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The Slaughter in Pittsburgh
Commentary ^ | 27 Oct 218 | John Podhoretz

Posted on 10/27/2018 6:37:59 PM PDT by Rummyfan

The synagogue in Pittsburgh is called the Tree of Life. The name is a translation into English of the Hebrew phrase etz chaim. We sing those words as the Torah is put away on every Shabbat. They are words from the Book of Proverbs: “She is a tree of life for those that cling to her and all who do are happy.” The “she” in that sentence is “wisdom,” and the verse that precedes it is especially poignant in light of what has happened: “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Today the paths of peace were befouled by a monstrous anti-Semite who stormed the Tree of Life shouting something about Jews needing to die as he murdered and injured and then shot at some cops for good measure.

In every generation they rise up against us to destroy us. In a classic act of anti-Semitic violence, which is what this is, Jews hear the echoes of every violent anti-Semitic act that has preceded it in history. And we hear those echoes because they are there. That which motivates Jew-hatred today is what has motivated it from time immemorial—the poisonously attractive idea that Jews need to be extirpated because our existence is an offense or a threat to an existing larger order. The blessing of Jewish life in America is that this notion has largely been consigned to the dregs from which today’s human malignancy rose. Despite the fact that most hate crimes in America are aimed at Jews, the actual number is vanishingly small—especially compared to France, from which Jews are now fleeing, and England, whose Labour Party is in the hands of an actual Jew-hater.

(Excerpt) Read more at commentarymagazine.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: antisemitism; banglist; pennsylvania; pittsburgh; podhoretz; shooting; treeoflife
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To: Rummyfan
Since he murdered Jews in a synagogue, he should be subject to one of the Torah-proscribed forms of execution:

Stoning, burning, beheading, or strangulation.

To be carried out by a group of Jews. I would happily volunteer.

41 posted on 10/27/2018 7:34:08 PM PDT by montag813
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To: Rummyfan
Based on the early evidence, the shooter was not only consumed with a hatred of Jews but possessed a kind of sneering contempt for Trump on the grounds that Trump was basically a Jewish agent or a Jew-lover himself.

Ah, yes. Your sneering contempt for Trump is much more noble, John.

42 posted on 10/27/2018 7:36:03 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Rummyfan
Where I won’t let Trump off the hook here is the way in which he does nothing to try to calm the political atmosphere and rather seeks to secure an advantage from the way it roils.

Way to remove the speck of dust from President Trump's eye, John.

What have you done to calm the political atmosphere? Taking potshots at President Trump?

43 posted on 10/27/2018 7:38:47 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Mr.Unique

That’s not what he said.

Bearing false witness is handy but wrong.


44 posted on 10/27/2018 7:41:45 PM PDT by coaster123
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To: Spiridon
If our current weak on the death penalty Democrat Tom Wolf is re-elected PA governor I don’t see a state sentence of death being carried out, but the guy running against him Scott Wagner for the Republicans would support carrying out the sentence

One of Tommie ("the Commie") Wolf's first acts was to announce that he would not sign ANY death warrants while Governor.

Pennsylvanians, remember that on November 6!

45 posted on 10/27/2018 7:54:59 PM PDT by lightman (Obama's legacy in 13 letters: BLM, ISIS, & ANTIFA. New axis of evil.)
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To: Lurking Libertarian

God bless you and your people.


46 posted on 10/27/2018 7:55:48 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
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To: Lurking Libertarian

As a fellow Jew — from your lips to g-ds ears.


47 posted on 10/27/2018 8:00:13 PM PDT by KC_for_Freedom
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To: Rummyfan

What did those poor Jews do, criticize CNN?


48 posted on 10/27/2018 8:00:47 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: Ancient Man

I will offer this thought.
The surveillance state that you fear is already here. The thing that is still necessary is the elimination of gun free zones and the introduction of armed citizens at these houses of worship. I say this because the authorities will always be too late.


49 posted on 10/27/2018 8:04:47 PM PDT by KC_for_Freedom
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To: Lurking Libertarian

May God’s illustrious name become increasingly great and holy
In the world that God created according to God’s will,
and may God establish God’s kingdom
In your lifetime and in your days
and in the lifetime of all the house of Israel
Speedily and soon. And let us say amen.

May God’s illustrious name be blessed always and forever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled
Honoured, raised up and acclaimed
be the name of the Holy one blessed be He
beyond every blessing hymn, praise and consolation
that is uttered in the world. And let us say amen.

May abundant peace from heaven, and life
Be upon us and upon all Israel. And let us say amen.

