Words of the Week

“TAPPER: Senator Sanders told me that Israel’s response in Gaza was disproportionate — that was his word — leading to an unnecessary loss of innocent life.

And you told ‘The Atlantic’ in 2014 that — quote — ‘Israel did what it had to do to respond to the attacks.’

What do you make of Senator Sanders’ take on it, that it was disproportionate?

H. CLINTON: Well, he will have to speak for himself, but…

TAPPER: You don’t agree, though?

H. CLINTON: Well, I agree with what I said, which is, when you are being attacked with rockets raining down on your people, and your soldiers are under attack, you have to respond.

And I think that what I learned when I negotiated the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in 2012 is that Hamas provokes Israel. They often pretend to have people in civilian garb acting as though they are civilians who are Hamas fighters. And it’s a very difficult undertaking for Israel to target those who are targeting them.

And I think Israel has had to defend itself. It has a right to defend itself. It did not go seeking this. This was, you know, promoted by Hamas. And I support Israel’s right of self-defense.”

Source: “State of the Union,” 10 April 2016

#ImWithHer

Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links

Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • It’s unlikely that you’ve ever read a Jewish wedding story quite like the one Judy Bolton-Fasman shares in this essay.
  • Discussed at a marvelous study session last Shabbat (led by Sivan Butler-Rotholz): Stacey Zisook Robinson’s stunning Purim poem, “The Book of Esther.”
  • This week brought the latest Jewish Book Carnival. Check out all the latest news, reviews, and interviews from the world of Jewish books.
  • And from the “subset” world that I inhabit at Fig Tree Books came a fresh newsletter.
  • The week also brought the launch of an Israel-focused website that I’m proud to have helped create. (“My” content areas: “Arts & Culture” and “Getting Involved.” Which seems appropriate, yes?)
  • Shabbat shalom!

    Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • Mazal tov to Ruth Knafo Setton on winning the latest Jerry Jazz Musician New Short Fiction Award. Read the winning story–about a young Jewish boy in World War II Casablanca–online.
  • New addition to the English-language writing community in Israel: WriteSpace Jerusalem.
  • Ben Nadler chats with Catherine Tung about Judaism, punk rock, and his newest novel, The Sea Beach Line.” Courtesy of Fiction Writers Review.
  • “The Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee (BJPC) is seeking a writer/editor to work on a new book publication, starting immediately. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, BJPC is dedicated to the restoration of the Jewish sites in Bardejov, Slovakia – a UNESCO World Site Heritage; and to documenting the heritage and history of Jewish Bardejov. The writer/editor’s main task will be BJPC’s new publication, focused on pictures and documents that tell the stories of Jewish Bardejov before, during, and after the Holocaust.”  NB: “Preferable” job location for this position is Pasadena, California; “optional” location is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Job available in Los Angeles: “Reporting to the Program Director, PJ Library, the Program Coordinator helps to create, implement & promote PJ Library programming in addition to assisting with the general work of PJ Library in Los Angeles as needed.”
  • Shabbat shalom!