24 thoughts on “Jews Without Mercy in Seattle and Washington DC – Tikun Olam תיקון עולם إصلاح العالم
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  1. Richard – I urge you to change the title of your article “Jews Without Mercy in Seattle and Washington DC”. It can create antisemitism though it isn’t your intention.

    1. @ Judy Green: I don’t think you understand what this blog and I are about. Anti-Semitism is NOT a major problem facing world Jewry. And much of the anti-Semitism that exists is fed by Israeli attacks on Arabs states and Muslims. Further, anti-Semitism is also fueled by people like Donald Trump. It is not my responsibility to protect Ari Hoffman or Israel from the full force of their own hatreds.

    1. @David Lange: you have as much impact in this eiection as a Flea on an elephant. in fact your meddling will cost him votes because unlike in Beit Shemesh, people in Seattle hate hoaxers like you. They also hate foreigners trying to influence our domestic affairs. Something you meddlesome Israelis do regularly.

      My fake brother you invented and misdoxxed sends his regards by the way.

      Ari Hoffman can’t get elected dog catcher in Seattle. But if he makes Aliyah he’ll probably get elected PM.

  2. Richard said:

    ” Russak was responsible for ousting the synagogue’s distinguished Rabbi Moshe Kletenik ”

    Having read the comments to the link you provided at,

    https://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2012/07/former-rca-head-forced-out-at-shul-567.html,

    I come away with the feeling that Rabbi Kletenik’s relationship with the Board and the congregation was complex.

    Your claim that Russak was responsible for ousting Rabbi Kletenik seems simplistic, to say the least.

    1. @,P Spot: unlike you, I read much more than the Failed Messiah report. I read accounts even less flattering about Russak’s behavior than that. My overall judgement is based on my comprehensive research.

  3. Thank you for the rundown on Seattle politics vis a vis some orthodox Jews, and more widely, your well put words about “universalism versus particularity”. Though it pertains to Jews for sure, here and in Israel, it has a broader application, especially noticeable now here in Trump time.The monsters are out of the closet. Humans divide like this it seems. Now no political correctness or hiding true feelings, ones that reject universal values.I just cannot understand the disconnect (and corruption) within the major monotheistic religions unless religion itself, is subject to being universalist or particularist embracing both.So it seems. My prejudice is that the universalist is the more evolved and the particularist is an abuse and negation of what Joseph Campbell talked about: the “perennial philosophy”.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_philosophy

  4. Richard said: “My overall judgement is based on my comprehensive research.”

    Was Russak ‘mechalel shabbos’ for driving in a car on shabbat, or, as is claimed, Russak was involved in one incident, shabbos post 9/11 when he was on a intercontinental jet flight his way home?

    That’s a big difference, depending on who you believe. What did your research reveal?

    1. @ P SPot: Gee, unlike you I trust Rabbi Kletenik’s judgement on this matter. He determined that Russak violated Shabbat when he didn’t have to. As a result he deprived him of a great honor because he felt that Russak had betrayed halacha and his high status in the community. I’m with the good rabbi and you’re with a egotistical, power-hungry Jewish fatcat. That says all we need to know.

      You are done in this thread.

  5. No Richard, Ari Hoffman did not ‘invent a homeless murder that never happened’.
    What Hoffman really did was to share a partially false social media post that was posted by an anonymous tipster; which mistake Hoffman has owned up to.

    https://patch.com/washington/seattle/seattle-council-candidate-backs-false-homeless-murder-story

    BTW, I believe Hoffman’s efforts to prevent desecration of a Seattle Jewish cemetery by homeless people is laudable, same as I believe Hoffman’s fundraising for a ‘jobs for homeless’ program called ‘Millionair Club’ is laudable as well.

    https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle-cemeteries-hire-guards-after-homeless-camp-complaints/281-557737314

    How can a Jew who raises money to help find jobs for the homeless be a ‘Jew without mercy’?

    I was taught that the highest form of tzedakah is to help someone find a job or set them up in business.
    https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/256321/jewish/Eight-Degrees-of-Giving.htm

    Richard. You also told David Lange that the people of Seattle, “..also hate foreigners trying to influence our domestic affairs”

    Richard aren’t you a foreigner trying to influence the domestic affairs of the State of Israel?

    1. @ P Spot:

      What Hoffman really did was to share a partially false social media post that was posted by an anonymous tipster

      “Partially false?” Was there a headless body of a murder victim or not? No, there wasn’t. It was entirely a hoax.

      Was the hoax perpetrated anonymously, as you claim? Not really. Ari himself credited Safe Seattle, an organization that is his chief base and support, with the story. So for all I know Hoffman and Safe Seattle could easily have been in cahoots about creating the hoax from the get-go.

      I believe Hoffman’s efforts to prevent desecration of a Seattle Jewish cemetery by homeless people is laudable

      Unlike you, I believe Ari Hoffman and everything he stands for is a hoax. So I don’t even know for a fact that a cemetery is being desecrated. But even if it is, the solution is to spend money on housing, job training, and substance abuse treatment for the homeless. Tell me how much money he’s raised for that. Or how much he’s advocated being spent on that. What’s that you say? None. Hmm, damn. How’s that possible.

      Ari Hoffamn is finding jobs for the homeless? How many jobs? Who precisely did he find jobs for?

      I was taught that the highest form of tzedakah is to help someone find a job or set them up in business.

      It is typical of you to quote Chabad as if it is the arbiter of everything Jewish. Chabad is repulsive. At any rate, the highest form of tzedakah according to Rambam’s principles is charity given anonymously. Nothing Ari Hoffman does is anonymous. Giving tzedakh and demanding credit for it or promoting your good deed is actually one of the lowest forms of charity. Look it up…

      Richard aren’t you a foreigner trying to influence the domestic affairs of the State of Israel?

      David Lange is an Australian-Israeli attempting to influence a U.S. municipal election. I am a Jew who’s devoted myself to chronicling Israeli affairs. Last I checked, Jews were encouraged to express their concern and dedication to Israel. Zionists have spent decades seeking Diaspora Jewish input and support for their cause. You mean to say a Jew whose views you don’t like is treif. But a Diaspora Jew whose views you like is kosher? Hmm, what’s wrong with this picture?

      Further, I have never advocated Israelis vote for any particular candidate or party. Unlike Lange. Finally, Lange is a liar and a fraud. He wakes up in the morning and the first thing he thinks of is how he can propagate another hoax on behalf of his disgusting goals. I don’t lie. I don’t propagate hoaxes.

      I am glad that Lange is trying to help Hoffman’s campaign. They are both charlatans and neither will fool Seattle voters. They will be repulsed by both of them and their shenanigans.

    1. @ Judy Green: Earl Shorris wrote the book and he didn’t title it “Zionists Without Mercy.” He titled it Jews Without Mercy, and specifically it was meant as a dichotomy between Jewish neocons and Jewish ethical tradition. So “Jews” it is.

      With all due respect, I write the blog. I always say when someone recommends that I write something differently than I have, that they give this a shot themselves. You clearly have ideas of what should or should not be said. Rather than tell me uninvited what I should be doing, do it yourself.

  6. ” At any rate, the highest form of tzedakah according to Rambam’s principles is charity given anonymously”
    You are wrong, it is the second according to the Rambam:

    מַעֲלָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁאֵין לְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנָּה זֶה הַמַּחֲזִיק בְּיַד יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמָּךְ וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ מַתָּנָה אוֹ הַלְוָאָה אוֹ עוֹשֶׂה עִמּוֹ שֻׁתָּפוּת אוֹ מַמְצִיא לוֹ מְלָאכָה כְּדֵי לְחַזֵּק אֶת יָדוֹ עַד שֶׁלֹּא יִצְטָרֵךְ לַבְּרִיּוֹת לִשְׁאל. וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא כה-לה) “וְהֶחֱזַקְתָּ בּוֹ גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב וָחַי עִמָּךְ” כְּלוֹמַר הַחֲזֵק בּוֹ עַד שֶׁלֹּא יִפּל וְיִצְטָרֵךְ:

    1. @ avram: My familiarity with Rambam’s principles of tzedakah go back a few decades. Looks like I was rusty.

