Olympic Overruns

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I take a look at the exorbitant costs associated with hosting the Olympic Games and suggest that the current economic model for the host cities is not sustainable and must be changed:

 

OLYMPIC OVERRUNS

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

Once every two years, I assume the role of an Olympic expert. Like countless other people around the world, I unilaterally and unabashedly deem myself an Olympic aficionado and presume that I know as much about the competition as the television commentators who actually do have extensive professional experience in each respective event.

 

During the Summer Olympics, I transform into a self-proclaimed maven on Olympic events such as diving, gymnastics, swimming, volleyball, and track and field. When the Winter Olympics roll around, I become an enthusiast of events such as bobsleigh, figure skating, luge, ski jumping, and speed skating.

 

Very often, I will catch myself questioning the sanity of the judges when they award an underwhelming score to an athlete whose performance I am quite certain was extraordinary, or, conversely, when they reward an athlete with high marks when I thought their routine was subpar.

 

I fall prey to Olympic fever as much as the next guy. In addition to thoroughly enjoying watching the competitions, I well up with pride when witnessing an American athlete standing proudly with a gold medal around his or her neck as the national anthem is played and the American flag is unfurled high above the arena.

 

Yet, there is a much deeper and more serious side to the Olympic Games that does not always garner the attention and concern that it warrants. I am referring to the effect that the Olympics has on the host cities.

 

The excitement of hosting the Olympics is quite understandable. Prospective host cities pull out all the stops as they do whatever it takes to lure the games to their backyard. They become giddy as they dream about their city being squarely in the spotlight in the years and months leading up to the Olympics, as well, of course, as throughout the duration of the games themselves.

 

The problem is that the visions of grandeur that accompany the exuberance of the host cities impair their ability to exercise any degree of fiscal prudence in relation to the Olympics.

 

The economic boon that they dream of generally fails to materialize. Instead, the host city is often faced with an economic bust of monumental proportions.

 

The costs to the host city to prepare for the Olympic Games are extraordinarily exorbitant.

 

This year’s Winter Games in Sochi is the perfect example. Originally estimated to be in the range of $10 billion, the actual cost is hovering around a whopping $51 billion. That would shatter the record set by Beijing during the 2008 Summer Games, when the cost was approximately $43 billion, and give this year’s Olympics the dubious distinction of being the most expensive games ever.

 

There have been many economic debacles of Olympic-type proportion. The 2004 Olympic Games in Athens were over budget by 60% after they spent a total of approximately $15 billion. To add insult to injury, many of the state-of-the-art venues that they constructed for the Olympics at that time are now run-down and unused.

 

Going over budget in anticipation of hosting the Olympics is endemic and virtually guaranteed. Albertville in 1992, Montreal in 1976, Lake Placid in 1980, Albertville in 1992, and Nagano in 1998 are just some of the host cities that saw their costs skyrocket far beyond their original estimates.

 

Sadly, history has shown that the prominence of the host cities on the world stage quickly dissipates shortly after the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games have concluded. The spike in tourism that they hoped for never occurs. The commercial investment in their cities that they yearned for never happens. The host cities are often left with nothing but a colossal debt, brand new venues that have no tenants, and that helpless feeling of “how did we get into this mess?”

 

All of this begs the question. In a world in which poverty is prevalent, hunger and famine are commonplace, and homelessness is widespread, is spending $50 billion on the Olympics the best use of our money?

 

To put it in perspective, according to an estimate by the United Nations, world hunger can be eliminated for $30 billion a year. In addition, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approximates that it would cost approximately $20 billion for the government to end homelessness in the United States.

 

To be clear, I am not advocating that we eliminate the Olympics and instead use the funds for social justice endeavors. My intent is merely to point out the out of control spending that is associated with the Olympic Games.

 

The Olympics serve a vital purpose. The spectacle of top-flight athletes from all corners of the world coming together to participate in a civil and spirited athletic competition is always a sight to behold. The longstanding tradition of the Olympic Games is an integral part of the fabric of our society.

 

However, we cannot turn a blind eye to the massive amount of money that is expended by the host cities. Perhaps the International Olympic Committee (IOC) needs to initiate a conversation on how to curb costs and make the Olympic Games a more sound investment for host cities. The IOC needs to furnish a new model that will enable and encourage host cities to approach the games with a greater degree of fiscal prudence and reasonable budgetary projections.

