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I am certainly not a Churchill. I am not even a Revel. I am having enough trouble just trying to be a Lapin. But I am issuing a very serious warning about deep consequences, just as they did. It is a warning about the earliest stages of what could become a cataract of disasters if not resisted now. During the 1930s, Winston Churchill desperately tried to persuade the English people and their government to see that Hitler meant to end their way of life. The British ignored Churchill, which gave Hitler nearly 10 years to build up his military forces....

Why Do “Jewish Organizations” Promote Hate Between Jew and Christian? © Rabbi Daniel Lapin During November, the head of the Anti-Defamation League declared Christians to be the enemies of Jews. “Their goal is to implement their Christian worldview, to Christianize America, to save us!" he said. He proceeded to name names: "Major players include Focus on the Family. Alliance Defense Fund, the American Family Association, Family Research Council and more. They and other groups have established new organizations and church-based networks, and built infrastructure throughout the country designed to promote traditional Christian values." Where do these traditional Christian values come...

WHY I FIGHT Readers of my columns which often excoriate secularizing organizations, may of them Jewish, frequently ask me, “Lapin, why do you fight?” My answer is always the same. I fight to preserve an America comprising millions of diverse citizens all with their own beliefs yet who are united by a common view of what constitutes virtuous behavior. Living among people who do not behave virtuously is at the very least unpleasant. It is usually also intimidating, and ultimately dangerous and expensive. If many of my fellow citizens are unable to restrain themselves from criminal conduct, the quality of...

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor Contact: Bryan Rudnick, 561-499-3201 News Advisory: WHAT: Jews for "It's OK to Say Merry Christmas" press conference WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 1, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The National Press Club (529 14th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.) in the Murrow Room. WHY: To speak out against the War on Christmas -- ongoing efforts to purge Christmas from our schools, public events, retail establishments and the culture, and why this should concern Americans of all faiths. WHO: Don Feder -- president, Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation Michael Horowitz -- senior fellow, Hudson Institute Rabbi Daniel Lapin --...

Well, December is nearly here, which means the dreaded "C word" is upon us. Put politely, "the holiday season" is nearly here. We shall all hear those "Happy Hanukkahs" and "Happy holidays," but rarely a "Merry Christmas." Secular fundamentalism has successfully injected into American culture the notion that the word "Christmas" is deeply offensive. I think we Jews may be making a grievous mistake in allowing them to banish Christmas without challenge. We see obsequious regard for faiths like Judaism and even Islam, while Christianity is treated with contempt. I don't want Judaism treated with less respect. I want Christianity...

Well, December is nearly here which means the dreaded “C word” is upon us. Put politely, “the holiday season” is nearly here. We shall all hear those “Happy Chanukahs” and “Happy holidays,” but rarely a “Merry Christmas.” Secular fundamentalism has successfully injected into American culture the notion that the word “Christmas” is deeply offensive. I think we Jews may be making a grievous mistake in allowing them to banish Christmas without challenge. We see obsequious regard for faiths like Judaism and even Islam, while Christianity is treated with contempt. I don’t want Judaism treated with less respect. I want Christianity...

NEW YORK - Institutionalized Christianity in the U.S. has grown so extremist that it poses a tangible danger to the principle of separation of church and state and threatens to undermine the religious tolerance that characterizes the country, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, warned in his address to the League's national commission, meeting in New York City over the weekend. (Haaretz Newspaper, Israel.) We Jews aren’t chic any longer. Not too many people care for Jews these days. Europe, including England, makes little secret of how it feels towards Jews. If possible, they care even less...

During the 19th century Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch wrote, "The more enlightenment you gain in the knowledge of history, the clearer will be your insight into the Torah." Since the theater of world history follows the screenplay of Torah, history can provide guidance to understanding God’s plans. For instance, the holocaust did not start in Poland, where most Jews lived openly as religious Jews. Instead it erupted in Germany, the country whose Jews were most invisible and assimilated. This valuable lesson validates ancient Jewish wisdom’s explanation of the Bible verse “The voice is Jacob's voice but the hands are the...

