Jews in Kabul - 2002

This is a very unusual story that came out of Afghanistan in 2002. It’s a Chanukah story. It’s also a story of division; like that of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s; where no one knows why the trouble started, but neither is anybody going to give in anytime soon.

I save unusual news articles; have for years. I used to keep them tucked into books and crannies; and a couple of nooks here and there. These days I scan them, but every now and again I find one while re-reading a book, or putting my many stacks of papers in order. And I’m almost always pleasantly surprised by what I find.

Not much for me to write here aside from re-capping the story. It’s all in the article above, and I haven’t really got anything to add to it. Basically the story is of two men; both Jews; living in Afghanistan around the time of the American invasion after the events of 9-11.

Ishak Levin; a Persian Jew; pictured above, was 72 years old at the time. As a Jew he was a rarity in Afghanistan at the time. He lived a few doors down from the only other Jew around, Zebulaon Simentov, 42 years old, who hailed from Turkmanistan. The only conversation they would have that years was to ascertain whether or not it was, indeed, the first night of Chanukah.

Then they went off to light their candles separately, with Levin remarking that their families have celebrated Chanukah for thousands of years, but never with Simentov. He claims it is “not possible.”

When you read a story like this you have to wonder if there is any real hope for humanity. Here’s 2 Jews; living in the midst of people who would love nothing more than to see them dead; yet they can’t seem to unite even for one night to pray together.

And if you think this story is good, wait until next week when I post the one about the last Jew living in a small town in China…

"Zero Dark Thirty" with Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke (2012)

This is a gripping account of the 10 year hunt for Osama Bin Laden which ended in Pakistan. All of the tedium and stress involved in hunting down the mastermind of 9/11 comes through in this film. The tension is high and the stakes astronomical as the hunt goes forward, first by water boarding and torture, until each link in the chain has been unmasked, leading to Bin Laden himself.

As a matter of fact, after all of the tension involved in a decade of locating him, it is almost anti-climactic when he is discovered and killed. The myriad of secret retention facilities located around the world for use by our CIA is staggering. The amount of money spent in fighting both the war in Iraq and later in Afghanistan is simply mind boggling.

But more than any one thing which stands out in this film is the toll the hunt for Bin Laden took upon us, his enemies, both societally and emotionally. We were forced to face ourselves as well as the enemy, and we became almost as vicious and ruthless in our pursuit of this one man. It reeks of Ahab and Moby Dick, where the question is always whether good triumphs over evil, or simply becomes a victim itself.

If you have not seen this film it will astound you. Based upon true accounts the story highlights one woman’s belief in herself and the intelligence she was analyzing in the effort to find Bin Laden. Faced with the doubt of her senior analysts at the CIA’s Langley headquarters, she pushes on, losing something of herself in the hunt to bring down the world’s most wanted man. A must see film for many reasons.

Fantastic performances by Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke; along with tight direction and swift camera shifts; it is no wonder that this film garnered 5 Academy Award Nominations. It is simply that good. 

The Disposal of the Koran (Qur'an)

It has been alleged that the Koran (Qur'an) has become a means of communication between prisoners at Bagram Airfield, in Afghanistan. These books, considered holy by some, were defaced by the prisoners when they used them as a covert means of passing messages to one another. These defaced Korans (Qur'ans) were then thoughtlessly burned by Order of U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, who has since apologized. While his actions may seem to have been a rather "politically incorrect" way of solving the problem at the time, it is not altogether unfounded in Islamic law. The Islamic jurist Hanafi Imam al-Haskafi is the noted authority on the subject, but there are parts of his teachings which have not been aired by the media.

In all honesty, I am not a big fan of the Koran (Qur'an); which instructs its adherents to pray for my destruction 5 times a day; but I am a fan of accuracy, and so, in the name of accuracy; as well as curiosity; I was compelled to seek out information about the correct way to dispose of the Koran (Qur'an). It seems to me that the General was acting under circumstances which did not permit the preferred disposal of the Korans (Quar'ans). However, by virtue of the teachings of the noted Islamic scholar and jurist Hanafi Imam al-Haskafi, the General was acting in good faith, all be it unknown to him, at the time. The last paragraph describes the conditions under which the General was acting; he was very unlikely to have been able to destroy these defaced books without inciting violence. At the same time he would have been decried as a bigot if he had not replaced them. The following is what I found to be the general consensus amongst the Islamic sites which I used to answer the question in a fair and honest way.

Question: How does one get rid of unwanted religious literature, such as religious books, leaflets with the name of Allah, etc? Also, please state the ruling on what should be done to the copies of Qur’an that are no longer in a useable state:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer: In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

With regards to getting rid of unwanted religious and Islamic literature, the great classical Hanafi jurist (faqih), Imam al-Haskafi (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“Books that are no longer benefited from, one should wipe away the names of Allah, His Angels, and His Messengers, and burn the rest. There is also nothing wrong with casting them into a flowing river as they are (i.e. without wiping away those names) or burying them, and this (burying them) is better.” (Radd al-Muhtar ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar, 5/271)

Thus, if one decides to dispose of religious literature, the best thing would be to bury it by wrapping it in something pure first, in a place where people would not normally walk. It would also be permitted to tie the books and papers with something heavy and cast them into a flowing river. Alternatively, the literature may be burnt, but in this case, only after erasing the names of Allah, His Angels and His Messengers.

