A Repudiation of Reconciliation

The following is an op-ed that I wrote, which appeared in the February 26, 2017 edition of The Jewish Press, in which I consider what the recent election of a militant hardliner as the head of Hamas means in relation to the prospect for peace in the Middle East:

A Repudiation of Reconciliation

February 26, 2017

By N. Aaron Troodler

It appears the prospects for peace in the Middle East just got dimmer. With the election of Yahya Sinwar as the new leader of Hamas, the terrorist organization sent a blatant message to the international community that it has absolutely no interest in pursuing peace with Israel. By elevating an individual who stringently adheres to the core values of martyrdom and jihad against Israel to its top leadership position, Hamas signaled yet again that peaceful coexistence with Israel is antithetical to its fundamental mission.

Sinwar represents everything that is wrong with Hamas and he embodies the hate-filled principles and philosophies that are the bedrock of this terrorist group. One need not look any further than the Hamas Charter, adopted in August 1988, to understand what this radical group is about and what it believes in.

According to Article Seven of the Hamas Charter, “The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them,” and “Israel will exist, and will continue to exist, until Islam abolishes it.” Article Eight speaks to the primary focus on its holy war against the Jews when it states, “Allah is its goal, the Prophet its model to be followed, the Koran its constitution, jihad its way, and death for the sake of Allah its loftiest desire.”

Article Twelve posits that “Nationalism, as seen by the Islamic Resistance Movement, is part of the [Islamic] religious creed. There is nothing that speaks more eloquently and more profoundly of nationalism than the following: when the enemy tramples Muslim territory, waging jihad and confronting the enemy become a personal duty of every Muslim man and Muslim woman.”

In a direct repudiation of international efforts to achieve peace in the region, Article Thirteen sets forth that “There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are a waste of time and a farce.”

The tenets of the Hamas Charter have ignited a perpetual war against Israel, one in which Palestinians have been led to believe that murdering Jews is a religious and societal obligation. Leaders of Hamas such as Sinwar have incited an entire generation of Palestinians to rise up against Israel through their depraved deeds and their dangerous discourse.

The diligence with which Sinwar assails Israel and vilifies Jews is appalling. After being detained in Israeli prisons for over two decades due to his terrorist activities, he was one of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for the return of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinian terrorists and held in captivity for five years. Upon his release, Sinwar’s first public statement called on Palestinians to keep working to ensure the release of all Palestinian prisoners, regardless of the cost.

In the mid-1980’s, even prior to the formal establishment of Hamas, Sinwar played an integral role in founding the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, essentially a security service that sought out Palestinians who were believed to be working with Israel and executed them for their actions.

With his belligerent approach to Israel and his close ties to Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Sinwar was in the international spotlight long before his recent election as Hamas leader. In fact, in August 2015 then-Secretary of State John Kerry issued Executive Order 13284, in which he deemed Sinwar a “Specifically Designated Global Terrorist” because he “committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.”

Now that Sinwar is leading Hamas – the entity that rules Gaza and the approximately 1.8 million Palestinians who reside there and that has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, and the European Union – the question is what impact his ascension will have on the peace process. It remains to be seen how Sinwar will interact with the Palestinian Authority, which governs between 1.7 million and 2.6 million Palestinians who live in the areas referred to by much of the world as the West Bank.

The reunification of Gaza and the West Bank is critical to any lasting and sustainable peace agreement that may one day be reached. Talks between Israel and the leadership of the Palestinian Authority are in essence worthless if the PA cannot speak for the 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza, which it currently does not.

If Hamas continues promulgating its messages of jihad, firing rockets at Israel, and plotting deadly terrorist attacks on Jews, the peace process will remain just a figment of our imagination. There is no realistic expectation that a militant hardliner like Sinwar will lead Hamas in a more moderate direction and make any genuine effort to reconcile the group’s differences with the Palestinian Authority. There is a giant chasm between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, and Sinwar apparently has no desire to try and bridge the divide.

Absent a situation where PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas can sit at the negotiating table and honestly assert he truly represents all Palestinians, bringing a sense of peace and stability to the Middle East region will remain a mere fantasy. Instead of taking one step forward, Hamas has taken two giant steps back with Yahya Sinwar’s placement at the head of the Hamas hierarchy.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal at Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm.