 

Judging from an economic practicability standpoint, the current pecuniary prototype for host cities would regrettably not even make the cut in an Olympic qualifying heat.

 

Absent any substantive changes to the current system, when it comes to the Olympics, the acronym that host cities will become most familiar with is not the IOC; rather, it is an IOU.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

Traffic Tie-Up On The Way To The White House

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I take a look at "Bridgegate" and discuss how it impacts Governor Chris Christie's presidential aspirations:

TRAFFIC TIE-UP ON THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

Chris Christie was virtually coasting to the nation’s capital. With a huge win in November to capture a second term as Governor of New Jersey, Christie turned his attention to the White House and solidified his spot as a front-runner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

 

After showcasing his political prowess with a decisive victory in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, Christie was looking forward to taking his act to the national stage as head of the Republican Governors Association. Things were looking good for Chris Christie.

 

And then, in a stunning turn of events, Governor Christie hit a roadblock on the way to Washington.

 

“Bridegate,” as it has become known, suddenly threatened to derail Christie’s plans. What had been in the news somewhat sporadically since September quickly exploded into a national scandal.

 

Top members of Governor Christie’s administration and inner circle evidently initiated lane closures in Fort Lee near the George Washington Bridge, which caused terrible traffic tie-ups and wreaked havoc on drivers for several days. What made the story so shocking is that the lane closures and the ensuing chaos was an apparent act of political retribution aimed at the Mayor of Fort Lee, a Democrat, who declined to endorse Christie during the Republican governor’s re-election bid.

 

The shocking revelations were initially met with silence from the Governor. When the story broke, Christie abruptly cancelled his public appearances and we did not hear from the Governor all day.

 

The pundits took to the airwaves to opine how Christie could probably never recover from Bridgegate and his presidential stock plummeted. People began drafting his political obituary.

 

And then came word that the Governor was going to hold a press conference the next day to address the recent turn of events.

 

Hordes of reporters, including numerous representatives from national media outlets, descended upon Trenton to witness what was unquestionably the most significant point thus far in Chris Christie’s political career.

 

Saying the wrong thing at this critical juncture could very well mean the end of his presidential aspirations.

 

In a nearly two-hour press conference, during which time he responded to countless questions from reporters, Chris Christie delivered the performance of his career.

 

The normally brash and outspoken Governor was unusually humble and contrite. As he proclaimed that the buck stops with him, Christie apologized profusely for his staff’s actions and for what he termed their “abject stupidity” and “callous indifference.” He announced that he fired his Deputy Chief of Staff, Bridget Kelly, whose “time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” email was at the center of the storm. He also noted that he ordered his top political aide and former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, to withdraw his name from consideration for chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and to resign his consulting position with the Republican Governors Association. And he issued what seemed to be a heartfelt apology to Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, the residents of Fort Lee, the members of the State Legislature, and the people of New Jersey.

From a public relations perspective, Chris Christie’s presentation at the press conference was brilliant. In what was a virtuoso performance, Christie seemingly extricated himself from the political abyss and climbed back from the brink of political disaster. People who had written off Christie in the morning were suddenly lauding him in the afternoon.

Yet, at the same time that the Governor was wrapping up his marathon press conference, David Wildstein, a Christie appointee to the Port Authority who was yet another casualty of the scandal, was appearing at a state Assembly hearing to answer questions about his role in Bridgegate. Unfortunately for Christie, Wildstein’s response to each question asked by the lawmakers was identical. “Under advice of my counsel, I reserve the right to remain silent.”

Wildstein’s decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination raised a whole new set of questions. The situation was further exacerbated when the U.S. Attorney’s office announced that it would commence an investigation into Bridgegate in collaboration with the FBI. In addition, New Jersey state lawmakers vowed to press forward with subpoenas and hearings into the growing scandal.

Although Governor Christie’s epic encounter with the press helped him dodge the initial bullet, he still faces a barrage of slings and arrows that are being hurled his way.

There are a slew of headlines that continue to hammer away at the Governor. The media, sensing that there may be more to this story, have doggedly delved deeper into Bridgegate with new resolve. Stories are surfacing about other Democratic public officials who were approached by the Christie campaign to endorse his reelection effort, and the “repercussions” that ensued when they declined to support him. Additional stories, such as the possible misuse of Superstorm Sandy funds to produce a tourism ad featuring the Governor and his family, have emerged as well.

