Comments on: Masada2000 Down Again; What Cynthia Ozick and Masada2000 Have in Common

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:16:47 +0000

You really seem to have a lot of personal enmity with the Masada2000 webmaster.

Gee, dya think…Me and the 7,000 other Jews he’s defamed at his site. I’d guess Michael Lerner might have quite a bit of that as well considering that the M2K chnyuk advocated that people go to Michael’s house and kill him.

I know the site is up. But he’s left himself vulnerable to future takedowns in ways I won’t discuss here.

If JTF posted pornographic images, called for the rape of Jewish female rabbis, and publicly featured the personal e mail addresses of 7,000 Jews then you might have a harder time of it as well. Not that the JTF forum doesn’t make every attempt to be equally as noxious. If one of the posters there had their way I’d have cancer of the rectum. Real klal yisrael.

By: WestCoastJTF

WestCoastJTF — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:55:04 +0000

You really seem to have a lot of personal enmity with the Masada2000 webmaster. Regardless, his site is back up and has been for a while.

I find it strange that he’d bounce hosting sites so often…the Jewish Task Force site has been working continuously for years (as the jtfarchive.org attests).

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:40:26 +0000

Silly wouldn’t begin to describe yr comment. It is wholly appropriate to compare Ozick & M2K because they have a similar hysterical streak when it comes to describing supporters of Israel who are willing to criticize it for its own good. Just as an example, Ozick attempted to disparage Lerner’s smicha which he gained through an entirely halachically valid ordination process. Guess what M2K tried to do a bit more luridly in the doctored image above? Smear Lerner’s smicha. As they say…birds of a feather flock together…

On the other hand, I have nothing in common with David Duke & comparing me to him would only show you to be a fool.

Since you’ve described Lerner as “hypercritic” allow me to call all Ozick & M2K hyperhysterics or hyperpatriots.

By: Liat

Liat — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:29:03 +0000

What a silly post. Smearing Ozick w/Masada 2000 is like smearing you with David Duke.
Guilt by association is a cheap trick that only desperate polemicists resort to - esepecially when they’re arguments are at their weakest.
Richard, you call yourself a progressive Zionist - so why is it so hard to understand that hypercritics of Israel, like the self-appointed Lerner, damage Zionism with their biassed & self-serving propoganda?

Shalom,
Liat S. - Tel Aviv

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:37:14 +0000

I have very similar positions as yours.

I call ‘em as I see ‘em. Many progressive Jews both value Lerner and criticize him as I do. Unlike you apparently I maintain a critical perspective on people & political issues. I can pick & choose what I like or agree w. regarding many Jewish figures.

Point to something online you have written that elucidates yr views & allow me & my readers to judge for ourselves. Till then I have only yr word to prove it & given the insults of yr previous comment yr credibility isn’t terribly high.

By: Rubino

Rubino — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:42:43 +0000

Richard,

If this is how you treat your “allies” than it is no wonder you are so obnoxious to those who positions you disagree with. You inability to acknowledge any shortcomings in your earlier post reveals even more about your person. You have no idea of my positions, so you cannot say whether or not I am an idealogical ally of yours. As it happens I have very similar positions as yours. But please, do not think of me as an ally. I see how you treat allies and I want nothing to do with it.

By: liberal white boy

liberal white boy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:23:13 +0000

Hey speak for yourself Rubino. There are alot of us that appreciate Silverstein’s efforts here.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:11:26 +0000

I consider myself a political ally (most of the time) of Lerner & speak freely about what I see as his weak spots. You sir are no ally of mine & the fact that I annoy you not only doesn’t distress me, on the contrary…

By: Rubino

Rubino — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:58:07 +0000

Cynthia Ozick is a very bright woman and very perceptive. While she may have blindspots about Israel, her concern about the hysteria against Israel and Jewish Americans is not unfounded. You yourself Richard have blind spots. Your arrogance is increasing weekly. Shall we count the ways that you annoy us as you do with Lerner?

It is interesting to see how you compare Ozick to the mentally unstable lads at masada2000, and then take her to task for comparing Lerner to Marx. Do you not see the hypocrisy? Your comment tells us reams about Richard Silverstein.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:21:29 +0000

I’ve followed her writing for a long time though I stopped quite a while ago. There’s no doubt that she’s a gifted writer and elegant stylist. In fact, her sense of style & politics remind me to some extent of Leon Wieseltier, TNR’s culture critic. But she’s shared Saul Bellow’s Commentary-oriented politics for a long time I’m afraid. It’s sort of hide-bound as Phil Weiss’ description of the event attendees bears out.