My letter in Sports Illustrated about Michael Phelps

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote about Olympic champion Michael Phelps, which appeared in Sports Illustrated:

January 16, 2017

Tim Layden’s profile of Michael Phelps reveals the essence of a champion (The Gold Standard). In addition to achieving unparalleled Olympic success, Phelps showed tremendous courage by seeking help to regain control of his life. When it comes to talent and tenacity, he is undoubtedly worth his weight in gold.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

Stop Judging Jared and Ivanka

The following is an opinion piece that I wrote, which appeared in The Jewish Week, in which I focus on the need for the American Jewish community to stop scrutinizing the level of religious observance exhibited by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the new Jewish political power couple:

STOP JUDGING JARED AND IVANKA

By N. Aaron Troodler

January 31, 2017

With Donald Trump’s ascension to the presidency, the American Jewish community will be well represented in the inner sanctum of the White House.

The decision by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to relocate to Washington, D.C. and play a prominent role in President Trump’s administration all but assured that the Jewish community will be discussing, debating and dissecting every move they make over the course of the next four, and perhaps eight years.

The conversation began even before America’s new Jewish political power couple moved to the nation’s capital. Which synagogue would Jared and Ivanka attend? Would they choose Kesher Israel, the Modern Orthodox congregation in Georgetown, or the local Chabad shul, closer to their new home? The mere fact that we were talking about which shul would be home to the daughter and son-in-law of the President of the United States underscores the incredible strides that the American Jewish community has made over the years.

However, with this extraordinary position that our community now finds itself in comes many potential pitfalls and prospective challenges. We encountered our first major test on inauguration day, even before President Trump took the oath of office. We read reports that Jared and Ivanka received special rabbinic dispensation to travel by car after the inauguration, even though it would be on the Sabbath. With travel by foot after the inaugural festivities presenting safety concerns for the newly minted Special Adviser to the President and the First Daughter, the decision to travel by car on Shabbat generated much debate. Although the decision to grant the exemption based on the concept of pikuach nefesh, that the edicts of the Sabbath can be trumped by a life-threatening situation, has a solid basis in Jewish law, there were those who questioned the couple’s commitment to their faith.  Don’t they typically observe the Sabbath? How could they so easily override their religious beliefs in this way?

I would posit that it is absolutely none of our business. Their level of religious observance should not be our concern or our focus. Their Jewish pedigree is familiar to us. Jared’s grandparents survived the atrocities of the Holocaust, living through a time when Jews were slaughtered by the Nazis solely because they were Jews. Jared’s upbringing was in an Orthodox Jewish home and he attended Jewish day schools. When it comes to Jewish organizations and institutions, the philanthropy and generosity of his family is well-known. As for Ivanka, she chose to convert to Judaism. Like many converts, her deliberations regarding her religious identity were undoubtedly stressful and I imagine the decision to forsake the faith-based beliefs that she grew up with in favor of a new religion and lifestyle did not come easily.

The religious commitment and convictions of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, regardless of whether they are always consistent with the doctrines that dictate Orthodox Jewry, should not be put under a microscope. Instead of questioning and criticizing Jared and Ivanka, we should value their presence in the White House and the incredible influence that they wield in President Trump’s inner circle.

Regardless of who you supported on Election Day, the American Jewish community should respect the fact that Jared and Ivanka chose to put their professional lives on hold in order to serve our country and play an integral role on President Trump’s team. Rather than patronizing the level of their religious observance, we should be proud that there are committed members of the Jewish faith who are playing leading roles in the new administration.

Among the most fundamental precepts of Jewish law relating to speech are the laws of lashon hara, which prohibit us from speaking negatively about others. Allowing the issue of Jared and Ivanka’s degree of “Jewishness” to become a hot topic of conversation at our Shabbat tables is wholly inappropriate.

Stop scrutinizing every little thing that Jared and Ivanka may or may not do as it relates to their Judaism. They deserve far better than that from the American Jewish community.

Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm.

My letter in The Philadelphia Inquirer about school choice

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in the December 11, 2016 edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, in which I discussed President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for education secretary and the criticism she has engendered due to her support for non-public schools:

School choice deserves backing

The opposition to President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary because of her support for school choice is an affront to children across the country whose educational opportunities are enhanced because of their ability to attend schools that are best-suited to their particular needs (“Education choice shows schooling split,” Tuesday).

For far too long, teachers’ unions have vehemently opposed any constitutionally permissible aid to nonpublic schools, despite the critical role they play for so many families. The more than five million pre-K to 12th-grade students in nearly 34,000 nonpublic schools do not deserve the disparagement that some public school advocates espouse on a regular basis.

For our children’s sake, let us hope that Elisabeth DeVos will propose new policies and ideas that will not only strengthen our public-school system, which is vitally important, but that will also afford nonpublic schools the assistance and recognition they so desperately need and deserve. As DeVos aptly stated, “The status quo is not acceptable.”

