrew Language, the state’s supreme guardian of the national tongue. “Now, what can we do to keep up the continuity?”

In a country suffused with religious and historical symbolism, the linguistic link to the past has always evoked feelings of national identity, vindication and pride. Any erosion is bound to stir unease.

“The Bible,” said Mr. Rosenthal, “is first of all our connection to the land.”

Yes, but, in a country largely divided between the secular and the ultra-Orthodox, what about belief in the Bible?

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Tags: bible, hebrew, israel

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August 7, 2008 | 4:18 pm

Iran suspends death by stoning

The Islamic Republic of Iran continues its international PR campaign, this week announcing a temporary suspension in its policy of stoning to death adulterers and homosexuals.

Stoning the sinner is not a Quranic but an Iranian one. Though a rare form of punishment, Iranian law ensures that its particularly painful: “The stones used must be large enough to cause the condemned pain, but not sufficient to kill immediately.”

But that’s all in the past, right? Don’t believe what you’ve heard and read: Iran is really a blooming, misunderstood democracy.

Editor’s note: Please mind the sarcasm.

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Tags: iran, sharia, the law

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August 7, 2008 | 2:02 pm

Anti-semitism again rears its head in Tennessee election

Last week I mentioned the entertaining anti-Semitic fan mail I received from George Brooks, a Tennessee minister who has been circulating fliers attacking U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen as “anti-Jesus.” Cohen, as you probably guessed, is Jewish, and as Memphis’ congressional representative is the only white U.S. congressman to hail from a predominantly black district. He’s running for re-election and his opponent today’s Democratic primary is Nikki Tinker, a black attorney.

I don’t know much about either candidate, but I do know that Tinker hasn’t stayed above the fray in her campaign. Her latest ad was so objectionable that it warranted not only the condemnation of the National Jewish Democratic Council, which typical avoids primary fights, but also the criticism of Sen. Barack Obama, whose name you might as a fan favorite of African-Americans. (He’s also running for president.)

“These incendiary and personal attacks have no place in our politics,” Obama said, “and will do nothing to help the good people of Tennessee. It’s time to turn the page on a politics driven by negativity and division so that we can come together to lift up our communities and our country.”

What exactly is so offensive about Tinker’s ad? You can see for yourself in the video above; I’ve posted a summary from ABC’s politics blog after the jump:

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Tags: african americans, anti-semitism, barack obama, democrats, politics

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August 7, 2008 | 11:43 am

Angry pastor threatens to shoot other motorist

I can count on one hand the number of times my impatience with idiots on California freeways has prompted me to flip the bird out my car window. Most memorably, this occurred during college while I was driving along the 405, near my church, en route to the first day of my internship at KNBC. After I committed the oh-so-common-in-L.A. indecency, I was filled with regret—not because of what I had done but because the other driver was behind the wheel of a Mercedes and, in my naivete, I thought may have been my new boss.

I was a fool, indeed.

Reminding us that ordained ministers sometimes make even worse mistakes the people in their pews is this story from the Bible Belt Blogger:

CINCINNATI — A 71-year-old Cincinnati preacher was on his way to church when he allegedly waved a gun at another motorist and cursed at her.

The preacher, Thomas Howell, claims that the woman cut him off. Howell testified in court that he has a gun and permit but denied ever removing the weapon from its holster.

But a judge sided with the woman, who said the preacher threatened to shoot her and called her names as their cars chased each other.

Howell has been convicted of aggravated menacing. He could get up to six months in jail on the misdemeanor charge when he’s sentenced next month.

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Tags: crime, preaching, unusual

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August 7, 2008 | 10:24 am

McCain, Obama appeal to religious voters in Time

As I’ve said ad nauseam, the Christian litmus test for U.S. presidential candidates has gotten way, way, way out of control. The latest lit bit of evidence comes courtesy of Time magazine, which this week, as part of a religion-and-politics package in advance of the Aug. 16 forum at Saddleback Church that Barack Obama and John McCain will attend, runs separate first-persons under the heading “The Candidates on Faith.”

Both show pieces show the candidates’ need for religion. For the cynic like me, it is not because they want to emote some deep passion and purpose for life, but because they see its language as useful to connecting with the masses. Public policy framed loosely in the parlance of the faithful. It’s a cheap trick that I’ve used before to write about Undie Run, the Montauk Monster and UCLA basketball, among other ungodly topics.