      But Hoffman’s tzedakah is nothing like what Rambam envisioned. He claims to give jobs to the homeless. We don’t know who he’s given jobs to, how many people he’s given jobs to, what he asks them to do, whether and how much he pays them. Not to mention that he’s publicly bragged about this so-called act of charity. This certainly violates Rambam’s other principles dictating that the best, highest forms of charity are anonymous. There is nothing anonymous about Hoffman. He is a grandstander, braggart, and publicity seeker. Those are not Jewish values.

      As for Chabad, it is one of the worst, most reactionary, most intolerant forms of Judaism and I do not find it worthy of crediting in any way, shape, or form.

  7. @Richard

    “Ari Hoffman is finding jobs for the homeless? How many jobs? Who precisely did he find jobs for?”

    Since your asked, Richard, Ari Hoffman gives homeless people jobs working for his own companies.
    https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2294549984148379

    And earlier this year, Hoffman staged “Inflatacon 2019,” a fundraiser for Mary’s Place, which provides family shelters.

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/controversial-jewish-seattle-city-council-candidate-gets-online-death-threats/

    1. @P Spot: You didn’t answer my question. How many jobs has he created? For whom? How long have they lasted in his employment?

      I also asked and you conveniently neglected to answer how much housing has he built as a real estste developer for the homeless? You know the abswer;: none. How much has he donated to substance abuse, job training or housing for the homeless?

      You are done in this thread.

      As for Mary’s place: how much did he raise? Compared to the tens of millions he and his father in law are worth?

  8. I sent you a post correcting your post on charity and you did not post it. So it seems now you are מגלה פנים בתורה לא כהלכתה.
    Have you no principles?
    And BTW I always ‘surf’ via a VPN as I work in a ‘sensitive’ area.

    1. @ avram: I have no idea what “post on charity” you’re talking about since you sent no link. Nor did you use either this handle or e mail address when you posted whatever you posted. So I can go back and try to find whatever you’re talking about. For someone who works in a “sensitive area” you’re not terribly sophisticated at these things.

      I read every comment posted and if I thought your “correction” was relevant, pertinent or useful I assure you I would’ve published it. I publish many such comments and acknowledge corrections when warranted. Presumably, yours was not.

      The fact that you’re in essence calling me a bad Jew doesn’t surprise me at all.

  9. You criticized P Spot for him using Chabad as a source{as if it matters} and you told him to look it up in the Rambam.
    He stated the highest level of charity is to give a person work or a loan not charity and you said it was to give anonymously which is actually the number 2 level. I included the Hebrew from the Rambam in the post.
    You should correct that.

    1. @ avram: I don’t know why this happened, but my spam filter caught several comments it shouldn’t have. Those comments go into a spam queue I rarely review. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I’ve responded to your original comment and published it. Sorry for the confusion.

  10. @Richard
    @avram

    Richard. If you had bothered to listen to the video links I provided, you would know that Ari Hoffman gave three (3) homeless people jobs working for his company. These three (3) workers came recommended to Hoffman by the Millionair Club, a Seattle organization that helps the homeless.

    You’re taking a swipe at Hoffman for not donating anonymously is unfair.
    Firstly, you don’t know what Hoffman does anonymously, and second, Hoffman is ‘publicly bragging’ about how GOOD his homeless workers are! How the homeless workers he’s hired outperform the other workers in his hire.

    Speaking publicly about homeless charities like Mary’s Place and Millionaire Club is not bragging, it is publicity, given in order to get the word out about the good works these charities do, and to induce businessmen to hire the homeless and to get ordinary folk to donate to these worthy charities.

    Bobo out.

    1. @ P Spot: First, I told you you were done in this thread. You ignored me. Don’t do that again. You have one grace ‘period’ here after such disregard. The next time, there will be no grace.

      Holy moly! There are tens of thousands of homeless people in Seattle and he gave THREE whole jobs! For that, Rambam would be proud. In fact, he’d hold up Ari Hoffman as an avatar of tzedakah.

      As for what Hoffman does, anonymously or otherwise, I know. He doesn’t do anything anonymously. Would Donald Trump do charity anonymously? No. In fact, he wouldn’t do it at all. And Hoffman is not much better. As for Hoffman bragging about how hard his homeless workers work, I bet a few Southern slave owners said the same about their “darkies” (their word, not mine). Do you realize how paternalitic you and Hoffman sound?

      Don’t ignore me next time I tell you you are done in this thread.

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