N. Aaron Troodler, Bala Cynwyd

My letter in The New York Times about racism coming out in the open

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote about the recent emergence of the alt-right, a group that espouses hatred, bigotry and intolerance, which appeared in the November 23, 2016 edition of The New York Times:

When Racism Comes Out in the Open

November 23, 2016

To the Editor:

Re “Alt-Right, Exulting in Election, Salutes Winner: ‘Heil Victory’ ” (front page, Nov. 21):

The alt-right’s recent conference in Washington is a sad and stark reminder that racism is alive and well in America.

The unabashed denigration of Jews, African-Americans, immigrants and other minorities by the alt-right is a means by which it can peddle and propagandize the prejudice and hatred that have kept it on the fringe for much of its existence. President-elect Donald Trump’s victory should not and cannot give license to racism, and the alt-right’s use of his electoral win to come out of the shadows and feel emboldened is appalling and frightening.

At a time when our nation desperately needs to come together and bridge the divide, hate-mongering by the alt-right counteracts the healing.

The alt-right’s impudence in opposing the tenets of our democratic society in an open forum should serve as a cause for alarm for every American who values equality and social justice.

N. AARON TROODLER

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

My letter in The New York Times about Donald Trump's VP selection

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote about who Donald Trump should pick as his running mate, which appeared in the July 3, 2016 edition of The New York Times:

As he tries to shed the labels that have beleaguered him on the campaign trail, such as “inexperienced,” “misogynistic,” and “egotistic,” Donald Trump desperately needs a running mate who will help him overcome his perceived shortcomings. Mary Fallin, the charismatic governor of Oklahoma, who served four years in Congress, would be the perfect equalizer. She would bring gender and geographic balance and significant governmental experience to the G.O.P. ticket. While she has Capitol Hill know-how, Governor Fallin isn’t considered a “Washington insider.” She would be a compelling V.P. choice.

N. AARON TROODLER, Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

My Op-Ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer

The following is an op-ed that I wrote which appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, in which I discuss the efforts of the OU Advocacy Center and its diverse group of coalition partners on behalf of Pennsylvania students:

Despite budget fight, an effort focused on students

February 10, 2016

By N. Aaron Troodler

Pennsylvania has long been a pioneer in school choice, providing tax-credit programs that enable tens of thousands of low- and middle-income families to place their children in the most appropriate educational settings. But the state's budget stalemate threw these crucial programs into a dangerous limbo.

Ultimately, Gov. Wolf took the necessary steps to free up the $150 million in scholarship funding from Pennsylvania's unique tax-credit programs, which give pre-K-to-12th-grade students the ability to attend the nonpublic schools best suited to their needs and beliefs. If not for the governor's last-minute approval, this year's funding would have been lost.

The establishment of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) in 2001 and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) in 2012 enabled companies to support school choice opportunities for Pennsylvania children. To date, these programs have yielded approximately $900 million, providing scholarships for more than 50,000 students annually.

This school year's last-minute release of tax credits for schools wrought unnecessary drama for Pennsylvania families. Without the funding, some of them would have been forced to disrupt their children's education by pulling them from their schools and moving them into others less suitable to them.

That this saga had a happy ending was due in large part to the state's school-choice community uniting to advocate for children, as well as strong bipartisan support from the legislature.

For months, the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, along with coalition partners such as the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, the Jewish Federations, the REACH Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Affiliate of the Council on American Private Education, worked tirelessly to bring awareness to the dire need for the tax-credit programs. Working collaboratively, we developed a cohesive strategy that kept students' and families' needs and best interests at the forefront of the state's agenda.

We helped the public, the legislature, and the governor understand that these programs don't benefit any single community. Rather, they improve educational possibilities for children from a variety of backgrounds throughout Pennsylvania.

The education tax-credit programs are a lifeline for families across the state, and we can't afford to allow government fights to jeopardize these critical revenue streams.

Now that this recent crisis has been resolved, we must continue the spirit of teamwork that brought together so many ethnic and religious groups and school choice organizations to advocate for all of our children and find ways to insulate the EITC and OSTC programs from political squabbles.

One way to achieve this is to push for current legislation that would allow EITC and OSTC tax credits to be used retroactively for applications submitted in the prior calendar year. That would go a long way toward avoiding last-minute havoc due to budgetary and other governmental wrangling.

It is up to all of us to work together not only to protect but also to enhance educational opportunities for every child in Pennsylvania. The EITC and OSTC programs are a crucial means to get a quality education. Each of us has a duty to ensure that our children's future remains bigger than any budget battle.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and the Pennsylvania regional director for the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, the nonpartisan public policy arm of the nation's largest Orthodox Jewish organization.