Arts & Culture
The Jewish Extremists Behind “Obsession”
By Jeffrey Goldberg / October 28, 2008
I’ve only watched the 12-minute version of "Obsession," the film sent to more than 28 million people in various swing states, apparently by associates and partisans of the Jewish movement known as Aish HaTorah, or "Fire of the Torah," but it was enough for to understand that it is the work of hysterics. One of my favorite hysterics, the Jerusalem Post’s Caroline Glick, is featured prominently, pieces of the sky falling about her head as she rants about the End of Days.
Aish HaTorah denies any direct connection to the film, which is designed to make naive Americans believe that B-52s filled with radical jihadists are about to carpet-bomb their churches, and are only awaiting Barack Obama’s ascension to launch the attack. But the manifold connections, as laid out in this article, among others, make it clear that high-level officials of Aish are up to their chins in this project. The most disreputable flack in New York, Ronn Torossian, who represents Aish, makes an appearance in this story, which was to be expected: Torossian last made the news when he employed sock-puppetry in defense of one of his many indefensible clients, Agriprocessors, Inc., the Luvavitch-owned kosher slaughterhouse that treats its employees nearly as badly as it treats its animals, which is saying something, because Agriprocessor slaughterers have been filmed ripping out the tracheas of living cattle. But I digress. It’s said of Ronn Torossian that he represents "right-wing" Israeli politicians, but this description does not do his clients justice. "Right-wing" is Bibi Netanyahu. Torossian represents the lunatic fringe. Several years ago, in one of my only encounters with him, he introduced me to Benny Elon, a rabbi and settler leader who was then Israel’s tourism minister, and who, at various points in his career, has more or less advocated the ethnic cleansing of Israel of its Arab citizens. At one point, when Elon had gone to take a telephone call, Torossian and I started talking about Israel’s right to reprisal for terrorist attacks. I was arguing in favor of some sort of proportionality (this was after Jenin, in which the Israeli army chose to root out terrorism block by block rather than bomb the city from the air) but Torossian interrupted: "I think we should kill a hundred Arabs or a thousand Arabs for every one Jew they kill." I was somewhat taken aback, of course, because this is a Nazi idea, rather than a Jewish idea. I asked him to explicate: "If someone from a town blows himself up and kills Jews, we should wipe out the town he’s from, kill them all. The Israelis are suckers. They should have destroyed Jenin." He went on like this for some time. I would only note that Torossian, to the best of my knowledge, never volunteered for the Israeli army, so he seemed to me by definition a chickenhawk. Torossian’s attitude toward Arabs and toward the peace process are echoed in the approach of Aish HaTorah, which is just about the most fundamentalist movement in Judaism today. Its operatives flourish in the radical belt of Jewish settlements just south of Nablus, in the northern West Bank, and their outposts across the world propagandize on behalf of a particularly sterile, sexist and revanchist brand of Judaism. Which is amusing, of course, because "Obsession" is meant to expose a particularly sterile, sexist and racist brand of Islam. The tragedy of "Obsession" is not that it is wrong; the tragedy is that it takes a serious issue, and a serious threat — that of Islamism — and makes it into a cartoon. Its central argument is that the "Islamofascism" of today is not only the equivalent of Nazism, but worse than Nazism. This is quite a thing for a Jewish organization to argue. One of the featured speakers in "Obsession" is a self-described "former PLO terrorist" named Walid Shoebat, who argues on film that a "secular dogma like Nazism is less dangerous than Islamofascism is today." This is lunacy, of course. Islamism isn’t Nazism. It’s bad enough without being labeled Nazism. Martin Gilbert, the biographer of Churchill, shows up in the film as well, and doesn’t cover himself in glory: "History has an unfortunate habit of always repeating itself," he says. Always? Does this mean that the Arabs are right now constructing death camps for the Jewish citizens of Israel? Just unbelievable, but the most unbelievable part of the "Obsession" campaign is its timing: What does this film have to do with Barack Obama? The film is meant to suggest that Obama will provide aid and comfort to Islamism, or is an Islamist himself. There is not one shred of proof on this planet that Barack Obama is anything other than an Israel-supporting Christian. Yes, he went to party with Rashid Khalidi. So did I. Does that make me a member of Hezbollah? I actually have another idea for a film: I would call it "Obsession" as well, but it would be about the poor souls who believe that Obama is a radical Muslim, that Israel has a right to expel Arabs from its lands, and that America should declare war on all of Islam.
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Why should anybody care about which American presidential candidate orthodox or any other Israelis prefer? That such a vigorous poster as Mr. Friedman here is unabashed in his concern for Israeli interest over American isn’t surprising. But I’m surprised he doesn’t recognize the irony of denying the blatant propaganda that is "Obsession" while being utterly susceptible to the most obtuse kneejerk reactions triggered by a passel of unsubstantiated rumors about Barack Obama.Â
As far as I’m concerned, and I don’t need to qualify my scholarship or love of my people to anybody, Rashid Khalidi is infinitely better for the long-term well-being of the Jewish people than scurrilous, unpatriotic liars like David N. Friedman.
