It seems to me that antisemitism is making a major resurgence these days, and even gaining some acceptance.
Not in this order but, Mel Gibson makes his anti-Jew attacks, makes a very, IMO, muffled "apology" and the whole thing is forgotten.
Disgracefully, Jimmy Carter produced one of the most virulent attacks I've heard, ever, from any politician.
He actually claimed that the "Jewish Lobby" controls American Policy.
I find this trend extremely disturbing.
About the "Jewish Lobby".
There is some truth to the old gag, "What do you get when you put two Jews in a room?"
Answer, "An argument."
There is no foreign policy consensus on the part of the "vast Jewish/Zionist lobby."
The article below takes on some of the major concerns I see developing.
Originally Posted on http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/local/scn-gt-a1adldec14,0,392072.story?coll=green-news-local-headlines
Ku Klux Klan leader and other Holocaust deniers gathering in Iran, former President Carter's controversial new book calling the situation in Palestinian territories apartheid, and a former secretary of state who says the Arab-Israel conflict is standing in the way of victory in Iraq are examples of anti-Semitism becoming more pervasive, the head of the Anti-Defamation League said last night at Temple Sholom."Anti-Semitism is today no longer a page of history, it is a history of today," said Abraham Foxman, the league's outspoken national director who Foxman has been national director since 1987 and has worked for the league since 1965.Gavriel Rosenfeld, a Fairfield University professor and chairman of the volunteer committee that helped organize the event, said, "To put it perhaps in the post-9/11 terminology, he's one of the Jewish community's most valuable first responders."Foxman was saved from the Holocaust as an infant by parents who gave him to his Polish nanny, who raised him as a Catholic. His parents survived and later reunited with him.With such a background and belief that strides have been made in combating anti-Semitism, Foxman said he has been surprised that the barrage of anti-Semitism is daily, constant and growing."Google Holocaust, log on to Holocaust and you will find 'anti-Holocaust'," he said. "Better, Google Jew and first you will find out about anti-Jews and anti-Semitism. ... The logarithm of this new invention, which is supposed to be a boon to knowledge, has an underbelly, which is a superhighway for hate."Events across the world have threatened to heighten anti-Semitism and present a threat to Jews across the world, Foxman said.Iran's president sponsored a conference in Tehran, inviting participants such as David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, and other people who believe the Holocaust didn't occur."Yesterday in Tehran, (Presi-dent Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad along with the conference reminded his audience that God has proclaimed that Israel has to go," Foxman said. "Just as the Soviet Union disappeared, so does the Jewish state."Foxman also repeated his public criticism of Carter's new book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." Carter has said he wrote the book because he believes the media squashes anti-Israel discourse."It's classic anti-Semitism and it doesn't come from David Duke, it doesn't come from Pat Buchanan, it comes from this sweet, smiling peanut farmer," Foxman said.Finally, Foxman also accused the Iraq Study Group, which is headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, of unfairly blaming Israel and Jews for the war in Iraq. The group's report said the United States must address the Arab-Israel conflict in order to succeed in Iraq."You want peace in Iraq, you've got to resolve the Arab-Israel conflict," Foxman said. "What kind of nonsense? But it's not nonsense, we are being blamed again."Though Foxman said that he is concerned by what he sees, he has optimism in the future."As dark as the clouds get, when we look at who we are and what we believe, we shall and we will overcome," he said. "Happy Hanukkah. Thank you."
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Thursday, December 14, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Move over X-Men,here come the Jewish Super Heroes
I think, Earl Krugel, being a hero, as well as a man with a fine sense of humour, would find the humour in this story, and the value of trying to reach Jewish Youth about heroism in a non-dogmatic way.
-- THE X-MEN, for a film that begins in a concentration camp and ends on Ellis Island, is not big on Jewish values, although there's an odd comparison struck between Jews and another hunted, persecuted minority, super-powered mutants.
Based on the Marvel comic book of the same name, “The X-Men” addresses the problems of a specific group of Super-Heroes who, by accident of birth, have gained extraordinary powers in what we are told is “the next step in human evolution.”
The notion that a series of first-generation mutants would spontaneously develop such varied abilities as walking through walls, weather control and magnetism strains credibility. Still, it makes for a richness and variety that makes oddly flattering the heavy-handed analogy between Jews and mutants.
That comparison would seem to be the primary motivation of “Magneto,” (pronounced Mag-neat-oh) a super-powered mutant who has some rough plans for the rest of us. As a child, he survived in a concentration camp while his family and community died.
Based on this trauma, whose victims’ only crime was being born different, his life experience has developed into a siege mentality. This is brought to a head when a senator demands that the United States government begin registering mutants, whose strange ways and talents - it seems - could make them a danger to the rest of us.
Patrick Stewart, most famous as the suspiciously Shakespearean captain Jean-Luc Picard on television’s “Star Trek, the Next Generation,” portrays Dr. Xavier, a mind-reading mutant who, unlike his magnetically empowered counterpart, chooses a series of more positive pursuits.
Notably, he runs a school for gifted children. Their giftedness runs much deeper than verbal, mathematical and creative talents and runs more in the "laser-vision," “walking-through-walls” or “moving objects without touching” area.
Despite Magneto’s concentration camp number tattoo, the audience never quite buys into his updated paranoia, in large part because the modern mutants he worries about are a far cry from defenseless European Jews. One might question the wisdom of having the only clearly defined Jewish character a murderer (and arguably a madman), but there seems to have been a feeble attempt at sensitivity in demonstrating Magneto’s commitment to keep history from repeating itself.
There is another Jewish X-Men character, but in this film she only has a walk-on . . . or rather, walk-through role. At Dr. Xavier’s school we catch a glimpse of a young lady walking through a doorway without bothering to open the door. This character will become Shadowcat, a walk-though-walls heroine who - as they say - “happens to be Jewish.”
But there is a new Super-Hero team a bit more on-target with the Jewish Values and positive Jewish Role modeling. The long-awaited first issue of the Jewish Hero Corps Comic Book will be published this Fall.
Three years ago the Jewish Hero Corps came out as the first ever Jewish Super-Hero Comic Book on CD-Rom. Now, Electric Comics is producing a real printed paper standard comic book with a brand new story drawn by some of the world’s top comic book artists.
The essential concept is to have a diverse group of Jewish heroes whose common enemies are assimilation (“Jewish Amnesia”) and the unraveling of our collective Jewish past.
This is the case in the upcoming full-length comic, which will be out before Chanukah. “Continuity - A Crisis in Time” features the villainous Fobots, who, in the CD-Comic, inverted computer memory chips to create “Forget-me-Chips” whose function was to erase Jewish memories. This time out they’ve partnered with the mysterious Apathons to use a time device called “The Zmonitor” to try to unravel history by going back in time and “nudging” out of existence the origins of Jewish Super-Heroes. In the process, the reader gets a look at some until-now secret origins of members of the Jewish Hero Corps. This comic is built around the origins, with epic tales that take the reader from Medieval Japan to the brink of Space, from a small Jewish shop on Manhattan’s Lower East side to a top secret laboratory.
The Heroes include Menorah Man, who can abruptly find himself with eight flamethrowing arms. The just as aptly named “Dreidel Maidel.” Her powers, which come from the alignment of electron orbits, allow the “Emerald Hurricane” to spin around at speeds so tremendous that no one can see her perform her good deeds. Yarmulkah Youth, (The Capped Crusader) inadvertently gets a name change to “Kipa Kid” in this comic, the result of some tampering with time using the unraveling device also known as the Time Loom.
The story opens with the origin of the centuries-old shield carried by the Sephardic superhero who calls himself “Magen David (Shield of David) in honor of a mysterious heirloom forged by a distant ancestor, a shieldmaker to kings.
Also appearing in the story is Shabbas Queen whose electromagnetic wand incapacitates villainous electrical and mechanical devices . . . giving them a “rest.”
Her wand, we learn, needs to be recharged for one day in seven, just as we do.
Only Minyan Man -- who can multiply into ten when necessary – has an origin that will remain secret for now.
The Title: “Continuity, A Crisis In Time” addresses Jewish communal issues while referring to the standard comic book concern of retaining story threads and logic in cause and effect, influencing both the past and future of characters. The Comic is being published in cooperation with Leviathan Press, a company with a great reputation for producing innovative materials that combat assimilation with Jewish education for a cross-the-board Jewish audience. In the spirit of keeping entertaining and educational Jewish available at reasonable cost, the comic book is expected to be priced at $3.95.
For further information on the Jewish Hero Corps, click here.
By Alan E. Oirich
Alan E. Oirich, a syndicated film columnist, covers Jewish pop-cultcha for JWR.
-- THE X-MEN, for a film that begins in a concentration camp and ends on Ellis Island, is not big on Jewish values, although there's an odd comparison struck between Jews and another hunted, persecuted minority, super-powered mutants.
Based on the Marvel comic book of the same name, “The X-Men” addresses the problems of a specific group of Super-Heroes who, by accident of birth, have gained extraordinary powers in what we are told is “the next step in human evolution.”
The notion that a series of first-generation mutants would spontaneously develop such varied abilities as walking through walls, weather control and magnetism strains credibility. Still, it makes for a richness and variety that makes oddly flattering the heavy-handed analogy between Jews and mutants.
That comparison would seem to be the primary motivation of “Magneto,” (pronounced Mag-neat-oh) a super-powered mutant who has some rough plans for the rest of us. As a child, he survived in a concentration camp while his family and community died.
Based on this trauma, whose victims’ only crime was being born different, his life experience has developed into a siege mentality. This is brought to a head when a senator demands that the United States government begin registering mutants, whose strange ways and talents - it seems - could make them a danger to the rest of us.
Patrick Stewart, most famous as the suspiciously Shakespearean captain Jean-Luc Picard on television’s “Star Trek, the Next Generation,” portrays Dr. Xavier, a mind-reading mutant who, unlike his magnetically empowered counterpart, chooses a series of more positive pursuits.
Notably, he runs a school for gifted children. Their giftedness runs much deeper than verbal, mathematical and creative talents and runs more in the "laser-vision," “walking-through-walls” or “moving objects without touching” area.
Despite Magneto’s concentration camp number tattoo, the audience never quite buys into his updated paranoia, in large part because the modern mutants he worries about are a far cry from defenseless European Jews. One might question the wisdom of having the only clearly defined Jewish character a murderer (and arguably a madman), but there seems to have been a feeble attempt at sensitivity in demonstrating Magneto’s commitment to keep history from repeating itself.
