Saturday, March 10, 2007

Lord Levy and the Rabbi

Daniel Finkelstein at "Comment Central" and Melanie Phillips have covered the story brilliantly.
I also like the letter in yesterday's Times by Nicholas Horne of London N2. My near neighbour wrote "I hope I speak for fellow Jews by objecting to his (Rabbi Schochet) description of Lord Levy's predicament as "one Jew being hung out to dry". It is at best, ill-advised. Lord Levy is in the position he finds himself for many reasons, the very least of which is his race or religion.

The Jewish people have enough problems around from Syria, Hamas and Iran without "cry-wolfs" like Schochet stoking the fire of anti-semitism.

He should know better.





7 comments:

James Higham said...

He should know better.


Clearly he didn't, Jeremy.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Thanks for the links as I hadn't seen the story. I think Phillips' last sentence is brilliant. It seems to me a very inappropriate remark for the Rabbi to have made.

Jeremy Jacobs said...

and here is Melanie's final paragraph


Furthermore, the implication that the Jewish community is circling the wagons to protect one of their own who is under investigation by the police is simply appalling. It could also not be more damaging. Have these people really no brain at all? Don’t they understand the harm they have done? At a time when there is not only an upsurge of real anti-Jewish prejudice, but the odious claim is made that any Jew who draws attention to it is crying wolf in an attempt to manipulate the agenda to their advantage, for the community to be seen to be doing just that over Lord Levy makes a bad situation even more difficult and leaves British Jews even more exposed than ever.

For heaven’s sake, gentlemen, just can it.

CityUnslicker said...

there is little worse than feigning injury on race or colour matters. It is a PC noose around the neck of this country. I wish people would stop jumping to it so quickly.

Shades said...

I think that is referred to in non-PC circles as playing the race card.

I'd say it smacks more of desperation than anything else.

However, Levy must have a sense of humour, or at least irony. Wearing the Top Hat with Lord Cashpoint on it points to someone who doesn't take himself over-seriously

Anonymous said...

For a humble rabbi. Schochet has always struck me as a bit of a publicity hound. Personally speaking, I feel Lord Levy should account for his crimes at the Hague. After all surely inflicting "My Coocachoo" on us must rate as a crime against humanity?

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Schochet's groundless suggestion about Levy's victimisation is motivated by likelihood that Levy is involved in using his fund raising abilities to pay for Mill Hill's new synagogue?

Jeremy Jacobs said...

Welshcakes, I think "anonymous" raises an interesting point. Schochet is a bit of a publicity hound. Melanie P. suggests he shuts up. Difficult for types like Schochet.