Being in the political spotlight is a difficult place to be. Being in the presidential limelight is even more grueling. You are constantly under a microscope and your every move is scrutinized by the press, your political opponents, and the public at large. One misstep could instantly morph into a political free fall that may be beyond repair.

Bridgegate might be that defining moment for Chris Christie. Although he said all the right things at his big press conference and his demeanor was right on target, we have not heard the last of this scandal. There will undoubtedly be more potentially troubling details that will surface and Governor Christie’s future inevitably hangs in the balance.

If the Governor’s claims that he knew nothing about his staff’s decision to tie up traffic at the George Washington Bridge hold true, he may escape from this scandal, albeit a bit damaged. If, however, we learn that he was not entirely forthcoming, the closest Chris Christie may get to the Oval Office is the public tour of the White House that is open to every other ordinary citizen.

Whatever the outcome, the fact is that Chris Christie hit a major traffic tie-up on his way to the White House. Whether or not he can find a way to skillfully circumvent the bottleneck en route to the Beltway remains to be seen.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

Breaking Out The Presidential Crystal Ball

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I take a look ahead to the 2016 presidential race:

 

BREAKING OUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CRYSTAL BALL

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

As we bid farewell to 2013 and usher in 2014, it is natural to both reflect on the events of the past year and to take a look ahead to try and ascertain what the coming year has in store for us. However, in political circles, it is not enough to just forecast how things will play out in 2014; instead, people are breaking out their crystal balls and glancing ahead all the way to 2016.

 

Although we just turned the calendar to 2014, it is the presidential election in 2016 that is looming large on the horizon.

 

On the Democratic side, there are a number of names bantered about as possible presidential hopefuls. Yet, there may be just one person who has the ability to turn the race on its head by galvanizing the National Democratic Party and electrifying Democratic voters across the United States.

 

Although she stepped down from her position as Secretary of State eleven months ago, Hillary Clinton remains one of the most intriguing and influential political figures in the United States.

 

With her 2016 presidential plans not yet resolved, the speculation about a possible run by Hillary has dominated the political landscape. Those considering seeking the Democratic nomination for president are essentially hamstrung by the woman whose mere presence in the background is casting a large shadow over the race. If Hillary ultimately decides to run, most, if not all, of the other Democratic presidential aspirants will probably have to seriously consider stepping aside in favor of the presumptive front-runner.

 

With her growing popularity and the sense that she can fend off any of the Republicans who are eyeing a presidential run, Hillary Clinton is in the driver’s seat. If she wants the Democratic nomination for president in 2016, all she needs to do is say the word and it will be like the splitting of the Red Sea – the political waters will part and she very well may have a clear path to her coronation at the Democratic National Convention.

 

For New Jersey voters, one of the early frontrunners on the Republican side hails from our very own backyard.

 

With Governor Chris Christie’s decisive win on Election Day, the murmurs about his presidential possibilities intensified and speculation abounds as to whether or not he will throw his hat into the ring.

 

One indication that Christie’s flirtation with a presidential race may indeed be serious is that The New York Times recently assigned reporter Michael Barbaro to cover Governor Christie with an eye towards a potential 2016 run. After already assigning a reporter to cover Hillary Clinton and her possible presidential campaign, The New York Times’ designation of Barbaro, who was tasked with covering Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the past several years, signifies just how seriously people are taking Chris Christie.

 

To further substantiate the idea that Christie 2016 might become a reality, it is also rumored that the Associated Press is contemplating assigning a reporter to exclusively cover Chris Christie in the not so distant future. At this point, it is quite probable that other media outlets will follow suit.

 

Although the election will not be held until November 8, 2016, that has not stopped the political pundits and the pollsters from trying to handicap the race at this early juncture. Recent polls indicate that if the race was held today, Hillary Clinton and Chris Christie would be running neck and neck.

 

It is worth noting that according to the polls, Hillary would easily beat any of the other Republicans who are contemplating presidential runs, including Congressman and former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, Senators Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

 

As far as Chris Christie goes, New Jersey residents appear to have come to terms with the fact that their Governor may leave the State House for the White House.

