The Rev. John Hagee, “the other pastor” in this already nasty presidential election, has not surprisingly made statements that have angered many Jews. High among the list are comments suggesting that the Holocaust was necessary to bring the Jews back to Israel which, of course, would lead to the return of Jesus – and you know what for those who decline to polish the rosary beads that the modern disciples will dish out at Ben-Gurion Airport.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at first had had warmly accepted Rev. Hagee’s enthusiastic support. Then he was then forced to spurn it.

Now Rev. Hagee has apologized for his noxious comments. Should we Jews take that apology at face value? When is “I’m sorry” enough, and can it ever be? What about Sen. McCain? Should we slam him for eagerly lapping up Rev. Hagee’s support, despite now saying he no longer wants it?

Despite the partisan clash of verbal swords, and while we Jews can never forget, we are masters at moving on, which is what we should do here.

Remember, Rev. Hagee isn’t going away. He still commands national media attention and influences a slice of the American Evangelical community – albeit far from all of it. Hopefully – perhaps naively – I think now he’s a little more aware of how his comments shape the public discourse in our media-driven culture.

And let’s make sure that we’re not playing with a double standard. Democratic candidate Sen. Barrack Obama (D-Ill.) belatedly said he rejected the hate of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose career is now over. The latter than dug his hole that much deeper with his bizarre behavior at the National Press Club. Most Jewish Democrats – in presidential elections for decades the overwhelmingly Jewish vote has gone Democrat – remain uncomfortable with Mr. Obama’s historic association with Rev. Wright. Yet, they’re willing to move in.

So let’s do the same with the McCain-Hagee team. Revs. Hagee and Wright aren’t going to be put in the Responsible Religious Leaders Hall of Fame, and Sens. McCain and Obama aren’t running for sainthood.

Now our fine Senators are the latest politicians to learn that religion and politics present a noxious mix. That lesson tucked away, let’s get back to the real issues that face our nation.

Something is more than rotten when the world’s leading distributor of compensation funds for Holocaust survivors – a Jewish operation—is ordered by a court to disburse more money to survivors.

That’s why I was nauseated this week upon learning that a Tel Aviv District Court judge ordered the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (a.k.a. the Claims Conference), to pay nearly $6 million to survivors from the former Soviet Union. (http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/108858.html)

The judge agreed that not only were many in this segment of the dwindling survivor’s community denied any funds until 1991 with the collapse of communism, but for the subsequent 17 years they have been denied the proper amount of funds. It is nothing short of outrageous.

The court agreed that the Claims Conference did not inform 1,365 Holocaust survivors who emigrated to Israel that they were entitled to a one-time restitution payment. Nor, the claim was made, did the Claims Conference adequately explain how to apply for the grant, which meant that many would not gain any funds. The Claims Conference says it will now appeal the ruling, which seems unseemly. Is this really the type of issue that should be dragged out in the courts at this period in the lives of the remaining Holocaust survivors? Of course not.

We are well aware that there is a massive debate in Jewish life as to whether such funds should go primarily to the survivors or toward the funding of memorial programs, sights and Jewish educational efforts. Likewise, there have been huge fights over how much attorneys in these cases should receive.

Personally, with such huge numbers being tossed around, I find it insane that survivors – no small number in Eastern Europe of whom are impoverished—would not gain enough funds on which to live out their remaining days in dignity.

This is the best Italian food in town. We have tried many others and nothing can top Fazzini’s. Everything is fresh, homemade and delicious.

The pizza here was undercooked and really doughy.
entrees on other tables looked good though.

we like fazzini italian kitchen because of good wait staff and consistently good italian food. everything there is homemade; pasta, sauce,bread,pizza dough,etc.  large portions and reasonable prices and no ambiance!