http://www.tolerance.ca/Rubrique.aspx?ID=61&L=en Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Wed, 12 May 2010 08:15:11 -0500 2010 Tolerance.ca en-ca http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=64492&L=en I once attended an international conference where a Latin American delegate asked a staff member of a prominent American Jewish organization whether her association enjoyed democratic governance. She rightly replied that her own and most other such groups were governed not through elections but by self perpetuating “makcherocracys” (a makcher is an influential person or ‘big deal’). Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=61776&L=en I get tired of all the news of conflict from the Middle East . I hoped to be able to wake up this morning to the news that Israel ’s great writer Amos Oz had won a Nobel prize but we will have to wait for that. But there is interesting news on the technological front. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=60101&L=en  I voted for Barack Obama last November, despite receiving countless negative e-mails, many of which originated from the Jewish Republican Committee. I was told that he was a Muslim, that he was anti-Israel and anti-semitic. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=59103&L=en I wish it was easy for me to sort out the issues raised by the recently released UN report on alleged war crimes in Gaza . Judge Richard Goldstone, a Jew, a Zionist, a respected South African jurist who prosecuted war crimes in Rwanda and Yugoslavia , headed the UN investigation into crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza . Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=57004&L=en Civility seems to be in short supply these days. We seem too be losing that sense of elementary courtesy or politeness which is the basis of intelligent communication. I was struck by this lack of courtesy and good sense recently, when Moshe Ya’alon, Vice-Premier of Israel, referred to the Peace Now organization as a “virus”. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=57006&L=en The YMHA in Montreal has always observed Sabbath closure, unlike most of its counterparts in North America . Two earlier attempts to change the policy failed but now, as of Oct. 31 the Snowdon branch will open its recreational and athletic facilities on Saturday afternoons. Administration offices and food services will remain closed and no Jewish employee will be forced to work on Saturday. Apparently then, the Y will still be observing all religious requirements. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=54182&L=en The Canadian Jewish News editorial on East Jerusalem was not only inaccurate but an example of overbearing chauvinism You applauded P.M. Netanyahu's rejection of President Obama's reasonable request to cease construction in East Jerusalem, a request you characterize as "shocking" and "disappointing" even though it was backed by the Quartet if not most of the world. You have evidently not given thought to American policy needs in the Middle East. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=53805&L=en Hatred is a serious problem, among both Israelis and Palestinians. A 2007 survey conducted by University of Haifa researchers revealed the extent of this malaise. 800 Israeli, Jewish high school students from 11 schools showed a deep contempt for Arabs. Seventy-five per cent said that Arabs were “uneducated” and the same number said they were “uncivilized”. Shockingly, 74 per cent responded that they were “unclean”. Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=50887&L=en The current government of Israel is digging deep to find excuses for opposing a freeze on settlements. Of course they do so in order to advance their drive to control all of the land of the West Bank , which many of them view as their biblical birthright of Judea and Samaria , as well as all of a hugely expanded Jerusalem . Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=48243&L=en In his June 14 speech Israel ’s Prime Minister rejected the high ground of some of his conservative predecessors and once again chose to take the low route of his revisionist fathers. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=45634&L=en The hawks must be very disappointed following the Netanyahu-Obama meeting. I understand and sympathize with the desire to stop nuclear proliferation, and especially to allow nuclear weapons in the dubious hands of Iran. However, it will not do for them to blame Obama for being naïve in delaying a confrontation with Iran. Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=42363&L=en President Obama traveled to Turkey and took the opportunity of an address to the parliament, of that Muslim nation, to send a strong message to the new administration in Israel. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg http://www.tolerance.ca/Article.aspx?ID=1659&L=en There is a controversy raging among American Jews which may get even hotter in the coming days. The issue arises because the U.S. Congress will once again be asked to vote for a bill recognizing the Armenian genocide of 1915. One might think that this would not be a difficult issue for the Jewish community but unfortunately several of the major Jewish organizations in the United States have seen fit to intervene against the bill. Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500 Stephen Scheinberg's Point of View Stephen Scheinberg