Pope Benedict XVI has used his traditional Christmas Midnight Mass to
call for an end to "hatred and violence" in the Middle East, implying that
it is all Israel's fault by saying "hearts will be opened, so borders will
be opened".
He said nothing about the fact that Christians living in the Hamas-controlled
Gaza Strip are holding only small, quiet Christmas celebrations after local
leaders received warnings from Muslim groups against any public display
of Christianity this holiday season. He was silent about the fact that
Bethlehem has become a Muslim city because Christians have been driven
away by Muslim violence and intimidation, which has dramatically increased
since the PA took over Judea. He also forgot to pray for the Christmas
who have been killed in Iraq and are persecuted through all Islamic world.
For perverse reasons, based of two millennium history, Israel - the
Holly Land which the Pope is in no hurry to visit, while playing all sort
of political mind games - is the highest concern of the Church and his
Holiness! He has said nothing about the suffering of the Jews, especially
the children of Sderot, from Islamic terror. There was no attempt to make
confession for the past demonic deeds the Church has inflicted upon Jews.
The Church made Apologies: to Australian aborigines; to Africans for slavery,
which the Catholic Church made legal; to the victims of abuse by priests
and nuns. But a whole-hearted and unadulterated apology to Jews is not
in the mind of the Church. So much for the Christmas time. Reconciliation
for all but not for Jews!
This article is written not as an anti-Catholic or anti-Christian statement.
It is a call for true reconciliation and partnership. We are facing a global
threat from expansionism. We are all in their target list - Israel is the
first entry! Most Jews feel that the word "reconciliation", which has become
so fashionable word now in the Vatican, is not meant for Jews. Please,
prove us wrong!
Russian version
An introduction to MAOF
Haim Goldman
Haim Goldman
Dear Friends,
Would you believe that the undersigned has anything in common with
-- Professor Victor Davis Hanson (Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University),
-- Dr Charles Krauthammer, (Washington Post, Time, The Weekly Standard),
-- Caroline Glick (Deputy Managing Editor of the Jerusalem Post),
-- Jonathan Tobin (Executive Editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent).
Amazingly, the editors of the MAOF website decided that the missives of the undersigned are worthy of translation and posting along the articles written by these distinguished authors.
The first letter was published without the consent of the undersigned.
However, after thorough examination of the laudable attitude of MAOF and of the excellent contents of the website, the undersigned had most graciously granted his permission for publication of his missives in both English and Russian.
“Analytical Group MAOF” [1] is an organisation founded about ten years ago by Russian-speaking Jewish intellectuals. The attitude of MAOF is definitely pro-Zionist -- unambiguously and unapologetically.
One of MAOF’s primary purposes is providing information and analysis about Middle-Eastern and world affairs as well as about Israel’s history, values and dilemmas. In addition to extensive publication activity in various media, MAOF also organises excursions and seminars. While the vast majority of the contents of the MAOF website is in Russian, texts originally written in English are provided in the original [2] as well as in Russian.
There are arguably about 250 millions of Russian-speakers worldwide and many of them do not read English. The indisputable motivation for the author’s permission was to grant those millions of disadvantaged people the grand benefit of reading the author’s ruminations. If the author is ever maliciously accused that his tacit motivation for authorising the publication was his craving to be listed along with the above-mentioned distinguished writers, his plea will definitely be “nolo contendere”.
The editors of MAOF expressed their gratitude by granting the undersigned a privilege that no other author got – the opportunity to review and correct the Russian translation before publication. The original letters of the undersigned are at [3] and their Russian version is at [4]. At of today, only two letters are posted but several other letters are pending translation.
You are kindly ENCOURAGED TO RECOMMEND the MAOF website to your friends and colleagues worldwide, particularly those who speak Russian. Those who do not enjoy the benefit of proficiency in the exquisite Russian language can find many thought-provoking and inspiring articles about Middle-Eastern and world affairs in the English section [2].
Sincerely,
Haim Goldman
28.10.2006
REFERENCES:
[1] http://maof.rjews.net
[2] section.php3? sid=37&num=25
[3] authorg.php3? id=2107&type=a
[4] authorg.php3? id=2166&type=a