Except for the fact it appears he’s not Muslim, Obama offers no surprises:

“I began my Christian journey over 20 years ago, as a young man fresh out of college. And since that time I’ve been serious not only about deepening my relationship with Christ but also about the way that all Americans can live together in our diverse, pluralistic society.

“I think there are some lessons that Americans from all political persuasions might learn in this regard, lessons that I take to heart each day. We have to start by remembering the role that values play in addressing some of our most urgent social problems. As I’ve said many times, the problems of poverty and war, the uninsured and the unemployed aren’t simply technical problems in search of a 10-point plan. They’re rooted in societal indifference and individual callousness — in the imperfections of man.”

As for McCain, he opens with the Good Samaritan prison guard in his POW camp and then shows that he might be interested in resurrecting the term “compassionate conservative”:

“In the life of our country, faith serves the same ends that it can serve in the life of each believer, whatever creed we might profess. It sees us through life’s trials. It instills humility, calling us to serve a cause greater than ourselves. At its best, faith reminds us of our common humanity and our essential equality by the measure that matters most.

“A living faith calls us as well to care for the most vulnerable members of society. The poor, the hungry, the stranger seeking shelter and the child waiting to be born — all are in need of our compassion and protection. Faith shows us that the weak and defenseless are not a problem but rather a priority, and a chance for us to live out the message of the Gospels.”

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Tags: barack obama, john mccain, politics, president 08

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August 6, 2008 | 11:12 pm

Russian judge: sexual harassment good for humanity

Kim Murphy has written many great articles for the Los Angeles Times. She won the Pulitzer in 2005 for her reporting on Russia during the previous year, and one story sticks in my mind unlike any other: ”Whispered in Russia: Democracy is Finished.”

That headline came to mind when I read today that a Russian female ad executive lost her sexual harassment lawsuit against her boss because the judge ruled “that employers were obliged to make passes at female staff to ensure the survival of the human race.”

Now, obviously sexual harassment claims and democracy have little to do with each other, but the judge’s indifference to the former brought to memory complaints about the latter. That and what happened to oppositional political leaders like Gary Kasparov last year. I read this article from The Telegraph after hearing on NPR this morning that the CEO of BP Russia has gone into hiding.

So, at this point I will stop burying the lede and offer the latest lunacy from Russia:

The unnamed executive, a 22-year-old from St Petersburg, had been hoping to become only the third woman in Russia’s history to bring a successful sexual harassment action against a male employer.

She alleged she had been locked out of her office after she refused to have intimate relations with her 47-year-old boss.

“He always demanded that female workers signalled to him with their eyes that they desperately wanted to be laid on the boardroom table as soon as he gave the word,” she earlier told the court. “I didn’t realise at first that he wasn’t speaking metaphorically.”

The judge said he threw out the case not through lack of evidence but because the employer had acted gallantly rather than criminally.

“If we had no sexual harassment we would have no children,” the judge ruled.

Since Soviet times, sexual harassment in Russia has become an accepted part of life in the office, work place and university lecture room.

According to a recent survey, 100 per cent of female professionals said they had been subjected to sexual harassment by their bosses, 32 per cent said they had had intercourse with them at least once and another seven per cent claimed to have been raped.

If we had no sexual harassment we would have no children. Yes, the judge assures us, seemingly inappropriate, and illegal, work situations are all part of human history, God’s divine plan manifest.

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Tags: russia, sexual harassment, the law

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August 6, 2008 | 4:15 pm

Set Free Ministries bikers charged with attempted murder

Bad news today for the Christian biker gang. Set Free Ministries. Six members, along with three members of the Hells Angeles, were arrested in a handful of raids across Southern California. The reason: A July 27 barfight in which members of Set Free allegedly stabbed two Hells Angels.

Among those arrested was Phil Aguilar, Set Free’s founder and leader. Details from the LA Times:

Aguilar’s MySpace page says he is a resident of Anaheim who is also known as the pastor or “the Chief” of the group. Next to his photo is the statement: “Sinner or Saint you be the judge!”

Authorities said the gang has a religious ministry that recruits people discharged from parole, state prison and county jail and has an outreach program for convicted felons.

“It just seems they have a lot of people that have run into law enforcement and the court system,” Schmidt said.