<p>Every few weeks or so Rabbi Daniel Lapin finds a reason to fly east from his home in Mercer Island, Wash., near Seattle, and spend a few days in Washington, D.C. He might be leading a Bible study on the Hill, having dinner with his ''close friend'' House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, breakfast with Karl Rove. Last year he came for a private Shabbat dinner with President Bush. ''The president recognizes my enthusiasm for his faith,'' says the rabbi.</p>

We've been close friends for years. We have shared Sabbath meals and addressed one another's constituencies. One of us is a very large black man, the other is an average size white guy. One of us raises Rottweiler dogs, the other sails boats. One of us is a Christian pastor while the other is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi. Yet for all these differences, something recently united us. And it was not that we're both bald or that we both have beards! What happened is that the senior rabbi of one of Seattle's largest Reform congregations attacked us in a local...

By Jews Against Anti-Christian DefamationJews Against Anti-Christian Defamation | April 27, 2005The announcement of the formation of Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation (JAACD) came at a press conference yesterday (April 21st) at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Present were JAACD President Don Feder, and several members of the group’s Advisory Board -- syndicated columnist Mona Charen, popular talk-show host Barry Farber, Rabbi Joshua Haberman, and Rabbi Yehuda Levin.Others involved with the group include: David Horowitz (Center for the Study of Popular Culture), Morton Klein (Zionist Organization of America), Herb London (Hudson Institute), Bruce Herschensohn (professor, Pepperdine University), Rabbi Daniel...

I am an Orthodox Jewish rabbi sadly denouncing one of the box office hits of 2004. Which movie has earned my wrath? Here is a clue—it surprised everyone by selling over one hundred million dollars of tickets in its first week in theaters. No, it’s not Mel Gibson’s Passion. The movie causing me deep distress is a Rosenthal/Tenenbaum production starring Dustin Hoffman, and Barbra Streisand. I was sorry to see Barbra Streisand involved in the flagrant defamation of Judaism found in this, her latest movie hit. While she was making her film Yentl, for which I served as a consultant,...

Monday, January 3, 2005 Don't blame God for Asian casualtiesPosted: January 3, 20051:00 a.m. Eastern By Rabbi Daniel Lapin © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com With the final death toll in Asia yet unknown, analyzing the calamity can appear callous, especially in the light of ancient Jewish wisdom's advice to refrain from even comforting mourners whose dead still lie before them, let alone analyzing their loss. Still, once we have, in some human way, associated ourselves with the disaster by means of financial or other contribution, we surely are obliged to try and learn something from it. Sometimes before the answers can be found, the...

God Isn’t to Blame for Asian Casualties.December 29th, 2004 By Rabbi Daniel LapinPresident, Toward Tradition With the final death toll in Asia yet unknown, analyzing the calamity can appear callous, especially in the light of ancient Jewish wisdom’s advice to refrain from even comforting mourners whose dead still lie before them, let alone analyzing their loss. Still, once we have, in some human way, associated ourselves with the disaster by means of financial or other contribution, we surely are obliged to try and learn something from it. Sometimes before the answers can be found, the right questions must be...

One-time girlfriend of quirky California Gov. Jerry Brown in the '70s, singer Linda Ronstadt has been busy lately. She dedicated her song "Desperado" to Michael Moore and his bogus-mentary, "Fahrenheit 911," she got herself tossed out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas, and she gave an interview to a newspaper. Although I doubt this was her intention, she has actually taught us three lessons: One, she and many of her fellow entertainers do have a religion – I'd call it "secular fundamentalism." Two, it's open season on Christians, the last unprotected minority in America. Her third lesson, well, I'll...

It's open season on Christians – again By Rabbi Daniel Lapin One-time girlfriend of quirky California Gov. Jerry Brown in the '70s, singer Linda Ronstadt has been busy lately. She dedicated her song "Desperado" to Michael Moore and his bogus-mentary, "Fahrenheit 911," she got herself tossed out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas, and she gave an interview to a newspaper. Although I doubt this was her intention, she has actually taught us three lessons: One, she and many of her fellow entertainers do have a religion – I'd call it "secular fundamentalism." Two, it's open season on Christians,...

On Wednesday afternoon the United States Senate voted against moving forward on a proposed amendment which would have added to the constitution these words, “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.” Some Americans are celebrating this as a triumph of tolerance while others are mourning it as the defeat of decency. However, I suspect that many Americans, whose basic credo is live-and-let-live, are ignoring it entirely. It is to these readers, who regard the Senate vote as largely irrelevant in their lives, that I address myself. The majority of us...

For a while now America has been trending secular. Prior to that time, being wise and educated meant knowing God. That is why most universities and schools of earlier periods were established and attended by religious Christians. The same is true in Jewish history. Until the 19th century education and knowledge were inseparable from religion. Even the etymological origin of the word "secular" is linked to the Hebrew word for a fool. (SaCaL as in "Am sacal-oh foolish nation" Jeremiah V: 21) This obvious link between God and education was clearly recognized in the wording of that great document that...

The slippery slope of secularism - Posted: May 8, 2004 - By Rabbi Daniel Lapin © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com Have you ever tried to slow down your car by applying the parking brake? No, I'm sure you haven't. But if you did try, you would be surprised to discover that it has virtually no effect on your speeding car, whereas the lightest tap on the foot brake immediately diminishes speed. This is why on the one or two occasions when you drive off without remembering to release the parking brake, you drive three blocks before noticing the warning light. However, with...

With perhaps one in five Americans already having seen it, "The Passion" continues to rack up attendance records. Would you like to hear an amazing statistic? In spite of dire warnings by some Jewish groups, no Jews wending their way homewards from the synagogue have been set upon by crucifix-wielding Christians intent on wreaking revenge for the death of Jesus. I am not being sarcastic. This truly is an amazing statistic. According to Boston police reports, the Oliver Stone-Quentin Tarantino 1994 "Natural Born Killers" inspired several imitation murders, including a firefighter killed by a man who claimed to be fascinated...

Why Jewish groups passionately hate Mel Gibson By Rabbi Daniel Lapin © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com Surely it is now time to analyze the vitriolic loathing demonstrated by various Jewish groups and their leaders toward Mel Gibson over the past six months. This analysis might help forestall some similar ill-conceived and ill-fated future misadventure on the part of self-anointed Jewish leadership. At the very least it might advance human understanding of destructive group pathologies. As the whole world knows by now, Mel Gibson, his movie, his father, his church and anything else even remotely associated with Mr. Gibson have been smeared as...

Surely it is now time to analyze the vitriolic loathing demonstrated by various Jewish groups and their leaders toward Mel Gibson over the past six months. This analysis might help forestall some similar ill-conceived and ill-fated future misadventure on the part of self-anointed Jewish leadership. At the very least it might advance human understanding of destructive group pathologies. As the whole world knows by now, Mel Gibson, his movie, his father, his church and anything else even remotely associated with Mr. Gibson have been smeared as anti-Semitic. From the immoderate assaults, you might have thought that the target was a...

by Jonathan S. Tobin The first time I heard Rabbi Daniel Lapin speak, he told a story that struck me as odd. ...[snip] Rising to address a gala luncheon, Lapin sounded the message that all people of faith had more in common with each other than with their nominal co-religionists. To reinforce this point, Lapin confided that he and his wife had chosen for their children to be born in a Catholic hospital that had a cross on the wall of every room rather than at Cedars-Sinai, a Jewish hospital in Los Angeles where he then lived. Why? Because abortions...

Some conservative Jewish leaders are saying the foes of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," not the movie, are harming Jews. These charges have in turn sparked new controversy. As NewsMax has reported, Orthodox Rabbi Daniel Lapin, a prominent defender of the movie, has accused Anti-Defamation League of attacking Christianity and promoting secularism. The Jewish weekly newspaper Forward reported last week that Lapin, appearing on the Rev. Pat Robertson's "700 Club," called ADL and its allies "dangerous organizations." Lapin said that ADL director Abraham Foxman, in calling Gibson's movie anti-Semitic, was saying "that the only way to escape the...

Rabbi Lapin, president of Toward Tradition, wrote this on September 22, 2003. See also his later article on this subject. Never has a film aroused such hostile passion so long prior to its release as has Mel Gibson's Passion. Many American Jews are alarmed by reports of what they view as potentially anti-Semitic content in this movie about the death of Jesus, which is due to be released during 2004. Clearly the crucifixion of Jesus is a sensitive topic, but prominent Christians who previewed it, including good friends like James Dobson and Michael Novak who have always demonstrated acute sensitivity...

Why Mel Owes One To The Jews February 12, 2004 By Rabbi Daniel Lapin President, Toward Tradition Two weeks before Mel Gibson's Passion flashes onto two thousand screens, online ticket merchants are reporting that up to half their total sales are for advance purchases for Passion. One Dallas multiplex has reserved all twenty of its screens for The Passion. I am neither a prophet nor a movie critic. I am merely an Orthodox rabbi using ancient Jewish wisdom to make three predictions about The Passion. One, Mel Gibson and Icon Productions will make a great deal of money. Those distributors...

By Rabbi Daniel Lapin President, Toward Tradition Never has a film aroused such hostile passion so long prior to its release as has Mel Gibson's Passion. Many American Jews are alarmed by reports of what they view as potentially anti-Semitic content in this movie about the death of Jesus, which is due to be released during 2004. Clearly the crucifixion of Jesus is a sensitive topic, but prominent Christians who previewed it, including good friends like James Dobson and Michael Novak who have always demonstrated acute sensitivity to Jewish concerns, see it as a religiously inspiring movie, and refute charges...

America’s Real War: An Interview with Rabbi Daniel LapinTHE PASSION OF THE CHRIST CBN.com – Rabbi Daniel Lapin is a well-known speaker and radio talk show host, president of Toward Tradition, an organization dedicated to building bridges between American Jews and Christians, and the author of a book called "America's Real War," which touts the importance of our shared Christian-Judeo values. Pat Robertson talked with Rabbi Lapin about the intense reaction to Mel Gibson’s newest film "The Passion of The Christ," anti-Semitism in America and Europe, and much more. PAT ROBERTSON: "The Passion of The Christ" opens in theaters across...

Two weeks before Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ flashed onto movie screens, online ticket merchants reported that up to half their total sales were for advance purchases for The Passion of the Christ. One Dallas multiplex reserved all 20 of its screens for The Passion. That said, I am neither a prophet nor a movie critic. I am merely an Orthodox rabbi using ancient Jewish wisdom to make three predictions about The Passion. First: Mel Gibson and Icon Productions will make a great deal of money. Those distributors who surrendered to pressure from Jewish organizations and passed on The...

The respected Jewish pro-family activist, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, has noted the immense damage that leftist Jewish organizations like the ADL have inflicted on Christian/Jewish relations: http://www.towardtradition.org/article_Passion_Feb_2004.htm Rabbi Lapin notes that "instead of helping the Jewish community, they have inflicted lasting harm. By selectively unleashing their fury only on wholesome entertainment that depicts Christianity, in a positive light, they have triggered anger, hurt, and resentment." Before the year 2000, when Ariel Sharon was elected Prime Minister of Israel, it was often said that American conservative Christians were among Israel's best friends. Since that time, Arab and other Islamic nations have preached...

Two weeks before the opening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," online ticket merchants reported that up to half their total sales were for the film. One Dallas multiplex has reserved all 20 of its screens for "The Passion." I am neither a prophet nor a movie critic; I am merely an Orthodox rabbi using ancient Jewish wisdom to make three predictions about the movie: One, Mel Gibson and Icon Productions will make a great deal of money. Those distributors who surrendered to pressure from Jewish organizations and passed on "The Passion" will be kicking themselves, while Newmarket...

Why Mel Owes One to the Jews 2/20/04 Two weeks before Mel Gibson's Passion flashes onto two thousand screens, online ticket merchants were reporting that up to half their total sales are for advance purchases for Passion. One Dallas multiplex has reserved all twenty of its screens for The Passion. I am neither a prophet nor a movie critic. I am merely an Orthodox rabbi using ancient Jewish wisdom to make three predictions about The Passion. One, Mel Gibson and Icon Productions will make a great deal of money. Those distributors who surrendered to pressure from Jewish organizations and passed...

<p>Passion of the Christ." Many American Jews are alarmed by reports of what they view as potentially anti-Semitic content in this soon-to-be-released movie about the death of Jesus. Clearly the crucifixion of Jesus is a sensitive topic, but prominent Christians who previewed it — including James Dobson and Michael Novak, who have always demonstrated acute sensitivity to Jewish concerns, see it as a religiously inspiring movie and refute charges that it is anti-Semitic.</p>

Why Mel Owes One To The JewsFebruary 12, 2004By Rabbi Daniel LapinPresident, Toward Tradition Two weeks before Mel Gibson's Passion flashes onto two thousand screens, online ticket merchants are reporting that up to half their total sales are for advance purchases for Passion. One Dallas multiplex has reserved all twenty of its screens for The Passion. I am neither a prophet nor a movie critic. I am merely an Orthodox rabbi using ancient Jewish wisdom to make three predictions about The Passion.One, Mel Gibson and Icon Productions will make a great deal of money. Those distributors who surrendered to...

Conservative Episcopalian bishops and church leaders are organizing a network of socially conservative parishes in order to stem the tide of liberalism within the Episcopal Church USA. Frank Griswold, the leader of the movement, emphasizes that the members of the new network will remain Episcopalian and that their mission is both religious and political. The new group, The Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, joins the diverse group of religious conservatives commonly known as "The Religious Right." In "The Orthodox Alliance" (November/December 1995), Fred Barnes discusses how theological conservatives of Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant churches, who now have more...

How good people can vote for good people Posted: January 16, 20041:00 a.m. Eastern By Rabbi Daniel Lapin© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com In July 1788, after Dr. Benjamin Rush, the only physician to sign the Declaration of Independence, watched a federal parade in Philadelphia, he wrote the following words. The rabbi of the Jews locked in the arms of two ministers of the Gospel was a most delightful sight. There could not have been a more happy emblem. Dr. Rush would be disappointed, I am sure, to learn that many of the spiritual heirs of the three clergymen who so buoyed his spirits, often...

Rabbi Lapin explores what Adolf Hitler himself might have thought of Move On's degenerate derangement.

Hitler writes from the grave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: January 10, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern By Rabbi Daniel Lapin © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com 2004 arrived safely, whispering how successfully the Bush administration has waged our war on terror. Although those who hate us intended us harm, Providence, along with our government's vigilance and pre-emptive actions, prevented all holiday season attacks. The only shocking attack the New Year brought us was the Democratic organization Move On's demented action providing a platform for potential television advertising comparing President George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. I thought it might be interesting to explore what Adolf Hitler...

2004 arrived safely, whispering how successfully the Bush administration has waged our war on terror. Although those who hate us intended us harm, Providence, along with our government's vigilance and preemptive actions, prevented all holiday season attacks. The only shocking attack the New Year brought us was the Democratic organization, Move On's depraved plans to produce television advertising comparing President George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. I thought it might be interesting to explore what Adolf Hitler himself might have thought of Move On's degenerate derangement. I have no intention of explaining how the correspondence which I now offer to...

Religious freedom: Not just for minorities Posted: January 3, 20041:00 a.m. Eastern By Rabbi Daniel Lapin© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com Well, 2004 has arrived, which means that dreaded "C word" is behind us. Put politely, "the holiday season" has passed. Having shopped in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle lately and having listened to talk radio in each city, I couldn't help noticing a startling double standard. Overwhelmingly, store assistants and talk-radio hosts bid farewell to Jewish guests with a cheerful "Happy Hanukkah" while others, including those identified as Christians, received the generic "Happy holidays." With each passing year, secular fundamentalism more successfully injects...

As holiday lights festoon homes across America and menorahs come out of storage, most Americans think of Hanukkah and Christmas as calendar comrades keeping one another company in December. In some years, that is true, while in others Hanukkah falls earlier, coming out much closer to Thanksgiving, a holiday with which it has far more in common – both were holy days established to express gratitude to God. Hanukkah was established a little over 2,000 years ago, as ancient Jewish tradition records: "The next year those eight days were appointed a festival with praise and thanksgiving to God." On Dec....

How should Jewish and Christian Americans of faith view Sunday's historic capture of Saddam Hussein? ============================ One unintended side effect of the secular fundamentalism sweeping America is how it erodes the rules that hold together the invisible net of social stability. By encouraging unfettered personal license, secular fundamentalism helps collapse civilized norms. Then, when people dress with deliberately provocative vulgarity and they express themselves loudly and obscenely in public, hardworking, family-minded citizens are left with a growing feeling of unease. When young people no longer see their maturation leading naturally toward marriage and when marriage itself becomes threatened by cultural...

And it came to pass in the days of Saddam ... Posted: December 17, 20031:00 a.m. Eastern By Rabbi Daniel Lapin© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com How should Jewish and Christian Americans of faith view the historic capture of Saddam Hussein? Most of us project the core elements of our own self image onto an imaginary big screen, which then displays our larger worldview. Those who chiefly think of themselves as journalists deploy their ubiquitous "objectivity." They analyze all news with the usual "on the one hand" and then follow it up with "but on the other ..." Then, we have those whose entire self...

Gellman's out. Freundel, Lapin, Neuhaus and Schonfeld remain. Mouw is on the sidelines. It sounds like the roster for an inter-religious basketball game designed to foster Jewish-Christian understanding, perhaps, but it's not. The issue is how conservatives choose allies. Are they willing to work with a reputed terrorist-friendly Muslim to pre-empt gay marriage? Rabbi Marc Gellman is not. Roughly two weeks since JewishWorldReview.com reported that Gellman and other prominent religious conservatives were part of an anti-gay marriage coalition that includes a reputed terrorist-friendly Muslim group, Gellman bolted from this queer alliance. JewishWorldReview.com has learned that Gellman, perhaps America's best known...

Crucifying Mel Gibson By Michael Medved A serious filmmaker would normally feel gratified if his cinematic work inspired impassioned debate, intense emotional response, detailed analysis, even raging controversy. Well in advance of his picture's release, Mel Gibson has already produced that sort of reaction with The Passion of the Christ, his brutal, graphic, and lyrical account of the last 12 hours in the life of Christ. But Gibson insists he neither expected nor wanted the bitter arguments over the allegedly anti-Semitic content of the film. The vitriolic denunciations of his artistic integrity, and even his personal religiosity, have proven especially...

Students threatened by Christmas?ACLU warns of lawsuit unless principal censors celebration Posted: November 21, 20031:00 a.m. Eastern © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com The Colorado ACLU is threatening to sue a school if the principal refuses to censor Christmas for its students. In a joint letter with the Anti-Defamation League, the state American Civil Liberties Union alleged "Jewish students no longer feel safe or welcome" at the Elbert County Charter School in Elizabeth, Colo. The Nov. 10 letter demands Principal Les Gray censor Christmas and insists the school "must take immediate steps to comply with the constitutional separation of church and state." It insists the...

Never has a film aroused such hostile passion so long prior to its release as has Mel Gibson's Passion. Many American Jews are alarmed by reports of what they view as potentially anti-Semitic content in this movie about the death of Jesus, which is due to be released during 2004. Clearly the crucifixion of Jesus is a sensitive topic, but prominent Christians who previewed it, including good friends like James Dobson and Michael Novak who have always demonstrated acute sensitivity to Jewish concerns, see it as a religiously inspiring movie, and refute charges that it is anti-Semitic. While most Jews...

While religions like Judaism and Christianity may differ as to how strongly they condemn radical Islamism, one thing is clear - unlike radical Islam, most religions do not advocate violence. Just recently one of my favorite correspondents happened to send me a copy of a column by Rabbi Daniel Lapin in which he addressed Old Testament passage Deut. 27:26 and the duties of leaders to uphold the Truth. He then applied this duty to Evangelical Christian Pastor Franklin Graham. Reverend Graham, it seems, has a problem because he refuses to keep quiet about the prevalence of Islamic violence. Islam, he...