BBC journalists strike

It was disorientating to wake up this morning without my beloved BBC Radio 4 Today Programme.  Striking National Union of Journalists at the BBC were on the second of a two-day strike about a reduction in future pension benefits.  As a result, most BBC news programmes were either cancelled or abridged.  I don't think I have missed anything really signficant in the world today, but I miss that excellent BBC news output on which I so much depend.

Pension protests are all the rage right now.  French workers recently held a series of general strikes because of the government's decision to extend the statutory working age by two years, meaning that the pension age will shift from 60 to 62.  With governments working to reduce record-high deficits, I really don't think that these relatively small changes are unreasonable. 

But I am concerned about the massive cuts that Britain's Conservative-Liberal coalition are introducting in the name of economic recovery.  Poor people will suffer because of the problems created by rich bankers.  I fear that the 'deficit' argument is providing the Conservatives with a convenient excuse to reduce public services, with their Liberal allies awkwardly following like poodles.  Surely developed societies should be able to manage their economies without compromising the standards of such things as hospitals, disability support, schools and care for the elderly.

I would be surprised if we don't see people coming out onto the streets to protest when the cuts start to really bite.  Civil action can be a very effective way of getting government to re-think policy.  Margaret Thatcher's highly unpopular poll tax provoked massive rioting in the early eighties and led to her dropping it.  And there have been many strikes staged for most worthy reasons.  Indeed, modern workers should thank the militancy of their forbearers who fought hard for safe and fair working conditions that people enjoy today.

Your grandfather has decided to strike this weekend as well.  Not because of my pension or labour rights (which as self-employed is my responsiblity), but I'd like to try and have a proper weekend, putting work to one side.  In these digital times, when communications is all arount us, it is difficult to escape from work.  There was a time that it would be most unusual to have a business call during the weekend.  But today, emails, SMSs and even calls are common on Saturday or Sunday.  There has never been such overlap between work and leisure time.

I am not sure that I like the diminishing differentiation between work and play, especially as I am the type who finds it difficult not to think about work much of the time.  I wonder where this trend is heading.  Now there's a good reason for keeping Shabbat.  I vote for a weekly strike in sympathy with God.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

"Vielen Dank", Regina Jonas

Rabbi Alina Treiger

Rabbi Alina Treiger starts work today after becoming Germany's first woman rabbi to be ordained since the holocaust.

In a moving ceremony at Berlin's liberal Pestalozzi synagogue, attended by the German President among many other dignatories, Ukraine-born Rabbi Alina paid tribute to the world's first woman rabbi, Regina Jonas, who received her semiikha (ordination) in Offenbach in 1935. 

Rabbi Regina Jonas

Sadly, it was on exactly this day in 1942 when the Gestapo arrested Rabbi Regina and had her deported to Theresienstadt where she stayed for two year, often lecturing to Jewish inmates, before being moved to Auschwitz in 1944 where she perished in a gas chamber just two month later.  Regina was only 42 years old.

"Vielen Dank, Regina", which means thank you in German, whispered Rabbi Alina twice during yesterday's emotionally charged service in Berlin.

I have discovered that a handwritten list of 24 of Rabbi Regina's lectures entitled "Lectures of the One and Only Woman Rabbi, Regina Jonas," still exists and can be found in the archives of Theresienstadt, which is only a 45-minute drive from Prague.  Five lectures are about the history of Jewish women, five deal with Talmudic topics, two deal with Biblical themes, three with pastoral issues, and nine offer general introductions to Jewish beliefs, ethics, and festivals.

It took until 1972 for another woman to become a rabbi, when Sally Priesand was ordained in the United States, and thankfully there are now many in the world of progressive Judaism.

"It is only important if a rabbi is good, not whether it is a man or a woman," said Rabbi Alina.

I beleive there can be no job in the world that should be excusive to either gender.  I was brought up in a traditional, United Synagogue community in North London where female rabbis were certainly non-existent.  I remember encountering my first woman rabbi in the United States.  It seemed strange at first, but after getting used to it, I found myself wondering why women are denied the opportunity to take up a career in the rabbinate, if they so choose.