Re-reading this horrible bit of "writing" from this writer who wishes he had 1/100th of the standing of the well-renowned Caroline Glick–I am struck again with the gall to describe "Obsession" as "hysterical."Â To repeat–what MORE might Islamic radicals perpetrate on the civilized world before someone like this author admits that there is a serious threat.
I can’t recall anyone but a handful of good conservatives complain about a ballyhooed and hysterical "report" from Christian Amanpour on CNN which aired with great publicity and fanfare and so unfairly looked at "God’s Warriors" in the Christian and Jewish community. That disgusting production was truly hysterical.
To blythely claim that Barak Obama is a friend of Israel is not supported by any evidence at all.  Why is most of Israel in dread of this man? Why will a highly unusual number of American Jews go with the GOP candidate this year? And to say that alas,the author, Mr. Goldberg, has also attended a party also attended by former PLO player Rashid Khalidi fails to address the important ties Obama has with Khalidi and why those ties dwarf any affections he might have for Jews or Israeilis. Indeed, the LA Times is sitting on a video right now that shows the PLO honcho complete with Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dorn and several other real radicals with the future President of the US (unless the country returns to sanity and turns him away) apparently praising Khalidi. We surely know they had broad social ties and is very comfortable with a number of people generally thought to be disgusting to the Jewish community including Rev. Wright, Ayers, Khalidi and Farrakhan among others and to say that Obama is a man who can be comfortable with a wide variety of people is not exactly a compliment since this touches on both authenticity and a candidates credibility and this is why Obama has a widely known "Jewish problem." To say that Khalidi is "I guy I knew from the neighborhood" is yet another dumb lie that has long become too old and not accurate. Perhaps a few thousand Jews in Florida and elsewhere will switch their vote to McCain as a result of this latest revelation.
No surprise, Rabbis at Aish or ANY OTHER Orthodox community will overwhelmingly prefer McCain-Palin where there is only straight-forward respect and support with no nuance on the part of the GOP candidates for Israel and Jews.
Lastly, I apologize for incorrectly identifying the correct title for Clarion’s new movie which is called the "Third Jihad." I was pleased to donate to the cause.
Obsession has been aired all over the place and has been hailed by hundreds of positive reviews accross the board and on both sides of the poltical spectrum. The producers are pleased to have support from all quarters.
It is some kind of perverted joke to say that our war against radical Islam does not exist and a movie "incites fear." It is not as if these radicals have flown commerical airplanes into skyscrapers and the Pentagon or blown up trains and subways, embassies, US ships– or plan on employing weapons of mass destruction or have celebrated the murder of innocents. Huh? I need to ask you–if all of this does not get your attention–what will? Indeed, this is why the movie was made for people just like you with your head in the sand.
If you have a problem with the movie–state it. Are the people interviewed somehow not experts on the subject–is Frank Gaffney a radical–is Walid Shoebot not credible–is the film’s premise similar to Oliver Stone in any way–are there any lies in the movie? Please stop fuming and give me something on the record that is somehow objectionable.
As for Aish, unsourced anecdotes about whoffing against Iran simply mean nothing. Any civil person might be understanding of any Israeli feeling fear over repeated threats from the mullahs of Iran–again–what is your point? Israel needs to be more hopeful and more understanding against thugs who promise a real Holocaust against them? Israelis live in a tough neighborhood and when you travel to Israel and you have no thoughts about an attack from Arabs–you are the only such person. Indeed, if this is your position–if you feel only an impulse to reach out look for mutual understanding you fail to acknowledge that the Jews of Israel are bigger fools than you–they have been there so long and so often and still have no partners for peace.
Failure to see the threat for what it is makes no sense. Knowledge is power and if the world is to survive this threat, we need to see the threat or we have no chance to remain unaffected. Â
BTW–Obama had a chance to have a presence at the Iran protest and sent no one. He and Biden were almost the only US Senators to stand against the anti-Iran resolution that passed the Senate almost unanimously. Obama is no friend of Israel and he explicitly blames Israel for the lack of progress with the Arab Palestinians. He said that Rashid Khalidi changed his mind about the nature of the conflict–Obama is beloved by the Arab radicals and mistrusted by Israelis. No doubt, there are Israelis who return the insult by not loving Obama and why is this a problem? Why would Israelis cheer Obama–how might you expect that?