On its website, Set Free Soldiers describes itself as “a group of men who love Jesus and love to ride hard. We are not your normal motorcycle club. Some say we are too good for the bad guys, and too bad for the good guys.

“We don’t argue that,” the statement says. “All we Soldiers know is that we take care of our own and help plenty of others along the way. We try to live right in this wrong world and let our light shine wherever we may go.”

I met a number of the Set Free guys when I was out in San Bernardino. They hosted a weekly Bible study in Rialto that began inside Heroes and Madmen tattoo shop and had grown out onto the sidewalk. I once watched them wash each other’s feet out there as an act of humility.

They were a fellowship of Christian misfits who I thought served a really important niche, though I imagined it was one that often toed the line of lawfulness. Innocent until proven guilty, but things don’t look good today for Set Free.

After the jump is the short vignette I wrote about the group for a package about alternative Christian ministries:

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Tags: california, christianity, crime, motorcycle, set free ministries, set free soldiers

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August 6, 2008 | 2:48 pm

Muslim woman punches Christian preacher

This isn’t going to be good for anybody.

The video begins with a Muslim woman questioning a Christian street preacher about the divinity of Jesus. He insults her, and she doesn’t appear to want to hear his answer. As he tries to explain, she gets in his face and grabs for his Bible, at which point the preacher blurts: “Muhammad was a pedophile; he was a liar, a thief, a murder.”

That’s when she punches him. With pretty good right cross. It’s at the 1:30 mark on the tape.

“Don’t talk about my prophet,” the woman says as a friend drags her away. “I’ll kill you!”

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Tags: christianity, islam, muhammad, street preaching, violence

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August 6, 2008 | 1:37 pm

Jordan Farmar fulfills his mission to Israel

Basketball camp began Monday for the Israeli and Palestinian kids in Kiryat Gat. Their trainer was Jordan Farmar, former Bruin star, back-up Lakers point guard and Jewish all-star. Farmar announced last month he would make this pilgrimage, which is rooted in his interest in facilitating coexistence and will include some meetings on behalf of Seeds for Peace after basketball camp ends Aug. 11.

Farmar checks in with NBA.com with this dispatch, in which he sounds more like a dignitary on a delegation than an emissary:

“The camp is located about an hour and a half outside of Jerusalem. I worked with kids, mostly age eight through 12, of all different cultures. I saw Palestinian kids and Israeli kids, along with kids of other backgrounds, play together on the same team, do drills together, and just get along, which was real cool. Basketball is a vehicle to accomplish these things. Sometimes it’s really hard to get Israelis and Palestinians and Jordanians and Arabs in general talking. So to even get them in the same place, having fun with one another and making friends is a crucial start.

“So far, the highlight from the camp has been seeing these young people of different cultures come together, even though others around them, at home, are in conflict. In previous years, when I went to Maine, I heard how rough it was for many of the children and their families – many of which live in ghettos or tough neighborhoods. Now, I have the chance to see these areas, and witness kids of Palestinian background come together and play ball with their peers from Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem, and that’s been really gratifying.

“And I know that sports make it easier for people to unify. When I was younger I would go to the park with friends from the black side of my family, a lot of kids would say “that White Boy can play.” But once I stepped on the court, the fact that I appeared white was thrown out of the window. Basketball can bridge gaps like that, because if you play the right way you can be teammates and work together with anyone; no matter what language they speak or with which culture they identify.”

In this report and an article from the Jerusalem Post, Farmar talks a lot about how his multi-etnic background—black father, white Jewish mother, Israeli step-father—helps him relate with people of all colors and creeds. But, from the following quote, it’s not clear sports would be the solution to conflict in the Middle East:

“No matter where you live or what’s going on, people like sports. People riot for their sports teams and go out all night. It’s important for us to reach out to those who have a connection to it.”

Yeah, sports are a great way to break down barriers. But I don’t think we need any more rioting over there.

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Tags: american jews, israel, jordan farmar, sports

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August 6, 2008 | 12:25 pm

Obama’s Muslim liaison quits

More Muslim trouble for Barack Obama, whose Muslim-outreach coordinator has resigned after questions were raised about Islamic connections. From the Wall Street Journal:

Chicago lawyer Mazen Asbahi, who was appointed volunteer national coordinator for Muslim American affairs by the Obama campaign on July 26, stepped down Monday after an Internet newsletter wrote about his brief stint on the fund’s board, which also included a fundamentalist imam.

