Expulsion of Jews (1992)

Today's cartoon is a Golden Oldie from 1992.

In 1492 the Jews of Spain were ripped out of their homes, towns, and villages and expelled. Exactly 500 years later, in 1992, the government of Spain apologised. Interestingly, that was the very same year that an American administration set as its goal the expulsion of the Jews of the "West Bank" from their homes, towns, and villages.

* * * From the New York Times (April 1, 1992):

500 Years After Expulsion, Spain Reaches Out to Jews

"In a poignant ceremony marking the 500th anniversary of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, President Chaim Herzog of Israel and Spain's King, Juan Carlos, prayed together in the synagogue of Madrid today. Their gesture symbolized reconciliation between their people.
For Mr. Herzog, it was an occasion that "closes one more of the many painful cycles in the history of our people." And he added: "We cannot change the past. But we can learn its lessons and thus assure a better future for ourselves and humanity."
For Juan Carlos, it was a chance both to pay homage to the exiled Sephardic Jewish communities that have never forgotten their Spanish roots and to tell Jews that Sefarad -- the Hebrew name for Spain -- was "no longer nostalgia" because the country was once again their home.
The King, who wore a skullcap, was accompanied by Queen Sofia. "It may seem odd to choose the anniversary of a separation for a meeting of such profound significance," he said. "But the history of all people and, without doubt, that of Spain, is full of lights and shadows." A Dubious Choice,
The expulsion edict of March 31, 1492, signed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in Granada, ordered "the departure of all Jews from our kingdoms with instructions that they should never return." Facing death if they stayed beyond July 31 that year, 100,000 to 200,000 fled the country." -more

I posted the 1992 cartoon because of the current expulsion orders coming out of Washington. Back then it was Republican George H.W. Bush with Secretary of State Baker, now it's Democrat Barack Obama with Secretary of State Clinton. Different names, different faces, different political parties. Seventeen years later and America's leader for "change" is giving us the old "same old". The 1992 cartoon closed with an angry Mr. Shuldig ...he's still angry.

Your thoughts?

Getting it Straight

Relations between America's new President and the Jewish State are rapidly deteriorating. To understand why, it would be helpful to take a close and analytical look at Obama’s Cairo speech. Such an analysis was done the day after the speech. It was written by Morton A. Klein, president of the ZOA (Zionist Organization of America).

Could this important document be the reason that Obama's meeting with American Jewish leaders left the ZOA out in the cold?!

To read the analysis click HERE.

Jewish Roadblock (1989)

Today's Golden Oldie is from 1989.

I drew this Dry Bones cartoon exactly twenty years ago today. In the cartoon I wrote that we were facing the rise of the "Shi'ite Jihad against the world". Shi'ism is the Iranian brand of Islam. If I were to do the cartoon today, I'd use the phrase the rise of "Iranian Islamofascism" instead.

* * * Allowing Jews to live in the Judean and Samarian districts of the West Bank is commonly called a "roadblock to peace". Today's Golden Oldie hints at the idea that throughout history, we have been a "Jewish roadblock to evil". Not a role that we seek, but rather one that we seem unable to escape.

Your thoughts?

the Zionist Congress (1978)

Today's Golden Oldie was published in March of 1978. Exactly thirty years ago this month.

The cartoon criticised the 29th World Zionist Congress for not dealing with the real problems that faced us back then. The punchline of the cartoon was that the idea of the Zionists facing the real problems was just a fairy tale.

Today, thirty years later, the policies of the current disastrous Olmert government raise new challenges to Zionism ...and demand a new, more assertive Zionist movement. Please see my previous posting on this problem, called the Zionist Idea.

the Zionist Idea

A couple of weeks ago, the organizers of an Israeli exhibition of cartoons about Theodore Herzl asked me to submit a cartoon for the show. Today's cartoon is what I drew and sent to them.

* * *

After the establishment of the State of Israel, Zionism faced questions like "What's left for Zionism to do?" and challenges like "If you want to be a Zionist go live in Israel."

I think that Zionists now, especially after the Olmert government's shameful decision to continue its policy of appeasement (even after the Yeshiva murders) have our answer. World Jewry needs to rediscover the Zionist dream. To understand that the State of Israel is a political entity which was set up to manage the Jewish homeland on behalf of its owners. Herzl's message seems even more revolutionary today than it was back then.

So what next? Do we need a new Zionist Congress?! Could the Jewish Agency and the Jewish National Fund rededicate themselves as representatives of World Jewry? Do we need to start a new 21st century Zionist movement?

What do you think?

Nu?