It’s pretty common right-wing strategy these days to label anyone who takes issue with Obsession and the topics it covers as "dangerous." In fact, I am surprised that you did not go just go all the way and state that the author is palling around with Islamo-terrorists as well…
I have traveled with Aish. I have seen Obsession. I was told directly that they funded and produced this piece of agit-prop, even when they would never admit to that publicly. This is not a "mainstream" film. This is a film that is shown exclusively on Fox news (but you probably would consider that mainstream)…
This movie is as radical as those they are trying to incite fear towards. This movie is edited just so, so that all the "Joe the Plumbers" can come on out and make statements like "Obama means the death of Israel" as if that asshole has any expert (or mediocre, even…) grasp on foreign affairs. These people don’t even have a filter to determine or question even what is right, and what is just creative narration.Â
Aish is an OUTREACH extremist group. It seeks out young people, who perhaps lack money, or sense of self, or who are kind of lost in the spiritual void of questioning between college and the professional world. They take young people to Israel, seclude them, talk about how McCain is the only thing that will save Israel, have speakers lecture only about how the Muslims all want us to die, and then they make the girls feel bad about ever having had sex and in this vulnerability try to slip the ol’ "let’s get you shomer negia and married!" trick.
So don’t even play out that -Aish is down with all the secular based- bullshit card.
It is through Aish that I have met people who lovingly throw out the term "ObamaBinLaden," while remaining completely ignorant of, well, of their own damn ignorance. It is through Aish where I have heard people say "the Muslims are just popping out babies left and right and they want us all to die." It is at the Aish center in Jerusalem where they have their black t-shirts for – we have God on our side- so watch out Iran – you are going to be destroyed next!
This is what I would say to your friend with cancer. They say that cancer is actually an emotional disease. So instead of dousing yourself in chemo and chasing surgeries, maybe, just maybe its about time we looked at cancer, and said, " Shalom bitches! Let’s talk. Let’s stop trying to kill one another, and lets see how we can work this out. Violence begets violence, and that shit is neverending. Let’s open up a pathway for LIFE and for HOPE and for CHANGE, and not for fear, and death, and apocolypse and this bullshit idea that walnut McCain is gonna save our sorry ass.
Oh- and stop saying that Obama is "no friend of Israel." You sound as stupid as Joewhosenameisn’treallyJoebutwhocareswhenyouarejustexploitingdumbassrednecksanyways.
The author is quite a propagandist and clearly a dangerous one. It is not "radical" to suggest that America, Israel and the Western democracies (among others) are targets of radical Islam–this would be what is called mainstream. Even for the low standards set by Jewcy–this kind of smear piece is just total nonsense. Even if the market for smut is strong–this kind of junk writing is just way over the top and cannot be justified. I suppose this is the direction we are facing in this formerly great nation–down to the sewer and the death of all reason. Â
Sure, I know a lot about the topic and a good deal about Aish. The author speaks about this two year old movie which has been widely circulated and seen by literally millions of Americans. Fox News played it twice. It was featured in news outlets all over the map. The movie and the message is not at all radical–it has a problem with radicals. It is critically aclaimed and applauded by Republicans and Deocrats alike. To call this movie "radical" is unjustified. The fact that Islamic radicals are considered by so many historians, politicians, journalists and citizens to be more dangerous than Nazism is not theater or "unbelievable"–it is stone cold. We have been warned by those murderers earl;y and often what they want to do to us? Are we listening. Nazis killed millions–jihadists have the potential and the goal to kill many, many times more. This is their stated goal. They have the goal and they will surely have the means–sooner than we think. Obsession does not overstate the reality–it understates it. Goldberg questions the timing of an old movie??? Hello. This movie is about 3 years old. The new movie called the second Jihad is coming out very soon–I think next month. Jewcy’s Goldberg is ignorant again of the facts.
Again, regarding Aish HaTorah, in reality and beyond this author’s fantasy world, Aish is directly behind the Kotel–so that if you are davening at the wall and you turn around, 50% of what you see behind you is the Aish center in Jerusalem. Public tours–all very secular based– will be partnered with Aish and with the cooperation of the Israeli government. Aish has about the most popular Jewish website on the internet, hosting millions of visitors at aish.com. To sit here in a public forum and describe Aish as radical is quite a bit of slander. However, Aish has not produced "Obsesssion" or its sequel–this is done independently by people I happily support.
To try to take the best argument put forward by this writer on this topic is to say that the threat from Islam is serious but not exactly apocalyptic is a very narrow reassuarnce and demands clear clarification. So when my friend is diagnosed with cancer and has a chance of survival–how much of a threat is it? It could go into remission and it is possible he will live another 10 years–it is possible. So we should not bother with the surgery and the chemo? What is the point of saying that it is serious and real but overstated? How can it be overstated when the statement has yet to be made? This is the point made by Martin Gilbert and Shoebot and all the others on both sides of the political aisle–in Israel, America and Europe—this is a very serious struggle for survival.Â
Whether we make it through or not depends upon our reaction to it.
We are on the verge of electing a man who clearly is no friend of Israel–and we have an electorate that does not believe there is a real threat –since our President has done a good job protecting us.  Obsession reminds us of the problem–or–we can allow the problem to re-emerge and act all shocked and surprized.
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