“Mr. Asbahi has informed the campaign that he no longer wishes to serve in his volunteer position, and we are in the process of searching for a new national Arab American and Muslim American outreach coordinator,” spokesman Ben LaBolt said in a statement.

A corporate lawyer at the firm of Schiff Hardin LLP, Mr. Asbahi tendered his resignation after he and the Obama campaign received emailed inquiries about his background from The Wall Street Journal. He did not respond to the email or a message left at his law office; the campaign released a letter in which Mr. Asbahi said he did not want to be a distraction.

(skip)

In 2000, Mr. Asbahi briefly served on the board of Allied Assets Advisors Fund, a Delaware-registered trust. Its other board members at the time included Jamal Said, the imam at a fundamentalist-controlled mosque in Illinois.

“I served on that board for only a few weeks before resigning as soon as I became aware of public allegations against another member of the board,” Mr. Asbahi said in his resignation letter. “Since concerns have been raised about that brief time, I am stepping down...to avoid distracting from Barack Obama’s message of change.”

The eight-year-old connection between Mr. Asbahi and Mr. Said was raised last week by the Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report, which is published by a Washington think tank and chronicles the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, a world-wide fundamentalist group based in Egypt. Other Web sites, some pro-Republican and others critical of fundamentalist Islam, also have reported on the background of Mr. Asbahi. He is a frequent speaker before several groups in the U.S. that scholars have associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

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Tags: barack obama, islam, muslim brotherhood, president 08

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August 6, 2008 | 6:53 am

With hard times ahead, nonprofit CEO salaries increased

There is plenty of economic uncertainty in the nonprofit world. But as the economy slowed in 2006 and it became clear charitable funds would soon slip, nonprofit CEOs saw their salaries increase.

Charity Navigator reports: “The top leaders of the 5,324 charities in America evaluated by Charity Navigator earn an average salary of $148,972. This represents a modest pay raise of 2.55% over the previous year studied, and is similar to last year’s pay raise of 2.34%.”

John Fishel, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, brought in $375,123, which I believe—though I should reference the tax records in my desk—was about the same as in 2005. Rabbi Marvin Hier, president and CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, received $249,215 in compensation; his wife Marlene, the center’s membership director, got $203,291.

Leading the CEOs of all charities in the field of Public Benefit was the head of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, with an ungodly compensation package of $908,927.

Just take a moment to think about how much money that is. In Cleveland.

High earners in the Christian community included executives at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association ($396,966 to Chairman Billy Graham), Trinity Broadcasting Network ($419,500 to President Paul Crouch; $361,000 to his wife, VP Janice; and $130,082 to their son, also a vice president) and Peter Popoff Ministries ($628,732 to President Peter Popoff; $203,029 to his wife, the executive business administrator, and;$182,166 to their son Nickolas)

Bored yesterday, I plugged into Charity Navigator’s database a few of the CEOs I deal with on a regular basis and was surprised to find that some made less than I thought, and certainly less than they would running a for-profit of comparable size. But their salaries remain nothing to sneeze at.

Hat tip to The Fundermentalist, who, in other nonprofit news, has a free link to the PDF of the annual “Power & Influence Top 50” just released by the NonProfit Times.

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Tags: capitalism, charity, money

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August 5, 2008 | 11:02 pm

New York bigwigs pay $10,000 for private Torah tutoring

The New York Times, in tomorrow’s paper, checks in on Aish HaTorah’s dial-a-rabbi program for the richer and even richer. It’s a good article, well written, on target and surprising as can be. (Did you know the cost for these weekly Torah studies at your home or office or home-office runs about $10,000 a year?)

Still, despite the fine reporting and a few good quotes—“I think of this as similar to my yoga class, only much, much more satisfying”—I prefer the Talk of the Town piece on this topic last fall. Like the NYT article, The New Yorker begins with Rabbi Stuart Shiff but instead of jumping around takes the reader through one meeting:

“What this program does is it blows away all the excuses,” Shiff explained recently, in one of Aish’s conference rooms in midtown. “We have almost a postal carrier’s motto: nothing stops us.” It was 9:30 A.M. on the day before Hanukkah, and Shiff—who was wearing a black velvet yarmulke—had a meeting with Seth Horowitz, the former chief executive of Everlast, the boxing-supply company (