As progressive Judaism grows, so will the number of female religious leaders.  There are many diffrerant kinds of Jew, and I fully respect people's rights to a broad range of opinion.  While there will not be women found in the pulpits of orthodox synagogues any time soon, I am sure that the increase in female reform and liberal rabbis is something to which we will become increasingly accustomed.

I do hope that the orthodox factions in Israel, which currently command undue influence on secular laws in your country, will remove their obstacles to the progressive movement's right to flourish.  At the time of writing this, reform and liberal communities have no formal status in Israel, and marraiges are not recognised by the State.

My wish would be for you to grow up in a pluralistic society, where Jews of all kinds, can live together in Israel, free to practice their religion however they want.  This includes a proliferation of wonderful women rabbis. 


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

"Is this the little girl I carried?"

Curiously, only 11 days after the passing of Joseph Stein, author of the wonderful musical Fidler on the Roof, its composer, Jerry Bock, died today at 81, just two days after receiving a lifetime achievement award from the U.S. Dramatists Guild.  He spoke at Stein's funeral on 24th October. He was 17 years his junior.

His score for Fidler on the Roof included some of the most memorable tunes, including the moving  song, Sunrise, Sunset.  You are fortunate not be to able to hear me singing this lovely melody, but the lyrics, written by Sheldon Harnick now take on a whole new meaning for me, now that you, my dearest Yael, are in the world:  This was sung led by Tevye at the wedding of his daughter:

(Tevye)

Is this the little girl I carried?

Is this the little boy at play?

(Golda)

I don't remember growing older

When did they?

(Tevye)

When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he get to be so tall?

(Golde)

Wasn't it yesterday

When they were small?

(Men)

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers

Blossoming even as we gaze

(Women)

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

(Tevye)

What words of wisdom can I give them?

How can I help to ease their way?

(Tevye)

Now they must learn from one another

Day by day

(Perchik)

They look so natural together

(Hodel)

Just like two newlyweds should be

(Pechik & Hodel)

Is there a canopy in store for me?

(All)

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

This song oozes with Jewish emotion and sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it.  Time will fly, and I hope to be around for your wedding, my dear Yael.  For sure, by then your parents will be asking the question, "Is this the little girl I carried?"  Maybe then you'll permit me to sing this song..


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Obama takes a shellaking

This is one of the headlines I awoke to today.  I'd never heard of the curious word shellaking before, but I guessed that it wasn't good.  On looking it up, it's a stronger way of describing defeat.  With the Republicans conquering the House of Representavies, anjd the Democrats only just holding on to the Senate, President Barak Obama's former popularity bubble has been well and truly burst.

With the Republicans gaining 60 Representive seats, six in the Senate and six new Republican State Governors elected, the first black president to reside in the Whito House  is a mere shadow of his former political self this morning.  It is the single biggest defeat for the party of a U.S, sitting president for 70 years.  As anticipated as this may have been, seeing the results in the cold light of day is truly astounding and deeply shocking.

Only two year ago, we awoke to emotional scenes of Obama celebrating his historic election victory in front of tens of thousands of weeping people in hsi home-town of Chicago.  On that night, liberals such as me, were mesmerised by his achievement and moved in the knowledge that a highly intelligent, progressive politician was going to the White House.  After eight tired years of George W. Bush, not a man who I would describe as intelligent, Obama's victory seemed like a dream come true.  His slogan of Yes We Can, appeared to have come true.  Alas, it was an illusion.

Thankfully, the newly formed right wing force in the Republican Party, named the Tea Party, failed to make any significant inroads.  I hope that by the time you, my dear Yael, get around to reading this, the name of Sarah Palin will be nothing but a distant memory.  Because it is this brainless and yet dangerous woman who has become the arch symbol of this ridiculously right-wing political cult.  I can survive the Republicans, but the Tea Party makes me squirm.

If the battering of the Democratic party wasn't bad news enough, the Californian people voted against the legalisation of pot yesterday, much to the delight of the criminal fraternity.  Only some 45 percent of so of those who voted, supported repealing the law which prohibits canabis.  Supporters of the legislative change say they failed to get enough people in favour to actually get out and vote.  My guess is that they were too preoccupied, smoking dope.  But in realisty, I doubt that the average person who smokes the stuff could really care less which way the law swings.  Just because it's illegal doesn't make it difficult to obtain. 

