THE JEWISH VOICE AND OPINION Promoting Classical Judaism
March 2015
Vol. 28 • No. 6
Adar-Nissan 5775
Obama Said Bibi Had “Nothing New” on the Iranian Deal, but Congress Now Demands Oversight or Will Send the Deal to the Dustbin in Jan 2017 History may record Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s historic third address to a joint session of Congress—this time on the dangers of allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons capability—as a turning point in Congress’s deliberations on what President Barack Obama is allowed to offer the Iranian mullahs in exchange for a deal that, in the end, may lead to a nuclear-armed Iran and world-wide disaster.
All indications suggest that Mr. Netanyahu’s address has already served to solidify Israel’s relationship with the American Congress and public. Additionally, the speech has given notice to the President of the world’s awareness that he may be about to capitulate to the Iranians. As opposed to the situation before Mr. Netanyahu’s speech, there is now a bipartisan bloc of 64 US Senators (only three short of a veto-proof majority), which is willing to approve legislation requiring the
President to submit the Iranian agreement to Congress for approval before it is accepted. Letter to Iran On March 9, a delegation of 47 Republican Senators—nearly half the US Senate—wrote an open letter to Iran’s leaders warning them that unless Congress approves the agreement, any nuclear agreement they sign with Mr. Obama will not be valid after he leaves office in January 2017. Among the signatories
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New Israel Fund Supports Groups That Demonize the Jewish State, Its Citizens, Its Troops, and Its Leaders; Can It Still March in the Parade? When the 51st annual Is-
rael Day Parade marches up Fifth Avenue on Sunday, May 31, many of the 100,000 expected participants and 1 million spectators may be looking for something in addition to the colorful floats, marching bands, and block-long masses of singing and dancing yeshiva and day school students. This year, the question on many minds is whether the sponsoring New York UJA and Jewish
Community Relations Council (JCRC) will manage to allow a controversial group which has been accused not only of antiZionism but blatant antisemitism to march in the parade. While the NIF claims to be pro-Israel, its activities and record of financial support are far to the left of nearly every mainstream pro-Israel organization. Founded to advocate for left-wing progressive policies and fund groups whose activities support that
vision, the NIF by its own estimate has spent more than $250 million on groups who frequently demonize the Jewish state, its citizens, its soldiers, and its leaders. Critics say it now spends nearly $27 million annually (down from $37 million in 2010) on activities that harm the IDF and encourage sanctions against Israel. “Because of the alliances it has made, the NIF and its work run vastly contrary to the commonly accepted notions
of how to keep Israel strong, vibrant, democratic, and Jewish,” said Juda Engelmayer, a senior vice-president at the NY-based 5W Public Relations. New Rules At issue is whether NIF adheres to the word and spirit of the parade leaders’ new Marching Group Rules. Adopted just this year, the new rules stipulate that groups marching in the 2015 parade must “oppose, not fund, nor advocate for” anti-
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Inside the Voice Israeli Startups in the Bronx...................3 Kol Ami: Divorce Challenges?............ 6 The Current Crisis............................... 7 Holy Name and SINAI......................12 Frum Divorce......................................13
Interesting Reading.................................14 Film Festivals, Movies, and TV............22 The Log..........................................................24 New Classes This Month................31 Mazal Tov.............................................32
Internships...................................................32 Ess Gezint: New Passover Menu........38 European Antisemitism..................40 Index of Advertisers ........................41 Letters to the Editor ........................44