Disposing Unusable Copies of the Qur’an

As far as old and unusable copies of the Qur’an are concerned, it is not permitted to burn them unless there is no other way to dispose of them.

The great Hanafi Imam, Imam Ibn Abidin (may Allah have mercy on him) states:

“If a copy of the Mushaf (qur’an) becomes old and it is difficult to read from it, it should not be burnt in fire. This is what Imam Muhammad (m: student of Imam Abu Hanifa) pointed out and this is what we take. It will not be disliked to bury it. It should be wrapped in a pure cloth, and a Lahd grave (m: grave that has a incision in the side wall, customary in hot climate countries where the earth is solid) should be dug, because if a Shiq grave (m: grave with a straight opening, common in cold climate countries due to the earth being soft) is dug and the copy of the Qur’an is buried, it will entail the soil falling on top of the Qur’an which is a form of disrespect, unless a slab is placed as a roof…” (Radd al-Muhtar, 5/271)

In light of the above, there are two methods of disposing of an unusable copy of the Qur’an:

1) Wrapping it in a pure piece of cloth and burying it respectfully in a place where people (normally) do not walk about. In cold climate countries (such as the UK), one may dig a Shiq grave, but a slab should be placed first and over it the soil.

2) Fastening the Qur’an with a heavy object like a stone and then placing it respectfully in flowing water.

If one is able to implement the above two methods, it would not be permitted to burn the copy of the Qur’an. However, if the above two methods are difficult to carry out, then one may burn the Qur’an and bury or drown the resulting ash.
And Allah knows best

Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK

This site has proved useful in the past to debunk some of the things I have read in the papers and heard on the radio. It has also consistently squared itself with the Koran (Qur'an) at my local library. It's worth a visit;

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?221340-how-to-dispose-of-islamic-literature-in-a-halal-manner

Without a Draft - A Culture of Violence

Major Gabrielle Chapin, a spokeswoman for the Marines at Camp Pendleton, wants you to believe that the Marines pictured above in 2010 posed with what they thought was a flag denoting their status as Sniper Scouts. "I don't believe that the Marines involved would have ever used any type of symbol associated with the Nazi Germany military criminal organization that committed mass atrocities in World War II," Chapin said. "It's not within who we are as Marines." Bullshit.

I resent her implication that Marines are stupid. Almost every American has seen films of the Nazi's and the attendant World War Two atrocities. And most have heard of, or seen, the logo used by the dreaded SS as they stormed across Europe, murdering millions.

Compare the two images for yourself, the one above is identical; save for the blue background; from this photo of a real Nazi SS flag used in World War Two. The Major’s explanation does not wash clean. It would seem that I hold the Marines in more respect than the good Major does, because I expect more of them as Americans.

Yes, their job is tough. Yes, the battlefield is not always the place for political correctness; a doctrine in which I do not believe anyway; but this photo, and these men in it, are not representative of real American values. And that is why we so desperately need to re-instate the draft. Only by having a cross section of Americans involved in defending her interests abroad can our nation accomplish anything for the better.

When you take a culture of violence, as we have here in America, and combine it with a bad economy and two wars, you get only the bottom feeders in the lower ranks. Highly impressionable young men; some with only high school and some video games behind them; make up the bulk of those who enlist. This brews a culture of acceptable violence, and when coupled with a severe lack of responsible and intelligent leadership, the result can only be what you see above.

This is not the first time in which the symbol has appeared in recent years. It has even been used in training of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines sniper group based in Twentynine Palms, California as far back as 2004. This is further evidence of Major Chapin's obfuscation, and evasion of the issue. The fact that this symbol is even used for training should enrage all Americans. And, if you had a relative in World War Two, this should disgust you.

I am a Navy Veteran, and I served alongside many Marines in my enlistment. And later, as a member of Military Sealift Command, I sailed with many more. They were all fine young men, doing their duty. None of the Marines I knew would have ever posed with that Nazi flag, the difference in color notwithstanding. I'm afraid that Major Chapin needs to go back to school and learn how to more appropriately perform what is clearly "Damage Control" on behalf of the United States Marines.

"Lions for Lambs" with Meryl Streep, Robert Redford and Tom Cruise

This is a political drama starring Robert Redford as an idealistic and patriotic University Professor with a penchant for helping his students find "greater meaning" to their lives. He is a Vietnam Veteran who protested the war upon his return and has deep misgivings about the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. But, through his lectures, concerning the "meaning of life and" and the individuals "responsibility" to society, he has already had 2 students join the Army and go to Afghanistan. Their story is told in seperate vignettes that all take place at the same time as the main story, with time zones noted. He is now, once again, counseling one of his more gifted students to think about giving more "meaning to his life."