May God who makes peace in high places
Make peace upon us and upon all Israel,
And let us say amen.


50 posted on 10/27/2018 8:07:34 PM PDT by lightman (Obama's legacy in 13 letters: BLM, ISIS, & ANTIFA. New axis of evil.)
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To: Avalon Memories

If Podhoretz wants to calm the rise of anti-Semitism, then he must take on the true fomenters of that particular bigotry in America.

The Universities should be first in his sights.

In my experience , it is the Universities infiltrated by some Muslims and neo-Marxists, who have begun to brainwash the students with the ideal that Jews are persecuting Palestinians, who are a peaceful people from whom Israel has stolen their land.

I was slapped up side the head with that revelation when a few years ago I found some shoes which I loved in a university town shoe store. When I commented on their
quality and said bet the students love them, the salesperson said that students won’t buy them because they are made in Israel. I said why, because they are pro-Palestinian. She replied that yes that was it.

I have since then paid attention to that sentiment and find that almost every young person I have heard talk about the Israel Palestinian issue sides with Palestine with very bigoted words about Jews and Israel.

Easier to blame Trump in some way I guess. Author is clueless.


51 posted on 10/27/2018 8:12:12 PM PDT by amihow
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To: Rummyfan
Yo, John, this pic is from Israel. Is this lady "roiling" the political atmosphere?
52 posted on 10/27/2018 8:19:21 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: stormhill

American Jews never learn.......

Ten years before the Nazis came to power the liberals in Germany passed a law mandating the registration of all guns.


53 posted on 10/27/2018 8:40:14 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (WINNING! !!)
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To: Lurking Libertarian

Prayers up.


54 posted on 10/27/2018 8:43:22 PM PDT by CJ Wolf (Free. Wwg1wga)
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To: McGavin999
"I have spent most of my life trying to understand why. Where did this come from? Why does it lurk in the hearts of people? It makes no sense."

If you're talking about the historical and current hatred of Jews, I also don't get it. What did they ever do to anyone to be such a target from so many? Other than Muslims who hate everyone, I just don't understand why they have been so vilified over the centuries.

What part of history am I missing? And no, their current territory that the so-called Palestinians claim is theirs, was fairly won in wars initiated against Israel.

That said, I have no respect for liberal/socialist Jews. That's about their ideology and not their religion or history. LONG MAY ISRAEL PROSPER AND SURVIVE! They are now our strongest ally since Britain has gone socialist.

55 posted on 10/27/2018 8:53:22 PM PDT by A Navy Vet (I'm not Islamophobic - I'm Islamonauseous. Plus LGBTQxyz nauseous.)
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To: faithhopecharity
Calling PDJT a “bad man” is violative of Jewish religious law. And especially as the essay author failed to cite any evil deeds to even begin to justify such a defamatory broadside. ( other then that one superfluous line, his essay is pretty good).

I like John Podhoretz and enjoy his Commentary podcasts (which were very much on-point during the Kavanaugh hearings). I can understand his frustration on such an awful day and I think I understand his comment about President Trump.

At times like this the nation needs a healer, a unifier and President Trump isn't one. He's a street brawler. But what Podhoretz needs to understand is that the Left won't allow President Trump to be anything but a street brawler.

President Trump will post a heartfelt comment of sympathy and mourning on Twitter and the next thousand comments that follow are basically, "F*** YOU! SUCK A D**K ORANGE MAN YOU RACIST PIECE OF S**T SCUMBAG!!!"

And so President Trump continues to brawl.

56 posted on 10/27/2018 9:01:41 PM PDT by Drew68 (Twitter @TheRealDrew68 https://twitter.com/TheRealDrew68)
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To: snarkytart

They’re not prosecuted either. Justice should be meted out evenly regardless of politics. It’s only going to get worse if these political criminals keep getting off with just a slap on the wrist. They need to do hard time. They should get 10 years for attacking citizens at a political rally.


57 posted on 10/27/2018 9:26:07 PM PDT by virgil (The evil that men do lives after them)
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To: Mr.Unique

Nobody here worships Trump. What a cheapshot.


58 posted on 10/27/2018 9:35:16 PM PDT by bray (Pray for President Trump)
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To: throwback

Of the “knowledge of good and evil” — i.e. of moral relativity which is an illusion because good and evil are God sized matters.


59 posted on 10/27/2018 9:37:22 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (May Jesus Christ be praised.)
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To: Drew68

Understood. Thanks.


60 posted on 10/27/2018 9:39:59 PM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." -Marcus Tillius Cicero (3 BCE))
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