 

According to a recent Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press Poll, nearly 70% of New Jersey residents believe that Chris Christie is planning to run for president in 2016. Although the rigors of a presidential campaign would inevitably cause Christie to spend a great deal of time away from the Garden State, 67% of New Jersey residents would not be especially bothered if Governor Christie ran.

 

Predicting the future is virtually impossible, but that has not stopped people in the political world from trying to do just that on a regular basis. The political phenomenon of “looking ahead” is quite routine in the world of presidential politics. Although their political predictions are not always accurate, that does not appear to stop people from prophesying what is in store for the presidency.

 

As we move into 2014 and beyond, New Jersey residents will certainly be paying attention to the 2016 presidential race to see what will become of their own Chris Christie. Only time will tell if Christie will make the move from his house in Mendham, New Jersey to that big white house on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

The Prejudice-Promulgating Professors

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I take a deeper look at the academic boycott targeting Israel:

 

The Prejudice-Promulgating Professors

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

Academics traditionally wear the mantle of freedom of expression with great pride. They embrace the open exchange of ideas and embolden others to engage in independent thinking and knowledge-enhancing exercises. These scholars are generally well-respected and their disciplined pursuit of academic excellence in their respective subject areas is extremely noteworthy.

 

Like most things, however, there is an exception to the rule. Unfortunately, when it comes to professors encouraging freedom of expression in the world of academia, that exception is the State of Israel.

 

In a bizarre deviation from the norm in academic circles, there are a growing number of professors who seem to believe that a double standard is somehow acceptable when it comes to Israel. On one hand, they promote inclusiveness and individuality. On the other hand, they have inexplicably chosen to support an academic boycott of Israel.

 

This movement, which is known as Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (“B.D.S.”), has gotten some traction over the past several years. It gained further momentum when the members of the American Studies Association, a U.S.-based organization that is comprised of university professors, recently voted to endorse the boycott effort.

 

The rationale among supporters of B.D.S is that this movement is a means by which they can protest what they claim to be Israel’s inhumane and inequitable policies towards, and treatment of, the Palestinian Arabs.

 

The audacity and hypocrisy of these professors is incredible. They hold themselves out to be bastions of free expression, yet they have chosen to stifle a country that happens to be the sole democratic nation in the Middle East region, and which has made tremendous inroads in the academic world and great strides in developing innovative ideas and emergent technology. They have taken the extreme measure of condemning the State of Israel over its handling of the Palestinian Arabs, yet they turn a blind eye to the countless acts of terror perpetrated against innocent Israelis by its Arab neighbors.

 

The backers of the B.D.S movement allege human rights violations against Israel and single out the Jewish State, however, they apparently ignore the egregious and blatant human rights violations that are pervasive in other nations around the world.

 

In its 2013 World Report, Human Rights Watch, an organization that monitors and reviews human rights practices throughout the world, outlined a plethora of human rights violations that occurred in 2012.

 

For example, basic rights of freedom of expression and association are routinely restricted by the government in numerous countries, including Ethiopia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, China, North Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Egypt.

 

In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Honduras, human rights activists and journalists are threatened, arrested, and killed. In Mali, political upheaval resulted in the displacement of 400,000 residents.  In Uganda, the government’s security force routinely engage in acts of torture. In Colombia, human rights defenders are under constant attack. In Cuba, the government suppresses all political dissent. In Venezuela, opponents of the government are intimidated and prosecuted. In Tajikistan, the government restricts religious expression and education, and domestic violence against women and children is commonplace. In Uzbekistan, torture is widely utilized in the criminal justice system, freedom of expression is limited, and the government sponsors forced child labor. In Iran, executions for various offenses are prevalent. In Iraq, detainees are arbitrarily tortured and peaceful protesters face intimidation and violence. In Syria, tens of thousands of people have been killed as anti-government protests morphed into an all-out armed conflict.

 

The twisted tales of heinous human rights violations that are taking place around the globe are sickening. Yet, remarkably, the professors involved in the B.D.S. movement do not seem too concerned, as they have not taken any steps to initiate boycotts against the countless countries that sanction these crimes against humanity.

 

As self-professed defenders of human rights, the academics’ silence in the face of such overt human rights violations is deafening. In fact, it makes me wonder if their Israeli boycott actually has anything to do with human rights at all.

 

The B.D.S. movement is nothing more than an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic exercise. The professors who enthusiastically support the boycott have shamelessly shed their academic integrity in favor of intolerance and traded in their scholarly books for bigotry.

 

This misguided group of professors is unapologetically promulgating prejudice. Instead of singling out Israel for fallacious human rights infringements, the B.D.S. group should turn its attention to the myriad cases of serious human rights violations that occur on a daily basis around the globe.

 

Stop picking on Israel solely because it is a Jewish State and focus on places and situations that are actually worthy of protestation. My dear professors, your narrow-mindedness is unbecoming, unprofessional, and unpardonable.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

What Merits Top Billing, A Shooting Or The Snow?

The following is an article that I wrote for The Times of Israel blog, in which I examine the New York Times’ coverage of the senseless killing of an Israeli soldier:

 

What Merits Top Billing, A Shooting Or The Snow?

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

Jews throughout the world have watched with wonderment as the biggest snowstorm in a half-century blanketed Jerusalem and various cities throughout Israel. We saw numerous photographs and video footage of Israel being transformed into a veritable winter wonderland.

 

At the same time, we are well aware of the crippling effect that this storm has had on Israel. Thousands of people were left without electricity for several days, countless cars were abandoned on the roads due to the heavy snowfall, and main thoroughfares were shut down, impacting travel in and out of Israel’s capital city. Jerusalem, in effect, was under siege from the snow.

 

While I am certainly cognizant of the adverse effect that the snowstorm has clearly had on Israel and the news making event that it undoubtedly is, I have to confess that I was shocked when I read an article in today’s New York Times relating to this virtually unprecedented weather event.

 

The article, which is entitled “Gaza, Vexed by Floods, Gets Fuel and Power,” begins by recounting how Gaza is faring in the aftermath of the storm.

 

Reading the first nine paragraphs of the article, I learned that Gaza’s sole power plant is once again operational after being offline for a month-and-a-half, and that a $10 million grant from Qatar is going to be used to pay for the industrial diesel that is being trucked into Gaza.

 

More than halfway through the article, the writers switch gears and spend three paragraphs discussing the effect that the storm had on Israel, and how Israeli authorities are responding to criticism about their handling of the big snowfall.

 

And then I got to paragraphs 13 and 14 of the article. The final two paragraphs of the story noted that an Israeli soldier was shot and killed last night by a Lebanese soldier as he was on a routine patrol in proximity to the Lebanese border.

 

What bothered me immensely about this is that the article seems to give the impression that reporting on the unprovoked murder of an Israeli soldier was almost an afterthought.

 

The title of the article is related to the snowstorm. The first 500 words of the article are all about the snowstorm. Throughout the first 81% of the article, there is absolutely no mention of the fact that an Israeli soldier was killed.

 

Then the reader arrives at word 501 of a 618 word article and sees, “In a separate development…,” which seemingly gives the impression that this portion of the article was essentially an add-on.

 

Let me be clear about what happened. 31-year Master Sgt. Shlomi Cohen, a resident of Afula, lost his life when a Lebanese soldier arbitrarily and capriciously decided to open fire at an Israeli army patrol that was traversing Israeli territory, on Israeli soil.

 

Master Sgt. Cohen leaves behind his wife, Ma’ayan, and an infant daughter, whose first birthday is next month. His death is an absolute tragedy, and the fact that his loving wife lost her husband and that his young daughter will now grow up without a father is utterly heartbreaking.

 

Yet, The New York Times did not see fit to dedicate an article, or even a brief, to this horrible tragedy that transpired. Instead, it inexplicably included it as somewhat of an addendum to an article about how Gaza is coping after the snowstorm.

 

I imagine that if the situation was reversed, and an Israeli soldier shot and killed a Lebanese solider for no apparent reason, there would have been a bold headline condemning the attack and an entire article dedicated to how awful it was.

 

Admittedly, the snowstorm that paralyzed Israel is a major news story. However, I personally do not believe that it trumps the terrible tragedy of a young man’s life being cut short simply because he was performing his duties as an Israeli soldier and safeguarding the people of Israel.

 

Let us hope that The New York Times recognizes the error of its ways, and next time, if and when there is a next time, they get it right and give the senseless murder of a brave Israeli soldier the attention that it rightfully deserves.

 

The Hebrew Humanitarians

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I examine a possible antidote to Israel’s PR problems, namely, its altruism and benevolence:

 

THE HEBREW HUMANITARIANS

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

There is no denying the fact that the press coverage of Israel by media outlets around the world is often less than flattering. Indeed, Israel is routinely maligned in the media and vilified by those who are theoretically tasked with providing the public with impartial reporting of the news.

 

As a result of this adverse exposure in the press, Israel’s reputation on the world stage is inevitably tarnished. Although it is undeserved and unwarranted, once the negative coverage about Israel hits the newspapers, the damage is done.

 

From a public relations perspective, the Israeli government has its work cut out for itself. They are engaged in a constant struggle to counter the disparaging news stories with positive and informative pieces about all that Israel has to offer and all that it has accomplished. Misstatements in the media are promptly rebutted by Israel, and biased coverage of the Jewish State is generally brought to light.

 

Yet, for all of the negativity that Israel has been forced to endure in the media, there is one issue that has traditionally generated positive press for the Jewish State, and rightfully so.

 

Several weeks ago, in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, which absolutely devastated the Philippines and resulted in a great loss of life as well as extensive property and infrastructure damage, I watched a wonderful segment on the NBC Nightly News.

 

Dr. Nancy Snyderman, the Chief Medical Editor for NBC News, provided a report from the ravaged nation. What was especially interesting to me was that the focus of her report was Israel.

 

Following the massive storm in the Philippines, the Israeli government did what they always do in the wake of a natural disaster – they sent help.

 

In her report, Dr. Snyderman spoke about how she was in awe of the medical professionals and other personnel from the Israeli Defense Forces who came to the Philippines. She discussed in glowing terms how well the Israelis assist those in need by delivering emergency medical care in exceedingly poor conditions. She noted that the Israeli team chose to set up their sophisticated medical operation in Bogo, a small village that had been hit extremely hard by the storm, yet was off the beaten path and therefore was not necessarily getting as much aid as some of the other areas.

 

This report on NBC was overwhelmingly positive, and Dr. Snyderman spoke about the Israelis in an almost reverential manner. The story enabled the world to get a glimpse of some of the good that emanates from the State of Israel.

When the Israeli team finally left the Philippines, they had provided medical treatment to nearly 3,000 patients and had helped repair a number of damaged buildings, including schools.

In fact, since its founding in 1948, the State of Israel has provided humanitarian aid to more than 140 countries.

Following a powerful earthquake in Turkey in 2011, Israel sent a team to construct temporary structures that were needed in order to assist those who were displaced and injured.

In 2010, an Israeli team traveled to Haiti to provide aid in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that decimated the small nation. The Israelis set up a temporary hospital and treated countless Haitians who desperately required medical attention.

Israel sent four tons of medical aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2008 to assist the refugees there who were suffering greatly.

After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, Israel sent a delegation equipped with 80 tons of food and supplies to help all those who were affected by the storm.

In addition, Israel provided emergency relief aid to Sri Lanka after the 2005 tsunami, to Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami, and to India after the 2001 earthquake. And the list goes on and on.

When tragedy strikes, Israel is always there to answer the call for help. And it is time that the world finally takes notice of Israel’s benevolence and acknowledges its altruistic acts.

While the United Nations never passes up an opportunity to issue baseless condemnations of Israel, the Israeli government never misses a chance to lend a helping hand to some of those very same countries that have denounced her.

Unfortunately, Israel’s public relations problems will not disappear overnight. Those wishing to denigrate the Jewish State will continue to do so.

As such, Israel will keep on employing communications strategies intended to counter the partiality in the press. But one of the best ways that Israel can deflect the daggers that are being thrown at her is to keep doing what she has been doing for so many years, namely, helping people and nations in need. By being the humanitarians that they have proven themselves to be, the Israelis can demonstrate to the world that they are not the villains that their antagonists make them out to be.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
 

Thanking the Maccabees

In honor of “Thanksgivukkah,” here is my latest column from The Jewish Link of Bergen County:

 

Thanking the Maccabees

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

There has been much ado this year about the fact that the first day of Chanukah coincides with the holiday of Thanksgiving.

 

The last time that Thanksgiving overlapped with the first day of Chanukah was in 1888, 125 years ago. According to Dr. Jonathan Mizrahi, a New Mexico-based physicist, the next time that the first full day of Chanukah will fall out on Thanksgiving is in 79811, which is 77,798 years from now.

 

Do not despair, however. According to physicist Dr. Eli Lansey, the first night of Chanukah, as opposed to the first day, will fall out on Thanksgiving in 2070 and 2165, 57 and 152 years from now, respectively.

 

This great anomaly has caused a sense of giddiness amongst entrepreneurs, marketing professionals, people in the food industry, and various individuals whose creative juices began flowing. We have seen the birth of the “Menurkey,” which is a menorah shaped like a turkey, t-shirts with slogans such as “Light, Liberty, and Latkes,” latkes with cranberry sauce, and pumpkin rugelach. It is a veritable bonanza for people hoping to capitalize on this once in a lifetime event.

 

But for all of the excitement that people feel due to “Thanksgivukkah,” the fun and games that people have conjured up are mostly superficial. I would like to take a closer and more analytical view of this calendric abnormality.

 

Thanksgiving is a day full of family, football, and fun. It is an annual American Pastime that is eagerly anticipated and widely commemorated.

 

I have fond memories of our entire family gathering at my grandparents’ house on Thanksgiving for a festive holiday meal. After Grandpa carved the turkey and everyone settled down to eat, we would happily enjoy each other’s company and share some quality time together as a family.

 

Yet, there was always a deeper, more meaningful side to the day. As we consumed the delicious turkey and delectable side dishes, we would go around the table, and one-by-one we would tell everyone what we were thankful for.

 

It was a relatively simple exercise, yet it compelled us to recognize and acknowledge that there were many things for which we had to be grateful.

 

The holiday of Chanukah is somewhat comparable to Thanksgiving in that regard. We generally associate Chanukah with giving and getting presents, consuming latkes and jelly donuts, spirited games of dreidel, and spending time with our family.

 

However, like Thanksgiving, there is a more profound element of Chanukah that warrants our attention and reflection.

 

The religious significance of Chanukah is well-known, yet often overlooked. In 176 BCE, King Antiochus and the Greek Empire attempted to incapacitate the Jewish nation and capture the Land of Israel. Antiochus’ methodical attempt to overwhelm the Jews was done via Hellenization, in which the Greeks exerted their control in an effort to cajole and then coerce the Jews into abandoning Judaism and converting to paganism.

 

The foundations of the Jewish faith, such as observing Shabbos, teaching and learning Torah, and conducting circumcisions were outlawed by the Greeks. In an attempt to strike at the very core of the soul of the Jewish people, the Beit Hamikdash was defiled and decorated with forbidden idolatry.

 

Given the impossible choice of forgoing their religion or facing death, many Jews unfortunately succumbed to a life of Hellenism.

 

And then the Maccabees arrived on the scene. Mattathias and his five sons refused to capitulate to the Greeks and in 167 BCE they rose up and led a rebellion against Antiochus. Led by Judah Maccabee, as he is commonly referred to, this small band of Jews, which was greatly outnumbered by the mighty Greek army, ultimately prevailed and was successful in driving the Greeks out of Israel. It was the unlikely and miraculous victory of the Maccabees that saved the spiritual being of the Jewish people and led to the establishment of the holiday of Chanukah.

 

As we sit here in the 21st Century and enjoy all of the wonderful gifts we have been given, it behooves us as Jews to take a moment to reflect on what we have to be thankful for.

 

We live in an era in which it is very easy to be a Jew.

 

As Jewish-Americans, we are extremely fortunate to live in a country that allows us to practice our religion in accordance with the tenets of our faith, whenever, wherever, and however we choose. We live in a place in which we are free to build shuls in which we can pray and schools in which our children can receive a quality Jewish education.

 

We live in a time in which we have a Jewish State that we can call our own. We live in an age in which we can easily travel to Israel and enjoy unfettered access to the holy sites that play such an integral role in Jewish tradition and history.

 

So, as we celebrate “Thanksgivukkah” and partake in the festivities, we should all make a concerted effort to set aside some time to contemplate what we have to be thankful for.

 

Aside from being thankful for tasty turkey, delicious donuts, and luscious latkes, we should make sure that we thank the Maccabees. Without their intervention and heroism, who knows what might have become of the Jewish people?

 

One thing is for certain. Without the Maccabees, there would be no Chanukah, and thus no Thanksgivukkah.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler