Scottish First Minister Swinney Calls for Palestinian State at Vigil for the October 7th Hostages

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney is at it again. During a vigil for the hostages still being held in captivity by Hamas, Swinney saw fit to call for a Palestinian state drawing the anger and ire of the crowd. The tone-deaf Swinney unsurprisingly defended his behavior:

I quite understand that there is a lot of anger and distress within the Jewish community in Scotland today.

But there is a lot of anger and distress in many communities and what I have got to do is set out the principled position that the only pathway to peace is a two-state solution that involves the recognition of a sovereign state of Palestine. 

That is the way to peace in the Middle East and it is important that, whatever audience I am engaged with, that I set out that point of principle.

As with other leaders, Swinney's call for a Palestinian state effectively rewards Hamas' tactics especially as they are still holding 48 hostages of whom 20 are believed to be still alive. For Swinney to make such a declaration at a vigil is doubly cruel.

This isn't the first time Swinney has stepped into it. Back in August, Swinney extolled the virtues of free speech at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival only to defend the Festival's decision to ban two Jewish comedians including one who attended a vigil for the hostages. All of which makes wonder if John Swinney will be allowed to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next year. 

Swinney's statement reminded me of the reception Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller received at a vigil for the hostages following the attack on the Run for Their Lives vigil in Boulder, Colorado back in June. Fuller said anti-Semitism shouldn't be weaponized against institutions of higher learning much to the ire of those assembled who drowned her out. It was neither the time nor the place. 

Yet if I have to compare the two remarks, Swinney's was far more inappropriate. It is worth remembering that Swinney has also accused Israel of committing genocide. I shudder to think what the reaction would have been had he saw fit engage those wishing for the release of the hostages with that "principled position."

I Went to the Nova Exhibition & All I Felt Was Anger

 

This afternoon, I attended the Nova Exhibition currently being held in South Boston commemorating those who died and survived the attack upon the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023. As I write this, we are less than 48 hours away from the 2nd anniversary of the Hamas attack. 

Despite the evidence from the carnage from that day including burned out cars, bullet ridden toilet stalls and personal belongings of those who perished, the emphasis of the exhibit was one of healing and forgiveness and a vow that "we will dance again."

For those who were at the Nova Music Festival and lived to tell their stories are prepared to forgive I cannot begrudge them of their choice because I cannot experience what they experienced firsthand. Forgiveness and healing might very well be the best thing they can do to move forward with their lives.

Yet after attending the exhibit all I felt was anger. Not just at Hamas but at the people who excuse their actions while focusing their ire exclusively on Israel. When I looked at the shoes which were left behind, it reminded me of the shoes I saw when the Auschwitz exhibit was held here a year and a half ago. Not so long ago, not so far away indeed.

The fact remains is that Hamas is still holding 48 hostages in captivity of whom 22 are still believed to be alive. Assuming they are to be released under the terms of President Trump's deal, there is still the question of Hamas having power and with it the power to do this again and again. 

Part of the exhibit was a phone call of one of the Hamas terrorists to his parents bragging that he had killed Jews with his parents praising his actions. Following the exhibit, I returned to Cambridge and saw this hot garbage.

Until the Palestinians and their apologists have a "come to Jesus" moment where they repent for what has been done to the innocent victims from October 7th and to the world's Jewish population, the time to dance has not yet come.

Visiting Harvard Law Professor Arrested After Firing Pellet Gun Outside Boston Area Synagogue on Yom Kippur

From Brookline News:

Brookline police arrested a man on Wednesday night after he allegedly fired a pellet rifle outside a synagogue, breaking the window of a car. 

The incident, which took place as the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur was beginning, triggered a large police response that brought more than a dozen officers to Temple Beth Zion at 1566 Beacon Street, according to a police report. However, police said it did not appear he was targeting the temple.

Carlos Gouvea, 43, was charged with illegally discharging a pellet gun, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and malicious damage of personal property. 

Gouvea, a visiting professor at Harvard Law School who is also the CEO of a major Brazilian think tank, told police he was hunting rats, according to the police report.  

So let me see if I get this straight. A man discharges a pellet gun outside a synagogue during Judaism's Holiest Day where a large number of people have gathered, and the authorities do not believe that he is targeting the synagogue or its congregants.

Nonsense.

When Gouvea says he's targeting rats, he means Jews. After all, anti-Semites commonly refer to Jews as rats. 

All things considered, we are lucky that the only damage done was a broken car windshield unlike what happened in Manchester, UK during Yom Kippur.

Harvard has placed Gouvea on administrative leave. However, I would not be surprised if he is soon reinstated and given a raise and hero's welcome upon his return to Harvard Law.

I live less than a 15-minute walk from Harvard Law school and am appalled that a such a man would be permitted to be in its employ. If Harvard is serious about combating anti-Semitism, then they will sever ties with Gouvea forthwith.