So as the White House remains cannabis free, the Obama adminsrtration will be struggling to work out a new strategy in the light of this utterly differant political landscape today.

But I can promise you one thing.  When I next have to listen to the screaching voice of that Sarah Palin, your grandfather will be sure to be rolling a nice fat splif, whether legal or not



Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

What a differance two years makes

U.S. President Barak Obama is facing a nail biting day as Amercians go to the polls to vote for the entire House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and for some State Governors as well.  After his democratic party swept to power with him only two year ago, both he and his party's popularity has noze-dived.  Pollsters and forecasting that at least the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, will be won by the Repulicans, and possibly the Senate as well.  This would make it very tough for Obama get any of his legislation through over the next two years, weakening his powers considerably.

It's extraordinary to think that just 24 months ago this man was riding so high in the opinion polls.  When he won the presidency, there was sense that he could almost walk on water.  He entered the White House as a refreshing symbol of change, propelled by the slogan, Yes We Can!  His campaign raised huge expectation.  His problem is that they were unrealistic, and with the economy in the doldrums many people, including his supporters and unhappy.  It's hard for many people struggling to make ends meet to see what changes have been made.

They have lots of elections in the U.S. and I have been there for many voting days.  There's almost a festive mood on these occasions with last-minute campaigning and the airwaves crammed with a crazy amount of crazy political commericals, mostly attempting to demonise the opposition.  Alas, even in a land so enthusiastic about democracy, image and emotion tend to overshadow substantive debate.  Today, I will follow what's happening from Prague.  I fear that the political landscape will have signficantly changed by the time i next visit the US, probably later this month.

As I go to bed, I rememeber that voters in California are also being asked to decide on whether to legalise Cannabis.  When I wake up tomorrow morning, will San Francisco have dissapeared under a cloud of pot smoke?  At least Obama could console himself with a lovely big spliff, if his party does badly.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Japan and Russia at war?

It is often said that you learn something new every day.  How true.

News of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to an obscure island in the North Pacific attracting the wrath of Japan is a perfect example.  For this is one of the South Kuril islands which the Soviet Union siezed from the Japanese at the end of the Second World War.  Japan argues that these islands are a part of their soveriegn territory and diplomatic impasse has meant that the Soviet Union and Japan never signed a formal peace treaty.  Therefore, technically, the two countries (one now being Russia) are still at war.

Today, Medvedev visited Kunashir Island, near Japan's northernmost Hokkaido Island, sparking a diplomatic row with Tokyo, resulting in the withdrawal of the Japanese ambassador from Moscow.  The visit was the first trip by a head of state of Russia or the former Soviet Union to the South Kuril Islands.

Goodness knows how many similar disputes there are over obscure pieces of land all over the world.  It reminds me of the Falkland Islands in the South Pacific, which remain a part of Britain in spite of Argentina claiming ownership of them.  When Argentina, which was a dictatorship at the time, invaded the islands -- known by them as the Malvinas -- in 1982, the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dispatched the British navy.  The ensuing war killed nearly 1,000 young soldiers.  For what?

It's highly unlikely that this dispute in the North Pacific, over islands which the Japanese call the Northern Territories will spark a military confrontation.  But then no one predicted that there would be such a needless war over the Falklands.

I know nothing about these disputed islands until today.  What a crazy world.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Halloween, Bohemian style

While many young people were preparing their Halloween costumes ready for a night of tricking and treating, I pretended to be a middle-aged man and went with Alice to visit her parents grave in the beautiful Bohemian village of Polen near the town of Klatovy.  This is about 90 minutes drive from Prague, past the famous city of Pilsen from where the wonderful pilsner beer originates.

These days, Halloween is nothing more than an opportunity to wear some scary fancy dress and to have fun.  I am told that Halloween had no significant during communism, which is evidence that this is nothing more than an opportunity for shops to sell related regalia and make some money.  But it is fun.

Actually Halloween has Christian origins as it falls on the eve of All Saints Day, which is a tradtional time to visit the graves of ones nearest and dearest. I was pleased to accompany Alice.  While I did not have the pleasure to know her mother, who died exactly two years ago, I did have the privilege to know her father, who was a larger than life character and was working on his tractor just hours before he died, a little over a year ago at the age of 85.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic