Israellycool

Ok, not quite, but watch the overzealous reporter in this story on New Zealand Jews, who can’t keep her hands off the Rabbi.

Hat tip: Shy Guy

Here’s video of a Muslim woman insulting a Christian preacher, prompting the preacher to state that Mohammed was a pedophile.

Hilarity ensues.

Detractors of President George Bush love to insinuate that he is no Einstein.

They may have a point.

Speaking of the “promise of God” for a “homeland for the chosen people” in Israel, Bush told the Knesset after a visit to the Roman-era Jewish fortress at Masada: “Masada shall never fall again, and America will always stand with you.”

Clearly not Einstein-like.

Albert Einstein described belief in God as “childish superstition” and said Jews were not the chosen people, in a letter to be sold in London this week, an auctioneer said Tuesday.

The father of relativity, whose previously known views on religion have been more ambivalent and fuelled much discussion, made the comments in response to a philosopher in 1954.

As a Jew himself, Einstein said he had a great affinity with Jewish people but said they “have no different quality for me than all other people”.

“The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish.”

So there you have it. Bush is indeed no Einstein, at least on this matter.

Thank G-d for that.

Update: Yes I do realize President Bush’s insistence on a palestinian state is at odds with his professed beliefs. But how can we expect the President of the US to be more Right wing than the government of Israel, which itself accepted the idea of a palestinian state long ago?

Here is some promising news from the Land Down Under.

When 120 students of Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths came together yesterday, the talk was not just about religion but Australia’s soccer success against Uruguay and Australian Idol.

At lunchtime, 40 year 11 students, wearing hijabs (Muslim headscarves), Christian crosses and the kippa (Jewish skullcap), formed themselves into a circle to play ball.

Coming so soon after police raids on suspected Muslim terrorist cells, the encounter was a delight to behold, said Vic Aldaheff, the chief executive officer of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

At a time when there was so much tension and mistrust, “what this program does is dispel racial and ethnic stereotypes”, he said. “The students see each other as people and get to know each other as people.

“They are Australian kids proud of their religious identity. Most have never met someone of a different faith, let alone had a chance to know one.”

The Youth Encounter’s program is in only its second year. Last year, 60 year 11 students from three schools were brought together for a day of classroom interaction.

The program is organised by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Affinity Intercultural Foundation. Before coming together, the students spent six weeks learning about each other’s faiths, as well as their own.

Next year it is hoped the program will grow by another three schools and 60 students.

Mehmet Ozalp, the president of the Affinity Intercultural Foundation (website here -ed.), said a website was under construction so students could help stay in touch and take the message of tolerance and harmony to university.

Dialogue between the faiths needed to be an integral part of state education policies, he said.

“The world is moving from a multicultural to a multifaith society where faith is becoming a more of factor in how we identity ourselves.

“We hope we are planting the seeds of something that will grow in influence in society.”