Schumaker to Manage Rangers with a Reduced Payroll

To the surprise of no one, the Texas Rangers have hired Skip Schumaker to be the team's new manager signing him to a four-year deal. Schumaker's hiring comes only days after the club announced that Bruce Bochy would be offered a role in the front office.

Schumaker spent this past season as a special advisor to the team after managing the Miami Marlins for two seasons. In 2023, Schumaker earned NL Manager of the Year honors after guiding the Marlins to a post-season appearance. However, the team would regress in 2024 losing 100 games. Yet despite the disappointing 2024 campaign, Schumaker was going to get another chance to manage in the big leagues.

The question is what the Rangers will look like in 2026 and for the rest of the decade. The team is committed to shedding payroll namely Marcus Semien. But can we discount the possibility that Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Joc Pederson wouldn't soon follow him out the door? 

Should this come to pass then perhaps Schumaker might be the ideal manager to lead a younger team just as he did with the Marlins. But as with any young team there are bound to be growing pains. 

Let us also consider that Schumaker will be measured against Bochy who led the Rangers to their first World Series title in 2023 even if the team couldn't replicate that magic in 2024 or in 2025.

Meanwhile, there are 7 other MLB teams searching for new skippers - Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants

A Precious Hour at a Cat Cafe

 

As some of you may know, I have an affinity for cats. Every once in a great while I get to gaze upon Remy when I traverse through Harvard. Then there was also Inky, a beloved tuxedo cat who was dubbed the "Mayor of Garfield Street" until his passing earlier this year. If you walk in my neighborhood, there are reminders of Inky's presence. 

Alas, most of my encounters with cats these days are by chance. It has been some time since I spent any extended period of time with a cat. Today, I rectified that with a visit to A Sanctuary Cafe on Charles Street in Boston where I booked a one-hour visit.

The main floor is divided between the cafe and cat sanctuary area while the latter also occupies the basement. Before one enters the sanctuary, it is necessary to use hand sanitizer and place booties over your shoes to maintain cleanliness and safety. I spent most of the hour in the basement where there is also a room where only cats are allowed so they can plot global domination with able assistance from the staff. 

Most of the cats I encountered today were sleeping and customers are not permitted to disrupt their slumber. As such, I didn't have very much interaction with the cats who were assembled and spent more time speaking with a staff person named Sarah sharing stories about our lives with cats. However, just being in the presence of large number of cats proved to be a source of calm. This alone was worth the price of admission. It was a most precious hour. 

After I left the premises, I walked back to Cambridge and felt considerably more relaxed and at ease than I was before I arrived. I think another visit will be in order. I'm not sure when this will come to pass. But when it does come to pass, I know I will have another precious hour with G-d's greatest creation.

Hamas is Playing Trump Like a Fiddle

Yesterday morning, President Trump gave Hamas an ultimatum that they had until Sunday to accept his proposed peace deal to end its war with Israel or "all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas."

Hours later, Hamas provided conditional acceptance to Trump's proposal. Trump immediately changed his tune:

Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.

I'm not sure what leads Trump to believe that Hamas is interested in "a lasting peace" but Hamas placated Trump sufficiently so that he has now put the onus back on Israel. Which is exactly what Hamas wanted.

As South Carolina GOP Senator Lindsey Graham noted:

Hamas’ recent response to President Trump’s plan to end the war — which Israel had accepted — is unfortunately predictable. A classic ‘Yes, but,’ No disarmament, keeping Gaza under Palestinian control, and tying hostage release to negotiations, along with other problems. This is, in essence, a rejection by Hamas of President Trump’s ‘take it or leave it’ proposal.

Despite Trump's announcement that Hamas is ready for a lasting peace, in reality, we are no further to getting the hostages released much less ending the war than we were yesterday. What is going to happen is as follows. Hamas is going to string out Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Egypt while they regroup and rearm. Meanwhile, Israel is bound to stop defending itself or risk Trump's ire. All the while Hamas will be playing Trump like a damn fiddle.

A Mob Comes to Downing Street to Cheer the Murder of Jews

Only hours after the terrorist attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur which claimed the lives of two Jewish congregants, a mob gathered outside London's Downing Street to cheer their killing. 

In between chants of "Death, Death to the IDF!!!" there were those made it the clear they "don't give a fuck about the Jewish community". Needless to say, the pleas of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "respect the grief of British Jews" have fallen on deaf ears. Indeed, what makes Starmer think this mob cares about British Jews any more than they do about Israeli Jews? If they don't care about the hostages murdered by Hamas, then why would they care about two Jews slaughtered in a Manchester synagogue?

Undoubtedly this mob is but a prelude for more demonstrations in London and Manchester this weekend.

With the ugliness of anti-Semitism on full public display in the U.K. for the world to see, how long will be it for this ugliness spreads full throttle in the United States? I'm not saying it isn't here. It most certainly is. But anti-Semitism in the U.K. is at a whole different level. Then again it won't take much for this country to stoop to that level.