Comments on: The Modern Maccabees and the Hand of God http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/ Previously On the Face Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:25:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Edgar http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2712 Edgar Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:56:03 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2712 tsedek - If you go to a souk in any town in Syria, Lebanon or the Palestinian territories and ask a few ordinary, working-class people what they think about Israel you will find almost unanimous dislike, if not hatred. There are small pockets of neutral or even pro-Israel sentiment in these countries, but these are very small. I'm sure you can find 10,000 people in Syria--plenty of PEOPLE you can contact DIRECTLY-- that like Israelis or want to meet them. But the vast majority don't. It's depressing to realize this, and I understand why people want to believe the hatred is a really an illusion, but it's very real. No point closing your eyes to it. On the whole, these are hostile countries, both in terms of government policy and popular opinion. tsedek -

If you go to a souk in any town in Syria, Lebanon or the Palestinian territories and ask a few ordinary, working-class people what they think about Israel you will find almost unanimous dislike, if not hatred.

There are small pockets of neutral or even pro-Israel sentiment in these countries, but these are very small. I’m sure you can find 10,000 people in Syria–plenty of PEOPLE you can contact DIRECTLY– that like Israelis or want to meet them. But the vast majority don’t.

It’s depressing to realize this, and I understand why people want to believe the hatred is a really an illusion, but it’s very real. No point closing your eyes to it.

On the whole, these are hostile countries, both in terms of government policy and popular opinion.

]]> By: tsedek http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2718 tsedek Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:52:06 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2718 Edgar, you know why? Because since I got to be in DIRECT contact with so many Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian PEOPLE, I found so little "hostility" - at least so little more than the description 'country' generalizes them under. Do you understand? Edgar, you know why? Because since I got to be in DIRECT contact with so many Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian PEOPLE, I found so little “hostility” – at least so little more than the description ‘country’ generalizes them under.

Do you understand?

]]> By: lisagoldman http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2725 lisagoldman Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:47:08 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2725 Debra, thank you so much. Everything is fine - really! - but I'm happy to hear from you no matter what the reason. Debra, thank you so much. Everything is fine – really! – but I’m happy to hear from you no matter what the reason.

]]> By: Rabbi Landsberg http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2719 Rabbi Landsberg Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:36:15 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2719 We read the Haaretz article like others. Hope you are ok. We just wanted to let you know howe much your writing means to many folk so far away. We read the Haaretz article like others. Hope you are ok. We just wanted to let you know howe much your writing means to many folk so far away.

]]> By: Edgar http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2720 Edgar Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:38:59 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2720 tsedek - Why did you put quote marks around `hostile'? I'd say Syria and Lebanon are pretty hostile as countries go, with the majority of the population strongly disliking Israel, and the rest wanting to erase it from the face of the earth. tsedek -

Why did you put quote marks around `hostile’?

I’d say Syria and Lebanon are pretty hostile as countries go, with the majority of the population strongly disliking Israel, and the rest wanting to erase it from the face of the earth.

]]> By: Anon http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2727 Anon Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:59:04 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2727 Xaun. Yes, it's politics. Israel cannot participate in Asian sporting events because Arab/Muslim countries don't acknowledge the state. As there is a considerable number of countries who participate with that criteria, it's not going to change anytime soon. The Iranians tried carrying this politics over in the last Olympics when their judo athlete refused to compete against the Israeli one. It's ridiculous. I certainly don't believe this type of nonsense should be carried over in apolitical events. Xaun. Yes, it’s politics. Israel cannot participate in Asian sporting events because Arab/Muslim countries don’t acknowledge the state. As there is a considerable number of countries who participate with that criteria, it’s not going to change anytime soon. The Iranians tried carrying this politics over in the last Olympics when their judo athlete refused to compete against the Israeli one. It’s ridiculous. I certainly don’t believe this type of nonsense should be carried over in apolitical events.

]]> By: Xaun http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2726 Xaun Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:51:08 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2726 I always wonder why do Israeli teams or singers take part in (and why are they invited to) EUROPEAN competitions such as UEFA, Euroleague and Eurovision? Israel is not in Europe, but in Asia! Aye, the Asian part of the so called "Middle East". (Middle East of what?) Has anyone a reasonable explanation? Aye, it must be politics... I always wonder why do Israeli teams or singers take part in (and why are they invited to) EUROPEAN competitions such as UEFA, Euroleague and Eurovision?

Israel is not in Europe, but in Asia! Aye, the Asian part of the so called “Middle East”. (Middle East of what?)

Has anyone a reasonable explanation? Aye, it must be politics…

]]> By: tsedek http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2724 tsedek Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:03:39 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2724 Lisa, I just heard on the radio that everyone who has been to 'hostile' countries is going to be persecuted. Did you hear anything about this? Lisa, I just heard on the radio that everyone who has been to ‘hostile’ countries is going to be persecuted. Did you hear anything about this?

]]> By: katherine http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2723 katherine Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:05:04 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2723 Are they really 800 calories? Tell me you're just jerking our chains. Good thing I have not had any yet, though am waiting to pig out on my husband's grandmother's ones. Last year I think I ate 4 in one go. Ouch! Are they really 800 calories? Tell me you’re just jerking our chains. Good thing I have not had any yet, though am waiting to pig out on my husband’s grandmother’s ones. Last year I think I ate 4 in one go. Ouch!

]]> By: Yaeli http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-2722 Yaeli Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:37:49 +0000 http://lisagoldman.net/2007/12/05/the-modern-maccabees-and-the-hand-of-god/#comment-2722 Yo Lisa what the hell?? I just read the article in Ha'aretz and nearly fell over. What the hell are they doing?! Yo Lisa what the hell?? I just read the article in Ha’aretz and nearly fell over. What the hell are they doing?!

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