There is another Jewish X-Men character, but in this film she only has a walk-on . . . or rather, walk-through role. At Dr. Xavier’s school we catch a glimpse of a young lady walking through a doorway without bothering to open the door. This character will become Shadowcat, a walk-though-walls heroine who - as they say - “happens to be Jewish.”
But there is a new Super-Hero team a bit more on-target with the Jewish Values and positive Jewish Role modeling. The long-awaited first issue of the Jewish Hero Corps Comic Book will be published this Fall.
Three years ago the Jewish Hero Corps came out as the first ever Jewish Super-Hero Comic Book on CD-Rom. Now, Electric Comics is producing a real printed paper standard comic book with a brand new story drawn by some of the world’s top comic book artists.
The essential concept is to have a diverse group of Jewish heroes whose common enemies are assimilation (“Jewish Amnesia”) and the unraveling of our collective Jewish past.
This is the case in the upcoming full-length comic, which will be out before Chanukah. “Continuity - A Crisis in Time” features the villainous Fobots, who, in the CD-Comic, inverted computer memory chips to create “Forget-me-Chips” whose function was to erase Jewish memories. This time out they’ve partnered with the mysterious Apathons to use a time device called “The Zmonitor” to try to unravel history by going back in time and “nudging” out of existence the origins of Jewish Super-Heroes. In the process, the reader gets a look at some until-now secret origins of members of the Jewish Hero Corps. This comic is built around the origins, with epic tales that take the reader from Medieval Japan to the brink of Space, from a small Jewish shop on Manhattan’s Lower East side to a top secret laboratory.
The Heroes include Menorah Man, who can abruptly find himself with eight flamethrowing arms. The just as aptly named “Dreidel Maidel.” Her powers, which come from the alignment of electron orbits, allow the “Emerald Hurricane” to spin around at speeds so tremendous that no one can see her perform her good deeds. Yarmulkah Youth, (The Capped Crusader) inadvertently gets a name change to “Kipa Kid” in this comic, the result of some tampering with time using the unraveling device also known as the Time Loom.
The story opens with the origin of the centuries-old shield carried by the Sephardic superhero who calls himself “Magen David (Shield of David) in honor of a mysterious heirloom forged by a distant ancestor, a shieldmaker to kings.
Also appearing in the story is Shabbas Queen whose electromagnetic wand incapacitates villainous electrical and mechanical devices . . . giving them a “rest.”
Her wand, we learn, needs to be recharged for one day in seven, just as we do.
Only Minyan Man -- who can multiply into ten when necessary – has an origin that will remain secret for now.
The Title: “Continuity, A Crisis In Time” addresses Jewish communal issues while referring to the standard comic book concern of retaining story threads and logic in cause and effect, influencing both the past and future of characters. The Comic is being published in cooperation with Leviathan Press, a company with a great reputation for producing innovative materials that combat assimilation with Jewish education for a cross-the-board Jewish audience. In the spirit of keeping entertaining and educational Jewish available at reasonable cost, the comic book is expected to be priced at $3.95.
For further information on the Jewish Hero Corps, click here.
By Alan E. Oirich
Alan E. Oirich, a syndicated film columnist, covers Jewish pop-cultcha for JWR.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Lola Krugel
This is a lady that deserves high praise.
She has unfailingly stood behind one of our history's greatest heroes, Earl Krugel.
When the story is told, in the evenings, when we gather and tell stories of great historic legends, Lola will be mentioned glowingly, with pride and love, at the same time.
G-d Bless You Lola.
She has unfailingly stood behind one of our history's greatest heroes, Earl Krugel.
When the story is told, in the evenings, when we gather and tell stories of great historic legends, Lola will be mentioned glowingly, with pride and love, at the same time.
G-d Bless You Lola.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
I am not ashamed to admit it
By Meir Kahane
I am afraid.
I am afraid that my people and my state are marching inexorably to a horror that can best be unimagined. And I am afraid, for the first time, that we are in the hands of people so blind and so mad and so un-Jewish that we may not be able, G-d forbid, to avert the catastrophe.
Last week I was at the Western Wall. It was the Friday after the Friday when the Moslems, standing on the Temple Mount -- OUR Temple Mount -- hurled rocks and stones on the Jews praying below. It was the Friday after the Friday when Jews, in the sovereign State of Israel, praying at the remains of the Holy Temple, fled in panic from the Moslems who cried "Allah Akhbar!" It was the Friday after the Friday in which Jews in the State of Israel fled in panic from Moslems who proclaimed their dream of destroying the Jewish State.
I was at the Wall on the Friday after the Friday. No less than 3,000 (!) security forces were there to protect the Jews in their own state from Moslems who once so trembled before the Jew. Three thousand (!) security forces to protect Jews -- who were so frightened that they stayed away in droves. The proud State of Israel. . . .
I am afraid. I am afraid that the Jews of insanity who run this land will destroy us, even as all the impossible Herut fools in the United States continue to write columns attacking the PLO.
I am afraid. Last week, I was at the Hebron Jewish cemetery. I saw the swastikas and the Arab graffiti of hate on the walls. I saw the desecrated tombstones. I watched as the Jews held a memorial service.
A memorial service! They murder us and they dececrate us and we react with memorial services!
That day a rock smashed through the car window of a Jew traveling in Bethlehem, injuring him in the temple, cheek and shoulder. That day, 600 apple and 50 olive trees were destroyed along with tens of thousands of commercial flowers at the settlement of Nvei Michael. But I return to the cemetery.
How many people, how many Jews, in the world heard of the Hebron cemetery outrage? No matter. How should they have heard of it when the Prime Minister of Israel, the President of Israel, its Knesset and its governmental leaders did not find it necessary to shout their indignation.
A week of Chillul Hashem, of desecration. And the men who run this State of Disorder sit by, hapless and impotent, silent partners to Desecration. And I know that the Almighty's rage will lash out at us for allowing His name to be defiled. And I am afraid for much more.
Last week I watched as the insanity spread and reached new heights. The Border Police, the elite security forces, were sent to make arrests in the murderous village of Nahalin. They were attacked by hundreds of stone throwing, Molotov cocktail-throwing Arabs. The Border Police, under a murderous barrage, fired and killed four Arabs. Only four Arabs. The Arabs shrieked in protest; the pathologically sick leftists joined them and demanded and "investigation"; the army command, led by two kibbutz members, Chief of Staff Don Shomron and Central Command OC Amram Mitzna, so ordered. The Border Police were accused of "overreacting" and "indiscriminate shooting," and two of their officers were suspended from duty.
I am afraid. Yesterday they destroyed the army with their insane orders that hobbled the troops, causing them to fear to deal with the Arabs as normal soldiers should. Today, they take the best of the security forces, the Border Police, and destroy them, too. And they must be stopped before they destroy the Jewish state -- and the Jew.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
New Spielberg Documentary
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
KIEV, Ukraine
Steven Spielberg on Wednesday presented a documentary about the Nazi massacre of tens of thousands of Jews at the Babi Yar ravine in Ukraine, several weeks after Ukraine marked the 65th anniversary of the tragedy.
The film by Ukrainian director Serhiy Bukovsky, 'Spell Your Name,' for which Spielberg worked as co-executive producer, contains the testimony of Jewish survivors who escaped brutal execution and those who rescued friends and neighbors during the Holocaust.
"The stories and experience of survivors in Ukraine need to be seen and heard by the people of the world, who may not know what happened in Ukraine during the Holocaust," Spielberg said at a news conference.
The film was produced by the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, a Los Angeles-based organization founded by Spielberg in 1994.
KIEV, Ukraine
Steven Spielberg on Wednesday presented a documentary about the Nazi massacre of tens of thousands of Jews at the Babi Yar ravine in Ukraine, several weeks after Ukraine marked the 65th anniversary of the tragedy.
The film by Ukrainian director Serhiy Bukovsky, 'Spell Your Name,' for which Spielberg worked as co-executive producer, contains the testimony of Jewish survivors who escaped brutal execution and those who rescued friends and neighbors during the Holocaust.
"The stories and experience of survivors in Ukraine need to be seen and heard by the people of the world, who may not know what happened in Ukraine during the Holocaust," Spielberg said at a news conference.
The film was produced by the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, a Los Angeles-based organization founded by Spielberg in 1994.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
What Was Earl Warning Us About
Oct. 11, 2006 21:51
American Traitor federally indicted for aiding al-Qaida
A 28-year-old Californian who joined al-Qaida and appeared in propaganda videos for the terrorist organization was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of treason and providing material support to terrorists, a US Justice Department official said.
A grand jury in Orange County returned the indictment against Adam Yehiye Gadahn, 28, a suspected al-Qaida operative sought by the FBI since 2004, said the person, who asked to remain anonymous because the indictment was to be announced later in the day.
Gadahn is believed to have attended the terrorist group's training camps in Pakistan and served as one of its translators. He has become known by his nom de guerre, Azzam al-Amriki, or "Azzam the American."
Gadahn appeared last month in a 48-minute video along with al-Qaida's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, calling on his countrymen to convert to Islam and for US soldiers to switch sides in the Iraq and Afghan wars.
American Traitor federally indicted for aiding al-Qaida
A 28-year-old Californian who joined al-Qaida and appeared in propaganda videos for the terrorist organization was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of treason and providing material support to terrorists, a US Justice Department official said.
A grand jury in Orange County returned the indictment against Adam Yehiye Gadahn, 28, a suspected al-Qaida operative sought by the FBI since 2004, said the person, who asked to remain anonymous because the indictment was to be announced later in the day.
Gadahn is believed to have attended the terrorist group's training camps in Pakistan and served as one of its translators. He has become known by his nom de guerre, Azzam al-Amriki, or "Azzam the American."
Gadahn appeared last month in a 48-minute video along with al-Qaida's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, calling on his countrymen to convert to Islam and for US soldiers to switch sides in the Iraq and Afghan wars.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Hannah Szenes
We named our daughter Hannah after this Heroine.
We asked Earl for a girl's name that he liked and he mentioned Hannah, and told us her story.
By Jesse Lyman
Hannah szenes (pronounced Senesh), the daughter of a well-known writer (Bela Szenes, who died when Hannah was six) was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1921. Their mother Catherine raised Hannah and her brother George in a well assimilated home. In their home Judaism was never emphasized. At the early age of thirteen, Hannah started to write a diary when she turned thirteen and wrote in it until her death. In her diary it stated the concern of anti-Semitism in Budapest.
At the age of ten Hanna left her school and went to a high class at a protestant school, her family had to pay triple of what the normal price of school was. This did not stop Hanna’s mother from putting her in a normal school. Hannah was a very smart student and was at the top of her class, but since discrimination of the Jews in Budapest Hannah could not continue to be the top unless she converted to Christianity. Hanna and her family were assimilated middle class Jews. Hanna did not learn much about Judaism throughout her childhood. "The thought that now occupies my every waking moment is Palestine. Everything in connection with it interests me, everything else is entirely secondary." Hannah wrote this in her journal.
Anti-Semitism grew in Hungary and by the age of seventeen Hanna was informed she could not take office. Hanna did not know if she should fight for her rights or sit in peace. She was told a Jew could not hold the presidency.
“Only now am I beginning to see what it really means to be a Jew in a Christian society, but I don't mind at all. It is because we have to struggle, because it is more difficult for us to reach our goal, that we develop outstanding qualities. Had I been born a Christian, every profession would be open to me." Hanna wrote in her journal one day. Hanna thought about converting to Christianity in order to take office, but instead of converting Hanna took a deeper interest in Judaism.
Hannah and George started to become involved in many Zionism activities. She was involved with a group called the Maccabea, which was the most established Zionist organization in Hungary. They both immigrated to Israel in 1939 right after her eighteenth birthday. Hannah settled down in Kibbutz Sdot Yam, where she wrote poetry and studied at an agricultural school.
When World War two began in Europe Hannah soon began to worry about the well being of her country and her remaining family in Budapest. Hannah was a very brave girl, and wanted to help her country. On the date of 1943, Szenes joined the British army and volunteered to be parachuted down into Europe. Szenes trained in Europe and was one of thirty-three chosen to be parachuted behind enemy lines. The purpose of this attempt was to help allied efforts in Europe and establish contact with partisan fighters in attempt to aid Jewish communities. Szenes was parachuted in Yugoslavia in 1944.
On June 7th 1944 Szenes bravely crossed the border into Hungary and was almost immediately caught by the Hungarian police. They tortured Hannah for months but she refused to give them any information. Szenes was then brought to trial and was reported guilty. When her execution took place she refused to be blindfolded for she wanted to look her enemies straight in the eyes. Hannah died at the age of twenty-three.
In 1950, Hannah’s remains were buried on Mount Herzl in the city of Jerusalem in Israel.
O Lord, My G-d,
I pray that these things never end.
The sand and the sea,
The rush of the Water,
The crash of the heavens,
The prayer of woman and man
“Eli,Eli” Was a poem written by Hannah Szenes and has become a popular folk song and poem all over the world.
Blessed is the match that burned and kindled flames,
Blessed is the flame that set hearts on fire.
Blessed are the hearts that knew how to die with honor,
Blessed is the match that burned, and kindled flames.
Another poem written by Hannah, called blessed is the match.
On November 5, 1993, Hanna’s family that is living now received a copy of the Hungarian military report of Hanna’s court order exonerating Hanna’s treason charges in which she was executed. Yitzchak Rabin attended the Tel-Aviv ceremony, where the document was handed over to the family.
Hanna really lived a brief but a very noteworthy life, and I think its fair to say Hanna was a true hero for everyone.
We asked Earl for a girl's name that he liked and he mentioned Hannah, and told us her story.
By Jesse Lyman
Hannah szenes (pronounced Senesh), the daughter of a well-known writer (Bela Szenes, who died when Hannah was six) was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1921. Their mother Catherine raised Hannah and her brother George in a well assimilated home. In their home Judaism was never emphasized. At the early age of thirteen, Hannah started to write a diary when she turned thirteen and wrote in it until her death. In her diary it stated the concern of anti-Semitism in Budapest.
At the age of ten Hanna left her school and went to a high class at a protestant school, her family had to pay triple of what the normal price of school was. This did not stop Hanna’s mother from putting her in a normal school. Hannah was a very smart student and was at the top of her class, but since discrimination of the Jews in Budapest Hannah could not continue to be the top unless she converted to Christianity. Hanna and her family were assimilated middle class Jews. Hanna did not learn much about Judaism throughout her childhood. "The thought that now occupies my every waking moment is Palestine. Everything in connection with it interests me, everything else is entirely secondary." Hannah wrote this in her journal.
Anti-Semitism grew in Hungary and by the age of seventeen Hanna was informed she could not take office. Hanna did not know if she should fight for her rights or sit in peace. She was told a Jew could not hold the presidency.
“Only now am I beginning to see what it really means to be a Jew in a Christian society, but I don't mind at all. It is because we have to struggle, because it is more difficult for us to reach our goal, that we develop outstanding qualities. Had I been born a Christian, every profession would be open to me." Hanna wrote in her journal one day. Hanna thought about converting to Christianity in order to take office, but instead of converting Hanna took a deeper interest in Judaism.
Hannah and George started to become involved in many Zionism activities. She was involved with a group called the Maccabea, which was the most established Zionist organization in Hungary. They both immigrated to Israel in 1939 right after her eighteenth birthday. Hannah settled down in Kibbutz Sdot Yam, where she wrote poetry and studied at an agricultural school.
When World War two began in Europe Hannah soon began to worry about the well being of her country and her remaining family in Budapest. Hannah was a very brave girl, and wanted to help her country. On the date of 1943, Szenes joined the British army and volunteered to be parachuted down into Europe. Szenes trained in Europe and was one of thirty-three chosen to be parachuted behind enemy lines. The purpose of this attempt was to help allied efforts in Europe and establish contact with partisan fighters in attempt to aid Jewish communities. Szenes was parachuted in Yugoslavia in 1944.
On June 7th 1944 Szenes bravely crossed the border into Hungary and was almost immediately caught by the Hungarian police. They tortured Hannah for months but she refused to give them any information. Szenes was then brought to trial and was reported guilty. When her execution took place she refused to be blindfolded for she wanted to look her enemies straight in the eyes. Hannah died at the age of twenty-three.
In 1950, Hannah’s remains were buried on Mount Herzl in the city of Jerusalem in Israel.
O Lord, My G-d,
I pray that these things never end.
The sand and the sea,
The rush of the Water,
The crash of the heavens,
The prayer of woman and man
“Eli,Eli” Was a poem written by Hannah Szenes and has become a popular folk song and poem all over the world.
Blessed is the match that burned and kindled flames,
Blessed is the flame that set hearts on fire.
Blessed are the hearts that knew how to die with honor,
Blessed is the match that burned, and kindled flames.
Another poem written by Hannah, called blessed is the match.
On November 5, 1993, Hanna’s family that is living now received a copy of the Hungarian military report of Hanna’s court order exonerating Hanna’s treason charges in which she was executed. Yitzchak Rabin attended the Tel-Aviv ceremony, where the document was handed over to the family.
Hanna really lived a brief but a very noteworthy life, and I think its fair to say Hanna was a true hero for everyone.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Why We Need Men Like Earl Krugel
I spoke to Irv Rubin, (OBM) about his relationship with Earl when the two of them were sweating it out in a concrete dungeon in the year 2001. Cuffed and jerked around like the worst of criminals “He keeps me going. Earl is my father, my big brother, and my teacher.” “We are in Hell in this prison, this is the worst form of punishment yet devised by man, but Earl smiles and recites from the bible, and talks about self-sacrifice, he teaches me to put the suffering of others over my own.” On one occasion Earl confronted the Grand Dragon of the KKK, Robert Shelton, said Rubin. “ Shelton had the self-consciously created expression of Hitler; he sneered when he spoke, like the Fuhrer did when talking about the Final solution.” Earl walked over to him and said “The next time you see me, be prepared to put your philosophy into practice , starting with me.” Although the Grand Dragon was surrounded by beefy security people; he blanched and told his followers, “The rally is over.” “Earl can be very intense,” said Irv, smiling, “and when he says something, you know he means it.”
Anti-Jew hatred is still with us.
Just before the alledged bomb plot a Holocaust museum was torched by an arsonist. Jewish institutions were daubed with swastikas. A religious leader’s anti-Semitic tirade was resoundingly received. An elected official said Jews could stop the war in Iraq. A mainstream columnist fed into the canard of Jewish control. A poet laureate blamed Jews for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Addressing worshippers at Chicago’s Mosque Maryam on Nov. 23, Minister Louis Farrakhan, the head of the Nation of Islam, condemned Jews as “masters of Hollywood” who “publish the filth that is published daily feeding the minds of the American people and the people of the world .” Getting a strong supportive response from the audience, Farrakhan, a longtime anti-Semite and racist, preached that Jews tampered with the Bible — “But what you have in the Bible has been added to and taken away from by the Jews . The Jews have altered the word of God out of its place.” And so on, to the point of nausea.
There were increasing incidents of anti-Semitic attacks. Then the story broke that two Jews had been arrested on terrorism charges.
The President of the Arab-Antidiscrimination League credited the alleged conspiracy with instilling fear in the Arab American community, which resulted in a dramatic reduction in anti-Semitic incidents in the wake of the charges. There is no doubt that Earl’s sacrifice has at least slowed down the growth of terrorism in the U.S. Abraham Stern was turned upon and condemned in his time, yet we now all honor his memory. Streets have been named after him. Jonathon Pollard was likewise reviled, and now he has status as a mensch.
We need men like Earl Krugel.
Anti-Jew hatred is still with us.
Just before the alledged bomb plot a Holocaust museum was torched by an arsonist. Jewish institutions were daubed with swastikas. A religious leader’s anti-Semitic tirade was resoundingly received. An elected official said Jews could stop the war in Iraq. A mainstream columnist fed into the canard of Jewish control. A poet laureate blamed Jews for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Addressing worshippers at Chicago’s Mosque Maryam on Nov. 23, Minister Louis Farrakhan, the head of the Nation of Islam, condemned Jews as “masters of Hollywood” who “publish the filth that is published daily feeding the minds of the American people and the people of the world .” Getting a strong supportive response from the audience, Farrakhan, a longtime anti-Semite and racist, preached that Jews tampered with the Bible — “But what you have in the Bible has been added to and taken away from by the Jews . The Jews have altered the word of God out of its place.” And so on, to the point of nausea.
There were increasing incidents of anti-Semitic attacks. Then the story broke that two Jews had been arrested on terrorism charges.
The President of the Arab-Antidiscrimination League credited the alleged conspiracy with instilling fear in the Arab American community, which resulted in a dramatic reduction in anti-Semitic incidents in the wake of the charges. There is no doubt that Earl’s sacrifice has at least slowed down the growth of terrorism in the U.S. Abraham Stern was turned upon and condemned in his time, yet we now all honor his memory. Streets have been named after him. Jonathon Pollard was likewise reviled, and now he has status as a mensch.
We need men like Earl Krugel.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Is There Justice for the Jew?
Dreyfus, Alfred (1859-1935)
Captain Alfred Dreyfus of the French Army was convicted of treason before a crowd hurling anti-Semitic epithets and on January 5, 1895 publicly demoted and exiled for life to Devil's Island off the coast of South America.
Dreyfus, the son of a wealthy, assimilated Jewish family, had joined the army as an engineer, and became the only Jew on the general staff. In the fall of 1894, French intelligence discovered a secret military document sent by a French officer to the military attach‰ of the German embassy in Paris. Evidence pointed to Major Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy, a Hungarian with German connections, as the traitor, but the French military establishment, in particular Major H. J. Henry of the intelligence service, found this impossible to believe. Dreyfus, as a Jew, was a suitable scapegoat, and he found himself charged with treason. After a secret court-martial, he was convicted on insufficient evidence, demoted and exiled.
Dreyfus' family persisted in fighting the verdict. The new head of French intelligence, Lt. Col. Georges Picquart, had sensed something suspicious in the trial, and new evidence made it clear that Esterhazy was a German agent. But Major Henry forged documents to show that the court martial verdict was correct, and Picquart was dismissed from his position and assigned to duty in Africa.
Before leaving Paris, he told his side of the case to friends, and the left-wing Senator August Scheurer- Kestner took up the cause, announcing in the Senate that Dreyfus was innocent, and openly accusing Esterhazy. But the right-wing government refused to listen to the new evidence. Esterhazy was tried and acquitted and Picquart sentenced to 60 days in prison.
The case came to a head on January 13, 1898, when novelist Emile Zola published his famous J'Accuse letter on the front page of the newspaper L 'Aurore. Zola, not known as a friend of the Jews, accused the denouncers of Dreyfus of malicious libel. The article made a powerful impression: 200,000 copies were sold in Paris. In February, Zola himself was found guilty of libel.
The public outcry continued, and a second trial was finally held in 1899. The verdict was again treason, but the sentence reduced to ten years because of "extenuating circumstances."
Dreyfus agreed not to appeal, and was eventually pardoned by the president of the republic. In 1904 Dreyfus demanded a fresh investigation, and in 1906 the court of appeal pronounced his complete innocence. Dreyfus was reinstated as a major, re-enlisted in World War I, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
Captain Alfred Dreyfus of the French Army was convicted of treason before a crowd hurling anti-Semitic epithets and on January 5, 1895 publicly demoted and exiled for life to Devil's Island off the coast of South America.
Dreyfus, the son of a wealthy, assimilated Jewish family, had joined the army as an engineer, and became the only Jew on the general staff. In the fall of 1894, French intelligence discovered a secret military document sent by a French officer to the military attach‰ of the German embassy in Paris. Evidence pointed to Major Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy, a Hungarian with German connections, as the traitor, but the French military establishment, in particular Major H. J. Henry of the intelligence service, found this impossible to believe. Dreyfus, as a Jew, was a suitable scapegoat, and he found himself charged with treason. After a secret court-martial, he was convicted on insufficient evidence, demoted and exiled.
Dreyfus' family persisted in fighting the verdict. The new head of French intelligence, Lt. Col. Georges Picquart, had sensed something suspicious in the trial, and new evidence made it clear that Esterhazy was a German agent. But Major Henry forged documents to show that the court martial verdict was correct, and Picquart was dismissed from his position and assigned to duty in Africa.
Before leaving Paris, he told his side of the case to friends, and the left-wing Senator August Scheurer- Kestner took up the cause, announcing in the Senate that Dreyfus was innocent, and openly accusing Esterhazy. But the right-wing government refused to listen to the new evidence. Esterhazy was tried and acquitted and Picquart sentenced to 60 days in prison.
The case came to a head on January 13, 1898, when novelist Emile Zola published his famous J'Accuse letter on the front page of the newspaper L 'Aurore. Zola, not known as a friend of the Jews, accused the denouncers of Dreyfus of malicious libel. The article made a powerful impression: 200,000 copies were sold in Paris. In February, Zola himself was found guilty of libel.
The public outcry continued, and a second trial was finally held in 1899. The verdict was again treason, but the sentence reduced to ten years because of "extenuating circumstances."
Dreyfus agreed not to appeal, and was eventually pardoned by the president of the republic. In 1904 Dreyfus demanded a fresh investigation, and in 1906 the court of appeal pronounced his complete innocence. Dreyfus was reinstated as a major, re-enlisted in World War I, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
A Spritual Brother of Earl Krugel
Avraham Stern.
Avraham Stern (Hebrew: אברהם שטרן Avraham Shtern), alias Yair (Hebrew: יאיר) (December 23, 1907 - February 12, 1942) was the founder and leader of the Zionist underground organization later known as Lehi which was also known as the "Stern Gang", which killed UN diplomat Count Folke Bernadotte.
Stern was born in Suwałki, Poland, immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine in 1925, and studied in the Hebrew Gymnasium in Jerusalem, and afterwards in the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus. He specialized in Classic languages and literature (Greek and Latin).
He founded Lehi in 1940 (though it did not adopt that name until after his death), by splitting from the Irgun, when the latter joined forces with Haganah to support the British in their fight against the Nazis.
Stern rejected collaboration with the British, and claimed that only a continuing struggle against the British Empire would lead eventually to an independent Jewish State and resolve the Jewish situation in the Diaspora. British refusal to permit Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany to enter Palestine, strengthened his beliefs in the verity of this observation.
Stern was unpopular with many of the other Jewish Underground leaders. He struck an odd figure in the casual environment of the Underground, which was largely based on the kibbutz movement, by appearing as a fastidious and formal intellectual, who always insisted on wearing a necktie and jacket, even in the blazing Middle East summer. His movement drew an eclectic crew of individuals, from both ends of the political spectrum, including prominent right-wing activists such as Yitzhak Shamir (later to become the prime minister of Israel).
In January 1941, Stern attempted to make an agreement with the German Nazi authorities, offering to "actively take part in the war on Germany's side" in return for helping Jewish refugees to come to Israel into a Jewish State. Another attempt to contact the Germans was made in late 1941, but there is no record of a German response in either case.
Stern was killed in February 12, 1942 by British Intelligence officers. After having been arrested in a Tel Aviv apartment where he had been hiding, Stern was shot from behind in his apartment after already being handcuffed. He was executed for his role as leader of the Lehi.
Stern was also a poet. As early as 1934 he prepared his first poetry book for publishing. He wrote, inter alia, Lehi's anthem, "Anonymous Soldiers."
Avraham Stern's memorial day is attended every year by Israeli political and government officials. In 1978, a postage stamp was issued in his honor.
In 1981 the town "Kochav Yair" (Yair's star) was founded and named after Stern's nickname.
Further reading
J. Bowyer Bell, Terror Out of Zion: Irgun Zvai Leumi, Lehi, and the Palestine Underground, 1929-1949, (Avon, 1977), ISBN 0-380393964
Friday, September 08, 2006
Anti-Semitism is widespread throughout the Arab and Muslim world
Anti-Semitism is widespread throughout the Arab and Muslim world, manifested in many segments of society. The following report is a compilation of selected anti-Semitic expressions in the Arab and Muslim world in January-March 2006.
Al-Watan, January 6, 2006
During this period, the Arab and Muslim media was rife with conspiracy theories of Jews and Israelis being responsible for international crises and events, including the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper, Iran's nuclear weapons program, and Muslim civil strife, in particular with regard to the destruction of mosques.
The publication of the Muhammad cartoons and the trial of Holocaust denier David Irving were used by many newspapers to run cartoons and columns that denied or downplayed the horrors of the Holocaust. Additionally, many newspaper articles accused Jews of using the Holocaust to justify the persecution of others.
As in recent months, newspapers continued to feature anti-Semitic caricatures and themes that include conspiracy theories of Jews plotting to control U.S. foreign policy and dominate the world, demonic images of Jews and Israelis, and depictions of the stereotypical Jew (big nose, black coat and hat, skull cap, etc.) along with Jewish symbols such as the Star of David.
Material in this compilation was translated by ADL from the original Arabic or taken from English language sources in the Middle East.
Obsessive-Compulsive Judaism
By Irwin Graulich, From MichNews.com, Nov 21, 2003.
A new old syndrome is catching on worldwide. The broad scientific term is "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD.)" OCD has become all the rage on psychiatric couches and in mental institutions. Yet for 4000 years, there has been a similar disorder affecting a large part of humanity called "Obsessive-Compulsive Judaism (OCJ)."
Psychiatrists tell us that people become obsessed with an idea which they believe to be the "absolute" truth. Scientists who study the mind have proven that obsessive/compulsive individuals therefore "believe" that something is true which may be true or false, although they become totally preoccupied with its validity. "My hands are always dirty" makes individuals obsess on cleanliness, ultimately resulting in a continuous hand washing cycle.
Why are 1.2 billion Muslims obsessed with the idea of "this tiny group of Jews is always dirty" syndrome? Why is David Duke's website and virtually all of his writings about the Jews? Why is the KKK obsessed with Jewish thoughts? Why is the former Malaysian prime minister virtually addicted to blaming Jews, in a country that is Judenrein and where 95% of Malaysians never even saw a real live Jew? Freud would have a great time with these head problems. However, his research would have most likely been dismissed as just another Jewish attempt to control "our" minds.
Amazingly, the common link throughout history of those with the "OCJ disorder" is that they are all sick, vile, evil people. When studied seriously, the entire illness does not make any sense. This obsession with Jews dominating everything from politics to business to deciding on the next war to the reason that the Arab/Muslim world has failed drastically has become great folk lore. Within the past 60 years, OCJ has spread from Nazi Germany to The Middle East into Europe to most recently, college campuses and other leftist laboratories worldwide.
The ultimate question is, "Why haven't antisemites become obsessed with other competing religions which are much larger and more direct competition?" The answer is actually quite simple and stems from an important sentence in The New Testament. "Those who bless the Jews will be blessed and those who curse the Jews will be cursed."
Anyone who believes in this statement will take the road of religious American Christians. It is no wonder that America has become the most "blessed" country in the history of the world. Thomas Jefferson said that "America is the new Israel" and he wanted to make the US symbol, a logo of the Jewish exodus from Egypt. And which nations are the most cursed today? Obviously the Arab and Muslim world, even with all their oil wells!
However, for those who believe that Judaism is a religion of infidels, why shouldn't they simply ignore Judaism's foolish adherents? If a religion formed around Elvis Presley or the belief in aliens from outer space, non-believers would laugh and not pay any attention to such utter nonsense. So why are Jews taken so seriously if their religion is thought to be fraudulent by others?
The amazing answer is that most of the non-Jewish world "knows for certain" that Judaism is true and many in Europe, Asia and The Middle East are quite upset with that frightening realization. In contrast, it is a large portion of Jews who unfortunately have doubts about the truth behind Judaism. Something seems to be wrong with this picture.
The real cause of Islamic Fundamentalist terrorism is that its adherents have major doubts about the validity of their own religion. That is why there is so much hatred toward Jews and Christians coming from Imams and Ayatollahs in mosques. They see a system of Christianity in America for which God blessed a great country with everything, including incredible power, strength and influence. Even worse, they see a system in their own back yard, The Middle East, where a country with no natural resources and just a few million Jews has surpassed every single Arab and Muslim nation. Here is God acting in our world and they are not receiving their fair share. Quite upsetting, to say the least.
Religious figures in the Islamic world cannot announce to followers, "Look at the success of Islam in our world. Pray to Allah for thanks." Instead, they say that, "Judaism and Christianity have stolen our successes. So let's destroy the infidels."
OCD means that one's brain has gotten stuck on a particular thought and just cannot let go. Since 998 out of every 1000 people are not Jewish, it would seem that a large number of very foolish people are both obsessive and compulsive with OCJ, relating to this miniscule, trivial group. Perhaps this idea even extends to the Hitlerian obsessive contamination problem which forbade swimming with or even touching Jews. Might this be the reason that Jews were thrown out of so many Arab countries?
With over 50% of UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Israel, not North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Iran, Libya or Iraq, one cannot say that it is simply all of the things that Israel may have done. When people hate or feel threatened about a belief system, it can only mean one thing. It threatens their own system and in all likelihood, renders it somewhat invalid.
The idea of Jewish Choseness has always been looked upon as arrogant and conceited. The truth is that America has taken on the role of sharing Choseness from God with the Jews. No wonder there are protests in Great Britain today. No wonder President Bush's effigy has been burned in almost every Arab and Muslim country. No wonder a large part of Europe has criticized America for bringing down another evil dictator.
It's a new disease... Obsessive-Compulsive America (OCA).
Irwin N. Graulich is a well known motivational speaker on morality, ethics, Judaism and politics. He is also President and CEO of a leading marketing, branding and communications company in New York City.
A new old syndrome is catching on worldwide. The broad scientific term is "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD.)" OCD has become all the rage on psychiatric couches and in mental institutions. Yet for 4000 years, there has been a similar disorder affecting a large part of humanity called "Obsessive-Compulsive Judaism (OCJ)."
Psychiatrists tell us that people become obsessed with an idea which they believe to be the "absolute" truth. Scientists who study the mind have proven that obsessive/compulsive individuals therefore "believe" that something is true which may be true or false, although they become totally preoccupied with its validity. "My hands are always dirty" makes individuals obsess on cleanliness, ultimately resulting in a continuous hand washing cycle.
Why are 1.2 billion Muslims obsessed with the idea of "this tiny group of Jews is always dirty" syndrome? Why is David Duke's website and virtually all of his writings about the Jews? Why is the KKK obsessed with Jewish thoughts? Why is the former Malaysian prime minister virtually addicted to blaming Jews, in a country that is Judenrein and where 95% of Malaysians never even saw a real live Jew? Freud would have a great time with these head problems. However, his research would have most likely been dismissed as just another Jewish attempt to control "our" minds.
Amazingly, the common link throughout history of those with the "OCJ disorder" is that they are all sick, vile, evil people. When studied seriously, the entire illness does not make any sense. This obsession with Jews dominating everything from politics to business to deciding on the next war to the reason that the Arab/Muslim world has failed drastically has become great folk lore. Within the past 60 years, OCJ has spread from Nazi Germany to The Middle East into Europe to most recently, college campuses and other leftist laboratories worldwide.
The ultimate question is, "Why haven't antisemites become obsessed with other competing religions which are much larger and more direct competition?" The answer is actually quite simple and stems from an important sentence in The New Testament. "Those who bless the Jews will be blessed and those who curse the Jews will be cursed."
Anyone who believes in this statement will take the road of religious American Christians. It is no wonder that America has become the most "blessed" country in the history of the world. Thomas Jefferson said that "America is the new Israel" and he wanted to make the US symbol, a logo of the Jewish exodus from Egypt. And which nations are the most cursed today? Obviously the Arab and Muslim world, even with all their oil wells!
However, for those who believe that Judaism is a religion of infidels, why shouldn't they simply ignore Judaism's foolish adherents? If a religion formed around Elvis Presley or the belief in aliens from outer space, non-believers would laugh and not pay any attention to such utter nonsense. So why are Jews taken so seriously if their religion is thought to be fraudulent by others?
The amazing answer is that most of the non-Jewish world "knows for certain" that Judaism is true and many in Europe, Asia and The Middle East are quite upset with that frightening realization. In contrast, it is a large portion of Jews who unfortunately have doubts about the truth behind Judaism. Something seems to be wrong with this picture.
The real cause of Islamic Fundamentalist terrorism is that its adherents have major doubts about the validity of their own religion. That is why there is so much hatred toward Jews and Christians coming from Imams and Ayatollahs in mosques. They see a system of Christianity in America for which God blessed a great country with everything, including incredible power, strength and influence. Even worse, they see a system in their own back yard, The Middle East, where a country with no natural resources and just a few million Jews has surpassed every single Arab and Muslim nation. Here is God acting in our world and they are not receiving their fair share. Quite upsetting, to say the least.
Religious figures in the Islamic world cannot announce to followers, "Look at the success of Islam in our world. Pray to Allah for thanks." Instead, they say that, "Judaism and Christianity have stolen our successes. So let's destroy the infidels."
OCD means that one's brain has gotten stuck on a particular thought and just cannot let go. Since 998 out of every 1000 people are not Jewish, it would seem that a large number of very foolish people are both obsessive and compulsive with OCJ, relating to this miniscule, trivial group. Perhaps this idea even extends to the Hitlerian obsessive contamination problem which forbade swimming with or even touching Jews. Might this be the reason that Jews were thrown out of so many Arab countries?
With over 50% of UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Israel, not North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Iran, Libya or Iraq, one cannot say that it is simply all of the things that Israel may have done. When people hate or feel threatened about a belief system, it can only mean one thing. It threatens their own system and in all likelihood, renders it somewhat invalid.
The idea of Jewish Choseness has always been looked upon as arrogant and conceited. The truth is that America has taken on the role of sharing Choseness from God with the Jews. No wonder there are protests in Great Britain today. No wonder President Bush's effigy has been burned in almost every Arab and Muslim country. No wonder a large part of Europe has criticized America for bringing down another evil dictator.
It's a new disease... Obsessive-Compulsive America (OCA).
Irwin N. Graulich is a well known motivational speaker on morality, ethics, Judaism and politics. He is also President and CEO of a leading marketing, branding and communications company in New York City.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
9/11
Earl Krugel dedicated his life to fighting racism and hatred, the kind of hatred that was the prominent feature of 9/11.
Let us not forget that the number one target of the Arab Muslim extremists, who are murdering people every day around the globe, is the Jews.
May the Holy One Bless you and may we dedicate our prayers to Earl in memory of his sacrifice.
Let us not forget that the number one target of the Arab Muslim extremists, who are murdering people every day around the globe, is the Jews.
May the Holy One Bless you and may we dedicate our prayers to Earl in memory of his sacrifice.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
SOME THOUGHTS ON A HERO
Here's another letter we received on Earl's earlier Web Site.
(Name withheld per request)
Shalom my beloved brother Earl,
I have never met you but have the same blood in my veins as you. Its called Jewish blood.
I was born of a Swedish Jewish mother and an Austrian father.
You once called me a 'Lion of Judah,' and this was the greatest honor that was ever bestowed upon me by the most magnificent of men. I treasure the words.
I am a member of JDL in Australia.
You are a mensch of heroic stature .
Jewish heroes don't always whack baseballs or make billions of dollars in high-tech or lead troops into battle.
A Jewish hero could be the quiet lady next door who collects winter coats for the homeless. Or it could be Moses. Or a Holocaust survivor. Or a brilliant scholar like Albert Einstein.Or a man of courage and valor who defends our people with his very life, such as you, Earl.
You once said in a letter that you made many mistakes.
Every one of our heroes, with a capital H, had a flaw, Moses, for instance, killed an Egyptian taskmaster who was beating a slave. Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his relationship to Sarah.
In fact, human failings can make heroes more real and approachable. It allows us to emulate you. If you were perfect, you'd be out of our range of emulation.
The prototype of a Jewish hero is a far cry from the figures typically glorified by modern American culture.
In America, we're very much about publicity, about celebrity, about physical strength.
In Jewish culture, as you know, we look at things differently, We look at what they overcame and what they give to humanity. In Judaism, a hero can be measured by such traits as integrity, fortitude, courage and faith.
All of these qualities you possess in abundance.You serve as an example of how one should live his life.
I say a prayer for you daily.
Hashem Ehad
(Name withheld per request)
Shalom my beloved brother Earl,
I have never met you but have the same blood in my veins as you. Its called Jewish blood.
I was born of a Swedish Jewish mother and an Austrian father.
You once called me a 'Lion of Judah,' and this was the greatest honor that was ever bestowed upon me by the most magnificent of men. I treasure the words.
I am a member of JDL in Australia.
You are a mensch of heroic stature .
Jewish heroes don't always whack baseballs or make billions of dollars in high-tech or lead troops into battle.
A Jewish hero could be the quiet lady next door who collects winter coats for the homeless. Or it could be Moses. Or a Holocaust survivor. Or a brilliant scholar like Albert Einstein.Or a man of courage and valor who defends our people with his very life, such as you, Earl.
You once said in a letter that you made many mistakes.
Every one of our heroes, with a capital H, had a flaw, Moses, for instance, killed an Egyptian taskmaster who was beating a slave. Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his relationship to Sarah.
In fact, human failings can make heroes more real and approachable. It allows us to emulate you. If you were perfect, you'd be out of our range of emulation.
The prototype of a Jewish hero is a far cry from the figures typically glorified by modern American culture.
In America, we're very much about publicity, about celebrity, about physical strength.
In Jewish culture, as you know, we look at things differently, We look at what they overcame and what they give to humanity. In Judaism, a hero can be measured by such traits as integrity, fortitude, courage and faith.
All of these qualities you possess in abundance.You serve as an example of how one should live his life.
I say a prayer for you daily.
Hashem Ehad
Friday, August 11, 2006
The Captain and the Kid
We received lots of emails at Earl Krugel's previous web site.
We'd like to print some of them
Here's one I liked.
Zamir
I met Earl at the Men's Federal Correction Center.
I was a Corrections Officer at the jail when Earl first arrived.
The first thing you noticed about him was he had some kind of inner strength, he didn't seem aloof, exactly, but it was like he had, I don't know how to describe it, (I'm not much of a writer) a power that he drew on out of himself.
The first day, during report, one of the other "C.O."s" told me, "That's Earl Krugel, a high profile case, David, he's the West coast Chairman of the Jewish Defense League."
I'd read about the case, of course, and the nickname, "Captain Krugel" popped into my head, so I always called him "Captain."
I found myself drawn to him immediately,
I was having some problems at home, I was separated from my wife, and Earl had a way of reaching out to people.
With all the legal problems he had himself, he spent his time counseling everyone around him, and he reached out to me, as well.
Late one morning I was doing rounds, I made a check next to his name and remarked, in "comments", "studying Bible, no apparent problems, adjusting well."
"How you doing, captain?" I asked.
"I am well," he said, lowering his leather bound Jewish Bible. "And you, David, how are you?"
Although, like I said, I found myself liking Earl immediately, as a trained professional I always did my best to appear impassive while conversing with inmates.
"I'm fine, Captain, just dandy."
He smiled a little and said, "Your words say one thing but your eyes say another."
I looked at him, "You're guessing. But you're right. It's my wife. Last night I went by to see her and there was a man there. I almost lost it. I could have killed the dude."
Earl got up and walked towards me. "There is a strength." he said, a slight smile on his lips.
"What are you talking about, Captain?" I asked.
His right hand shot out through the bars and grasped mine in a gentle yet vise-like grip.
I'd never seen a move that quick, yet I didn't feel threatened.
Something was flowing from him to me.
"Pull your hand away." He said.
I couldn't move.
"It's the strength of our people, our faith and our G-d." He said, and let my hand go.
"Our G-d?" I shot back. "You mean the one who let most of my family be tortured and murdered by the Germans in Europe?"
Earl's eyes were hooded but burning with intensity.
"You seek to know why.
You don't understand, so you turn your back on your faith, your people, your wife, and your
G-d." I started to walk towards the next cell. "Don't preach to me, Convict." I snapped.
Earl had a composure that was unreal.
"You don't understand the birth of a sapling in a Redwood forest. You don't understand the crash of waves on every beach in the world, one after the other. You don't understand the tears in the eyes of a hungry child. You don't understand the explosion of a supernova which pulls solar systems into the void and returns a million verdant planets, so do you now turn your back on the universe?"
I just looked at him.
"Your wife is coming back to you, David. Take her to synagogue, return to our people. Make babies. Be a light to the nations."
I spoke over my shoulder, cynically, "What are you now, Captain, a prophet?"
He grasped his bible from the bed and and gracefully lowered himself onto the floor of the cell, crossing his legs, the Book on his lap. "I am a man, David. A child of G-d, like you."
The next day there was a small riot in the day room. Two black convicts were beating Hell out of some poor white kid.
A phalanx of C.O.s headed towards the scene to break it up.
Earl emerged from a crowd of screaming inmates, grabbed the two black guys, one with each hand, and pulled them off of the kid.
"Enough!" he shouted.
A strange stillness descended over the inmates. The disturbance was over that quick.
Later, during rounds, I stopped by Earl's cell.
"Captain." I nodded, holding my clipboard.
"David." he responded, still sitting in what he later told me was the "Lotus position" on the cement floor.
I looked towards him. "Don't get involved in inmate situations, Captain, that's our job."
He smiled, "As you wish."
Earl stood up and stretched, doing some slow ballet looking martial arts movements.
I went on, "My wife called last night, Captain, she wants to try again."
He detected the joy in my voice.
" A man and a woman. Two people, one flesh. Treasure her, my young friend."
Earl and I grew closer over the years. I was relieved, though saddened, when he was sentenced and assigned to what was considered a "nice" prison, as prisons go.
I went to wish him well as they called his name to roll up, but was called to another wing for an issue over there.
I almost missed him.
I trotted back to Earl's cellblock and saw him for what was to be the last time.
"Captain, Captain!" I yelled as Earl headed down the stairway, a saint like expression on his handsome face.
I broke and ran as he looked back vaguely in my direction.
In a minute he'd be gone and I'd never see him again.
I caught him as he stepped off of the metal stairway and put my hand on his arm.
He turned around and looked at me.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
"What?" he asked, softly.
"Good luck." I said, and hugged him fiercely.
They took him away and I never got to see him again, but I will never forget that remarkable man.
Nor will we, David.
Zamir
We'd like to print some of them
Here's one I liked.
Zamir
I met Earl at the Men's Federal Correction Center.
I was a Corrections Officer at the jail when Earl first arrived.
The first thing you noticed about him was he had some kind of inner strength, he didn't seem aloof, exactly, but it was like he had, I don't know how to describe it, (I'm not much of a writer) a power that he drew on out of himself.
The first day, during report, one of the other "C.O."s" told me, "That's Earl Krugel, a high profile case, David, he's the West coast Chairman of the Jewish Defense League."
I'd read about the case, of course, and the nickname, "Captain Krugel" popped into my head, so I always called him "Captain."
I found myself drawn to him immediately,
I was having some problems at home, I was separated from my wife, and Earl had a way of reaching out to people.
With all the legal problems he had himself, he spent his time counseling everyone around him, and he reached out to me, as well.
Late one morning I was doing rounds, I made a check next to his name and remarked, in "comments", "studying Bible, no apparent problems, adjusting well."
"How you doing, captain?" I asked.
"I am well," he said, lowering his leather bound Jewish Bible. "And you, David, how are you?"
Although, like I said, I found myself liking Earl immediately, as a trained professional I always did my best to appear impassive while conversing with inmates.
"I'm fine, Captain, just dandy."
He smiled a little and said, "Your words say one thing but your eyes say another."
I looked at him, "You're guessing. But you're right. It's my wife. Last night I went by to see her and there was a man there. I almost lost it. I could have killed the dude."
Earl got up and walked towards me. "There is a strength." he said, a slight smile on his lips.
"What are you talking about, Captain?" I asked.
His right hand shot out through the bars and grasped mine in a gentle yet vise-like grip.
I'd never seen a move that quick, yet I didn't feel threatened.
Something was flowing from him to me.
"Pull your hand away." He said.
I couldn't move.
"It's the strength of our people, our faith and our G-d." He said, and let my hand go.
"Our G-d?" I shot back. "You mean the one who let most of my family be tortured and murdered by the Germans in Europe?"
Earl's eyes were hooded but burning with intensity.
"You seek to know why.
You don't understand, so you turn your back on your faith, your people, your wife, and your
G-d." I started to walk towards the next cell. "Don't preach to me, Convict." I snapped.
Earl had a composure that was unreal.
"You don't understand the birth of a sapling in a Redwood forest. You don't understand the crash of waves on every beach in the world, one after the other. You don't understand the tears in the eyes of a hungry child. You don't understand the explosion of a supernova which pulls solar systems into the void and returns a million verdant planets, so do you now turn your back on the universe?"
I just looked at him.
"Your wife is coming back to you, David. Take her to synagogue, return to our people. Make babies. Be a light to the nations."
I spoke over my shoulder, cynically, "What are you now, Captain, a prophet?"
He grasped his bible from the bed and and gracefully lowered himself onto the floor of the cell, crossing his legs, the Book on his lap. "I am a man, David. A child of G-d, like you."
The next day there was a small riot in the day room. Two black convicts were beating Hell out of some poor white kid.
A phalanx of C.O.s headed towards the scene to break it up.
Earl emerged from a crowd of screaming inmates, grabbed the two black guys, one with each hand, and pulled them off of the kid.
"Enough!" he shouted.
A strange stillness descended over the inmates. The disturbance was over that quick.
Later, during rounds, I stopped by Earl's cell.
"Captain." I nodded, holding my clipboard.
"David." he responded, still sitting in what he later told me was the "Lotus position" on the cement floor.
I looked towards him. "Don't get involved in inmate situations, Captain, that's our job."
He smiled, "As you wish."
Earl stood up and stretched, doing some slow ballet looking martial arts movements.
I went on, "My wife called last night, Captain, she wants to try again."
He detected the joy in my voice.
" A man and a woman. Two people, one flesh. Treasure her, my young friend."
Earl and I grew closer over the years. I was relieved, though saddened, when he was sentenced and assigned to what was considered a "nice" prison, as prisons go.
I went to wish him well as they called his name to roll up, but was called to another wing for an issue over there.
I almost missed him.
I trotted back to Earl's cellblock and saw him for what was to be the last time.
"Captain, Captain!" I yelled as Earl headed down the stairway, a saint like expression on his handsome face.
I broke and ran as he looked back vaguely in my direction.
In a minute he'd be gone and I'd never see him again.
I caught him as he stepped off of the metal stairway and put my hand on his arm.
He turned around and looked at me.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
"What?" he asked, softly.
"Good luck." I said, and hugged him fiercely.
They took him away and I never got to see him again, but I will never forget that remarkable man.
Nor will we, David.
Zamir
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
We Need Answers
"Earl had tremendous inner strength. His words are a reminder that Earl was locked up physically but not mentally. He maintained his dignity and pride until the very end. "Rich Miller
"At Earl's sentencing, a Muslim cleric requested that Earl be given the maximum sentence. Why? Because the cleric believed that Earl was a serious threat to all Muslims. As events have unfolded, it was Earl who was in serious threat of receiving bodily harm. There is no doubt that Earl was murdered. However, there are doubts in regards to the investigation surrounding Earl's death. " Rich Miller
The American people have the right to know who sanctioned this martyrdom
As Tzemach Atlas of Mental Blog.com wrote:
First there was a post 9/11 FBI sting against JDL (see Irv Rubin - Wiki). They were eager to find a phantom threat while they (the FBI) missed the biggest terrorist plot in the worldÂ’s history. FBI "uncovered" a plan to bomb a mosque and a Lebanese-American congressman offices in LA. Earl Krugel and Irv Rubin were arrested after an FBI operative (Danny Gillis, who allegedly struck a deal with FBI to lighten his own criminal sentence) delivered explosives to Krugel's home in L.A. Three years ago Irv Rubin died in prison under mysterious circumstances, authorities say Rubin slashed his neck with a prison-issued razor blade and jumped 18 feet over a railing at a federal detention center in LA. Irv's friends called it a murder. See JDL: Today We Lost a True Hero. In September of this year IrvÂ’s codefendant Earl Krugel was sentenced to 20 years. Past Friday Earl Krugel was murdered in a federal prison in Arizona. ABC News: JDL Member Imprisoned in Bomb Plot Killed. ABC reports that Krugel pleaded guilty in 2003 to one count of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of worshippers at the mosque and one count of carrying an explosive device in connection with a conspiracy to impede or injure an office of the United States. Despite the plea, he was sentenced in September to 20 years in prison. The reasons for the collapse of an initial plea agreement were sealed, despite a lawsuit by news organizations, including The Associated Press, to make the details public. Why government secrecy in the case? Two Jews, defendants in the case engineered by the FBI were allegedly murdered in the federal custody. Are therAryanlim or Arian Brotherhood gangs targeting Jews in the federal prisons? There should be a full investigation. P.S. Will this story again fly under the radar of the official Jewish establishment?
posted by Tzemach Atlas at 7:24 AM
The Jewish Journal's Jim Crogan, wrote:
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16204
Almost nine months after the brutal prison-yard slaying of Earl Krugel, the longtime No. 2 man in the Jewish Defense League (JDL), federal authorities have indicted an inmate with no apparent ties to Krugel.
The suspect, David Frank Jennings, 30, allegedly attacked Krugel from behind with a piece of concrete hidden in a bag while Krugel was using an exercise machine at a federal prison in Phoenix.
The indictment, issued by a federal grand jury on July 19, offers neither details nor motive, asserting that Jennings "with premeditation and malice aforethought willfully kill[ed] and murder[ed] Earl Leslie Krugel."
Jennings is the only person charged in the killing, which took place in plain view. Authorities contend that Jennings acted alone.
"He was the only one charged. There was no conspiracy," said Ann Harwood, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office in Phoenix, Authorities would say little else, including anything about the motive of the alleged killer, a small-time repeat offender with nothing in his rap sheet to suggest either this level of violence or any particular animosity toward the 62-year-old Krugel.
Krugel had been transferred to the Federal Corrections Institute (FCI) Phoenix, a medium security prison, just three days before the assault. To date, there is no indication that Krugel and Jennings knew each other. "My husband was brutally murdered just a few days after he was sent to that prison," Lola Krugel said. "He wasn't there long enough to make any deadly enemies."
At the time of the attack on Krugel, Jennings was serving a 70-month sentence at FCI Phoenix for a 2003 bank robbery in Las Vegas, which netted him $1,040. Because Jennings had threatened the teller during the robbery, authorities eventually extended his plea bargain sentence from 63 months to 70 months.
Jennings, who lived in Oregon before moving to Nevada, has multiple convictions, but court records reviewed by The Journal did not indicate any association with racist or anti-Semitic groups in or out of prison.
In 1993,Jennings was convicted in Oregon on an Assault III charge; a "class C" state felony, which resulted in an 18-month state prison sentence. In 1994 he was arrested and convicted for unauthorized use of a vehicle and sentenced to six months in jail. In 1995, a probation violation cost him another six months.
He had apparently moved to Nevada by 1996. That same year he was arrested and pleaded guilty to state charges of grand larceny and unlawful possession of a credit card, for which he received a sentence of 16 to 72 months in state prison.
Krugel was transferred to the Phoenix facility to serve out the balance of a 20-year sentence, following his negotiated guilty plea to conspiracy, weapons and explosives charges. The high-profile case against Krugel and the JDL involved an abortive bombing plot against possible targets that included a Culver City mosque and the field office of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), an Arab-American of Lebanese descent.
A fitness fanatic, Krugel was using exercise equipment when he was blind-sided between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2005. Details of the assault did not emerge in previous reports; a review of the autopsy depicts a vicious attack.
His main injury was the initial blow to the back of his head, which crushed the left side of his skull and severely damaged his brain and brain stem. But his attacker also delivered multiple blows to Krugel's skull, face and neck, according to the autopsy, which was performed by the Maricopa County medical examiner and obtained by The Journal. Krugel suffered multiple skull fractures, internal bleeding and multiple lacerations to his head, face and brain. The beating knocked out teeth and also fractured one of his eye sockets. Krugel was pronounced dead at the scene.
His death marked the violent end, in prison, for both local leaders of an organization that advocated the use of violence, as necessary, in defending the interests of Jews. JDL head Irv Rubin died in 2002, at 57, from injuries he suffered after jumping or falling from a railing inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. Authorities ruled Rubin's death a suicide, though family members contested that finding. Krugel, a dental technician by trade, was Rubin's longtime close friend and second-in-command.
Krugel and Rubin were arrested in late 2001. They were accused, in the months following the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes, of plotting violent revenge against Muslims and Arabs. No attack was carried out. Krugel spent four years in federal lock-up in Los Angeles. It was the resolution of his case, with the guilty plea to reduced charges, that landed him in Phoenix.
Lola Krugel said she's relieved that someone has finally been charged in her husband's murder. But she and Krugel's sister, Linda, both expressed frustration and anger over the time it took to make an arrest, as well as the FBI's unwillingness to share information with the family.
"He did it right there in the open," said Lola Krugel, referring to the attacker. "There had to be witnesses and cameras. So why did it take so long for them to charge this man?"
The delay was not foot-dragging but a desire to get it right, said Patrick Snyder, assistant U.S. Attorney in charge of the criminal division in the Phoenix office: "Since the murder occurred in prison, we know the assailant is already in custody. So we're not under the same kind of time pressure to make an arrest that we are when a killer is still at large."
Lola Krugel filed a wrongful-death claim against the federal government in February, which has since been denied. The family says it's now preparing to file a civil lawsuit. The rejected claim had asked for $10 million for personal injury and $10 million for Krugel's wrongful death.
"It's an 'outrage figure,'" said family attorney Benjamin Schonbrun, a partner in the Venice-area firm of Schonbrun, DeSimone, Seplow, Harris and Hoffman. "A figure to illustrate the outrage Lola Krugel feels over the murder of her husband, plus the anger she felt over her inability to get any information from the government."
The staff of Earl Krugel Chai share this outrage.
Earl once said, "What happens to me is of little importance. What is important to me is that all people, including the Jewish people, have the right to life and freedom from persecution.
Jews were beaten on the campus of UCLA, no arrests, no investigation, no hate-mongers were imprisoned.
I say to all with ears to hear, Never Again."
This Mensch, this latter day David, will not be forgotten, and his battle is ultimately the battle we all must wage in our own way.
"At Earl's sentencing, a Muslim cleric requested that Earl be given the maximum sentence. Why? Because the cleric believed that Earl was a serious threat to all Muslims. As events have unfolded, it was Earl who was in serious threat of receiving bodily harm. There is no doubt that Earl was murdered. However, there are doubts in regards to the investigation surrounding Earl's death. " Rich Miller
The American people have the right to know who sanctioned this martyrdom
As Tzemach Atlas of Mental Blog.com wrote:
First there was a post 9/11 FBI sting against JDL (see Irv Rubin - Wiki). They were eager to find a phantom threat while they (the FBI) missed the biggest terrorist plot in the worldÂ’s history. FBI "uncovered" a plan to bomb a mosque and a Lebanese-American congressman offices in LA. Earl Krugel and Irv Rubin were arrested after an FBI operative (Danny Gillis, who allegedly struck a deal with FBI to lighten his own criminal sentence) delivered explosives to Krugel's home in L.A. Three years ago Irv Rubin died in prison under mysterious circumstances, authorities say Rubin slashed his neck with a prison-issued razor blade and jumped 18 feet over a railing at a federal detention center in LA. Irv's friends called it a murder. See JDL: Today We Lost a True Hero. In September of this year IrvÂ’s codefendant Earl Krugel was sentenced to 20 years. Past Friday Earl Krugel was murdered in a federal prison in Arizona. ABC News: JDL Member Imprisoned in Bomb Plot Killed. ABC reports that Krugel pleaded guilty in 2003 to one count of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of worshippers at the mosque and one count of carrying an explosive device in connection with a conspiracy to impede or injure an office of the United States. Despite the plea, he was sentenced in September to 20 years in prison. The reasons for the collapse of an initial plea agreement were sealed, despite a lawsuit by news organizations, including The Associated Press, to make the details public. Why government secrecy in the case? Two Jews, defendants in the case engineered by the FBI were allegedly murdered in the federal custody. Are therAryanlim or Arian Brotherhood gangs targeting Jews in the federal prisons? There should be a full investigation. P.S. Will this story again fly under the radar of the official Jewish establishment?
posted by Tzemach Atlas at 7:24 AM
The Jewish Journal's Jim Crogan, wrote:
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16204
Almost nine months after the brutal prison-yard slaying of Earl Krugel, the longtime No. 2 man in the Jewish Defense League (JDL), federal authorities have indicted an inmate with no apparent ties to Krugel.
The suspect, David Frank Jennings, 30, allegedly attacked Krugel from behind with a piece of concrete hidden in a bag while Krugel was using an exercise machine at a federal prison in Phoenix.
The indictment, issued by a federal grand jury on July 19, offers neither details nor motive, asserting that Jennings "with premeditation and malice aforethought willfully kill[ed] and murder[ed] Earl Leslie Krugel."
Jennings is the only person charged in the killing, which took place in plain view. Authorities contend that Jennings acted alone.
"He was the only one charged. There was no conspiracy," said Ann Harwood, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office in Phoenix, Authorities would say little else, including anything about the motive of the alleged killer, a small-time repeat offender with nothing in his rap sheet to suggest either this level of violence or any particular animosity toward the 62-year-old Krugel.
Krugel had been transferred to the Federal Corrections Institute (FCI) Phoenix, a medium security prison, just three days before the assault. To date, there is no indication that Krugel and Jennings knew each other. "My husband was brutally murdered just a few days after he was sent to that prison," Lola Krugel said. "He wasn't there long enough to make any deadly enemies."
At the time of the attack on Krugel, Jennings was serving a 70-month sentence at FCI Phoenix for a 2003 bank robbery in Las Vegas, which netted him $1,040. Because Jennings had threatened the teller during the robbery, authorities eventually extended his plea bargain sentence from 63 months to 70 months.
Jennings, who lived in Oregon before moving to Nevada, has multiple convictions, but court records reviewed by The Journal did not indicate any association with racist or anti-Semitic groups in or out of prison.
In 1993,Jennings was convicted in Oregon on an Assault III charge; a "class C" state felony, which resulted in an 18-month state prison sentence. In 1994 he was arrested and convicted for unauthorized use of a vehicle and sentenced to six months in jail. In 1995, a probation violation cost him another six months.
He had apparently moved to Nevada by 1996. That same year he was arrested and pleaded guilty to state charges of grand larceny and unlawful possession of a credit card, for which he received a sentence of 16 to 72 months in state prison.
Krugel was transferred to the Phoenix facility to serve out the balance of a 20-year sentence, following his negotiated guilty plea to conspiracy, weapons and explosives charges. The high-profile case against Krugel and the JDL involved an abortive bombing plot against possible targets that included a Culver City mosque and the field office of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), an Arab-American of Lebanese descent.
A fitness fanatic, Krugel was using exercise equipment when he was blind-sided between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2005. Details of the assault did not emerge in previous reports; a review of the autopsy depicts a vicious attack.
His main injury was the initial blow to the back of his head, which crushed the left side of his skull and severely damaged his brain and brain stem. But his attacker also delivered multiple blows to Krugel's skull, face and neck, according to the autopsy, which was performed by the Maricopa County medical examiner and obtained by The Journal. Krugel suffered multiple skull fractures, internal bleeding and multiple lacerations to his head, face and brain. The beating knocked out teeth and also fractured one of his eye sockets. Krugel was pronounced dead at the scene.
His death marked the violent end, in prison, for both local leaders of an organization that advocated the use of violence, as necessary, in defending the interests of Jews. JDL head Irv Rubin died in 2002, at 57, from injuries he suffered after jumping or falling from a railing inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. Authorities ruled Rubin's death a suicide, though family members contested that finding. Krugel, a dental technician by trade, was Rubin's longtime close friend and second-in-command.
Krugel and Rubin were arrested in late 2001. They were accused, in the months following the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes, of plotting violent revenge against Muslims and Arabs. No attack was carried out. Krugel spent four years in federal lock-up in Los Angeles. It was the resolution of his case, with the guilty plea to reduced charges, that landed him in Phoenix.
Lola Krugel said she's relieved that someone has finally been charged in her husband's murder. But she and Krugel's sister, Linda, both expressed frustration and anger over the time it took to make an arrest, as well as the FBI's unwillingness to share information with the family.
"He did it right there in the open," said Lola Krugel, referring to the attacker. "There had to be witnesses and cameras. So why did it take so long for them to charge this man?"
The delay was not foot-dragging but a desire to get it right, said Patrick Snyder, assistant U.S. Attorney in charge of the criminal division in the Phoenix office: "Since the murder occurred in prison, we know the assailant is already in custody. So we're not under the same kind of time pressure to make an arrest that we are when a killer is still at large."
Lola Krugel filed a wrongful-death claim against the federal government in February, which has since been denied. The family says it's now preparing to file a civil lawsuit. The rejected claim had asked for $10 million for personal injury and $10 million for Krugel's wrongful death.
"It's an 'outrage figure,'" said family attorney Benjamin Schonbrun, a partner in the Venice-area firm of Schonbrun, DeSimone, Seplow, Harris and Hoffman. "A figure to illustrate the outrage Lola Krugel feels over the murder of her husband, plus the anger she felt over her inability to get any information from the government."
The staff of Earl Krugel Chai share this outrage.
Earl once said, "What happens to me is of little importance. What is important to me is that all people, including the Jewish people, have the right to life and freedom from persecution.
Jews were beaten on the campus of UCLA, no arrests, no investigation, no hate-mongers were imprisoned.
I say to all with ears to hear, Never Again."
This Mensch, this latter day David, will not be forgotten, and his battle is ultimately the battle we all must wage in our own way.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Baruch HaShem
Earl never once complained about the evil treatment he received at the hands of a rogue government.
He talked about his love for the Yehudim, and his family, and his many supporters.
Although surrounded by Nazis and Muslims Earl showed no fear at all during his imprisonment at MDC.
It took a coward to sneak up from behind him to take his life.
Earl is a martyr and a Jewish Hero.
History will remember him as such.
Baruch HaShem
He talked about his love for the Yehudim, and his family, and his many supporters.
Although surrounded by Nazis and Muslims Earl showed no fear at all during his imprisonment at MDC.
It took a coward to sneak up from behind him to take his life.
Earl is a martyr and a Jewish Hero.
History will remember him as such.
Baruch HaShem
Friday, August 04, 2006
EarlKrugel.com, the web site, is gone.
The Webmaster was framed and incarcerated,
but the memory of Earl Krugel, OBM, lives on.
Below are some of the slanders directed against
EarlKrugel.com.
While Meir Kahane founded the JDL in New York in 1968, Irv Rubin brought the group to the west coast some time after. Two of his intimates were the brothers, Earl and Barry Krugel. Someone has started an Earl Krugel website in order to frame him as a Jewish hero and martyr.
Curious that there are no news reports when you search the name "Earl Krugel". There is, however, a website run in his name. Whilst searching I noticed that the old JDL site - jdl.org - has been suspended so maybe that was their last gasp. http://jewssansfrontieres.blogspot.com/2005/09/jews-cannnot-be-terrorists-part-ii.html
. Regardless of how idolized Krugel was (is he as great an American hero as convicted spy Jonathan Pollard?) by the extreme Jewish population within the U.S., the press shou
http://www.thesimon.com/magazine/articles/canon_fodder/01012_earl_krugel_terrorist.html
The Webmaster was framed and incarcerated,
but the memory of Earl Krugel, OBM, lives on.
Below are some of the slanders directed against
EarlKrugel.com.
While Meir Kahane founded the JDL in New York in 1968, Irv Rubin brought the group to the west coast some time after. Two of his intimates were the brothers, Earl and Barry Krugel. Someone has started an Earl Krugel website in order to frame him as a Jewish hero and martyr.
Curious that there are no news reports when you search the name "Earl Krugel". There is, however, a website run in his name. Whilst searching I noticed that the old JDL site - jdl.org - has been suspended so maybe that was their last gasp. http://jewssansfrontieres.blogspot.com/2005/09/jews-cannnot-be-terrorists-part-ii.html
. Regardless of how idolized Krugel was (is he as great an American hero as convicted spy Jonathan Pollard?) by the extreme Jewish population within the U.S., the press shou
http://www.thesimon.com/magazine/articles/canon_fodder/01012_earl_krugel_terrorist.html
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Shortly after 911 the FBI, in response to criticism by the Arab antidefamitionn league, claimed that the feds were not being
even handed in their hunt for terrorists, i.e., onlyArab terrorists were being arrested.
After a spatter of Jew beatings on the UCLA campus by Arabs affiliated with the King Faud Mosque in L.A., the FBI recruited an informer to agitate Irv Rubin and Earl Krugel into some type of illegal response.
Although reluctant to commit any crimes, both men, having lost family in the Holocaust, tentatively agreed to perform some type of minor, non lethal response to show the Arabs that such behavior, e.i.,Jew bashing, would not go unnoticed.
Danny Gillis, in the employ of the FBI, purchased explosives and delivered them to the home of Earl Krugel (OBM) who was immediately arrested and charged with terrorists acts.
Earl was placed in solitary confinement and tortured for two months.
After two years in jail he was forced to accept a plea agreement that amounted to life in prison without parole.
The day he arrived in prison he was murdered , although a mentally deficient patsy did the deed itself.
http://Jewishjournal.com wrote
The prison system in America protects pedophiles, murderers, rapists and…you guessed it, Islamic terrorists. When it comes to Jews, they turn their backs. Of course Jews represent the smallest minority in the prison system. That’s due to the fact that 99.9% of Jewish people are law abiding citizens that have done more good for society than any other group of human beings. They represent success, intelligence and more. They are are threat to many because of this. Jealousy, intolerance etc.manifest among the morons that can’t see their own feet because of a fat beer gut. Are people afraid to have Jews living on their street because they don’t want too many doctors in the neighborhood? Ever hear of Shabbas services in a prison? I’m sure The Nation of Islam has carved a nitch for themselves in the prisons of America because they recruit there as well.
I have over two hundred letters from Earl Krugeland Irv Rubin in prison, stay tuned for this in the next few installments.
Who paid the alledged killer? Why the delay in apphrehension?What was the gov'ts involvement?
even handed in their hunt for terrorists, i.e., onlyArab terrorists were being arrested.
After a spatter of Jew beatings on the UCLA campus by Arabs affiliated with the King Faud Mosque in L.A., the FBI recruited an informer to agitate Irv Rubin and Earl Krugel into some type of illegal response.
Although reluctant to commit any crimes, both men, having lost family in the Holocaust, tentatively agreed to perform some type of minor, non lethal response to show the Arabs that such behavior, e.i.,Jew bashing, would not go unnoticed.
Danny Gillis, in the employ of the FBI, purchased explosives and delivered them to the home of Earl Krugel (OBM) who was immediately arrested and charged with terrorists acts.
Earl was placed in solitary confinement and tortured for two months.
After two years in jail he was forced to accept a plea agreement that amounted to life in prison without parole.
The day he arrived in prison he was murdered , although a mentally deficient patsy did the deed itself.
http://Jewishjournal.com wrote
The prison system in America protects pedophiles, murderers, rapists and…you guessed it, Islamic terrorists. When it comes to Jews, they turn their backs. Of course Jews represent the smallest minority in the prison system. That’s due to the fact that 99.9% of Jewish people are law abiding citizens that have done more good for society than any other group of human beings. They represent success, intelligence and more. They are are threat to many because of this. Jealousy, intolerance etc.manifest among the morons that can’t see their own feet because of a fat beer gut. Are people afraid to have Jews living on their street because they don’t want too many doctors in the neighborhood? Ever hear of Shabbas services in a prison? I’m sure The Nation of Islam has carved a nitch for themselves in the prisons of America because they recruit there as well.
I have over two hundred letters from Earl Krugeland Irv Rubin in prison, stay tuned for this in the next few installments.
Who paid the alledged killer? Why the delay in apphrehension?What was the gov'ts involvement?
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