At the same time, Tom Cruise, playing a powerful Senator, is granting an exclusive interview to Meryl Streep, who plays a powerful newswoman. He "leaks" the story to her outlining the new "Win At All Cost" Strategy that is unfolding in Afghanistan. This story is also told alongside of the 2 soldiers in Afghanistan, who are by now fighting just to remain alive.

On the surface it is an overtly political story, but beneath that there are sub currents much more meaningful. Exploring the lies and deceptions that are perpetuated by those in power, and spread by the ever hungry media, enables the viewer to make the comparison to those who live, and die, by these questionable decisions.

But the true, and more central meaning of this film concerns our common state as fellow human beings. In every way, we are responsible for one another. Whether for good or for bad, the influences we choose to have upon one another, are the very things that connect us.

With outstanding performances by all, and directed with great clarity by Robert Redford, this is a film worth watching. And as an added incentive, it will also make you think.

Firing a General - Nothing New

Harry Truman summed it up best when he said that "the only thing new is the history you don't know." Apparently General McChrystal didn't get this memo. Neither did General MacArthur in 1950. Nor did General McClellan during the Civil War. (It's kind of hard to miss that all three Generals were Mc's or Mac's. Just one of those coincidences of history that probably have no meaning, but worth noting anyway.)

All this noise will pass rather quickly, as did the MacArthur incident. (For the best account of that affair see Chapter 24 of "Plain Speaking- The Oral Autobiography" by Harry Truman with Merle Miller.)

Our Government is based on Civilian Rule. The Commander in Chief is the last word in what the Generals do or don't do. It's that simple. And I find it a bit amusing that the biggest complaints about the President firing General McChrystal come from the Right, who are ever so "vigilant" about safe guarding our Constitution. They seem to be unconcerned by McChrystal's actions, which are, of course, in direct contravention to the laws contained within that "holy" document, not to mention the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

And "holy" is an apt description of the Constitution. I have several copies on hand. Two are in Almanacs, one is in my Heritage Foundation Pocket Edition, and the fourth is on my flashdrive, which is always with me. They represent, to me, who we are as a people and what we believe in as a Nation. We believe in Civilian Rule. We are a Nation of Laws. I hope that former General McChrystal understands that now.

Movie Review:The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery and Michael Caine

In 1975 John Huston released his epic version of a 15 page short story by Rudyard Kipling and 2 Geniuses collided. The film is long, about 2 and 1/2 hours, but when it is over you are left longing for more.

Set against the backdrop of India during the late 1800's the scenery and costuming are perfect. The opening scene alone, which is a smorgasbord of an Indian market place in Calcutta, is as accurate today as it was then.

The film opens in Kiplings office at the Northern Star, where he is a correspondent.(Kipling is played by Christopher Plummer) The rest of the movie is a flashback told through the eyes of Peachy Carnahan (played by Michael Caine.)

From the theft of Rudyard Kiplings watch by Peachy Carnahan in a Calcutta train station, a chain of events ensues locking the three main characters in a saga that will take "three summers and a thousand years" to come to a conlusion. Their relationship is grounded in the fact that they are both Masons and bound to one another by this connection. The implications of this are far reaching and though Kipling is only in the movie at the beginning and at the end, he is with you through the entire story in spirit. This is Direction and Screenwriting at it's best!

Character development is the key to writing a screenplay. More so when the entire screenplay comes from a short story with so little clue as to who these guys really are. Huston delivers on that score, serving up 2 of the most cagy and uncanny anti-heroes to ever cross a screen.

The 2 principal characters, Peachy Carnahan and Danny Dravot(played by Connery)are so accessible, so familar, and grow so close to you, that you want them to reach their goal.

The plot of course, centers on Peachy and Danny. They are intent on going through the Kyber Pass disguised as Hindus, Caine as a trader and Connery as a dumb Priest.(Wait until you see Connery doing a Whirling Dervish as he tells fotunes in a language of his own device, with Caine translating.)

The journey across the mountains and through an avalanche is awe inspiring. They face death more than once, singing and rejoicing in the events that have lead them to their fruitless ends. But another event saves them and they find themselves in what is today the mountains of Northern Afghanistan, past the Hindu Kush, where they intend on establishing themselves as Kings.

Meeting the local Chieftains they vow to help conquer all their enemies. They only wish to take some "small souvenirs" as a reward. But somewhere along the way, being King becomes attractive to Connery and they push on past their original intent. This leads to disaster and also to one of the most noble scenes on film as Connery pays the ultimate price for having lost sight of himself.

Of special interest is the character Roxanne, who is played by Caines wife Shakira. She literally fell into the role at dinner one night when Huston was discussing who they could cast. She is one of the events that trip our heroes up as they struggle onward towards their goal of becoming Kings.

An extraordinary work, this film should not be missed. To make a 2-1/2 hour epic from a 15 page short story takes some talent and imagination. This movie has both in abundance.