Weekly Update: Nachum Segal and Malcolm Hoenlein Discuss the Latest News

Malcolm Homeline is with us. We call this the weekly update conference of presidents of major American Jewish organizations. Mr. Homeline, welcome back to JM in the AM. >> Thank you, Mr. Seagull. It's great to be with you as always. >> Dreary Friday morning in New York and sunny in Israel. >> Your neighborhood got hit hard yesterday by the bad weather. Uh, I think all the neighborhoods got hit hard by by thing and we had exploding um what do you call those uh ground? >> Yeah, manhole covers exploding in one place and I heard a lot of sirens yesterday, but I don't know what it was about. >> Did yesterday's rough weather make it difficult for people to get to the polls? You know, Malcolm, this coming Tuesday will be the final day that somebody who's a New York City resident and registered voter can actually vote for the mayor of the city of New York. Did yesterday uh prevent a lot of people from getting to their polling station? >> Well, yesterday the polls were actually closed at 5, so it was a shorter day uh than the others were where it was some of nights it was 8:00, even nine o'clock, I think. Um, so the turnout p uh the the uh early voting has been very strong in our neighborhoods in Burough Park and some other communities. Record numbers actually uh for some of them and uh it's a hopeful sign, but it's it's only the beginning. Unless everybody goes out and every vote and every vote cast smartly for the person who can beat Mano, nothing else really matters. whether the it's a popularity contest or you like or don't like or some past dump right now we have a specific challenge and it's being watched not just all over New York and all over America but all over the world >> it's amazing to see how much attention is focused on it >> and you know that there are many other races like this across the country uh people running for mayors mayorality races uh but about 800 Muslims running for office Unfortunately, some of them with contacts like he to extremist elements and it's not a religious issue. It's an issue of ideology and and he has spelled out clearly what his ideology is and where he stands on the issues and more stuff comes out including his latest thing about you know that that when the policeman's foot is on your neck the lace is tied by Israel or by the IDF. >> Yeah. Uh I mean constantly stuff is coming out showing what he his father others related to him and and but mostly what he has had to say a guy who missed 80% of the votes when is in his short stint in the assembly which is the only job he's ever had. So I think for all reasons people should be looking at this very carefully and the conclusion should be clear. >> Couple of big gubernatorial races as well. I mean, you alluded to the fact that nationally there's a lot of stuff going on, but there's a lot of stuff going on where our communities in certain states and local areas can really have an impact. >> Yes. Because differences on these elections can be very small, especially when you don't have presidential elections, the turnouts tend to be tend to be low. And as you saw in the primary, 10% voted, I think of of the eligible voters had more voted, we wouldn't be in this circumstance, >> you know. Um, have you made a commitment to talk us off the ledge one week from today or are you not going to even address the possibility of who might win for mayor of New York until Wednesday morning? >> I'm selling parachutes. So, >> I'll tell you, we shouldn't joke about that because it's a terrible metaphor. But the reality is that you know that if he does win starting Wednesday, you and other leaders are going to have to really figure out a way to adjust the community to think a certain way. >> Well, I I I don't know that we have to adjust. I think he has to adjust. I think we have to learn the lesson and and uh and make sure that uh young people, older people and that the pattern that was set with what the starter community in terms of not letting people send their kids or register get seats in for the Yim unless they were showed that they were registered to see the the organization that has taken place and the Plus Jewish Community Coalition uh which I have the privilege to be honoring chair I think really led the way and worked on this day and night, but so did other communities. And we're seeing it reflected in the numbers and and it's reflected in the fact that we see how little was done in the past and that we we need to to really sustain this year round. this can't be just a oneshot deal and that there are next year they're going to be critical elections and uh you know the gubanatorial election and when we see what the governor how the governor conducted herself during this I think a lot of people will have strong views on it >> that the the the races they're all important and and this is an organized effort I think 10 years ago I spoke on the show about it maybe nine years but certainly when we had seen the pattern starting to emerge emerge uh of of this is a coordinated consistent plan starting electing people to the local levels and to assembly and it said that that's the stepping stone to run for higher office and higher office congress governor senate other things as well >> and by the way uh and I know we have to move on to other topics but hey this is timely and important anybody who thinks that this effort is now going to end I hope they're wrong and and you would know this because you're surrounded by people who are actively hitting the streets, registering people constantly. As you just pointed out, down the road, whether it is governor, whether it's another election for mayor years from now, whatever it is, if this effort continues to really mobilize our community, we're only going to benefit from it. So, people really shouldn't be despondent because the battle is not over. No matter what happens on Tuesday, the battle's not over and there's potential to really make a difference as we approach the future. >> Look, I think there's plenty of reason to be concerned, but you're absolutely right. the mayor has limited powers. We'll see what the governor will do. We'll see what the President Trump will do. Um and and holding city council members and others and state elected officials. Unfortunately, you have DSA members dominating the city council uh the democratic socialists. But you're absolutely right. This is is the beginning. I think it started a new awareness, >> right? uh I'm not sure yet that people are prepared to invest and and make the effort necessary but I think it has been certainly revolutionary now and I hope that that the shabas afterwards everybody every rub everybody else says learn the lesson >> learn the lesson from this and and that we must if you want to protect the billions of dollars we've invested in this city people talk about you know the runa go move you can't move from from all of the yeshivot all of because all of the schools think about it. It's billions and billions of dollars we have invested here let alone the communities and the people who can't afford to move. So don't be glib with your not you but don't people shouldn't be glib about this. This is a a a huge challenge and and not one that can be simply sound by saying, you know, Texas or Florida or and there's no evidence and and every place in America is going to have problems as well. >> And and when we and and just one final point, um there are there are people who are listening to this and and sort of picking up that we're talking about, you know, a fate of complete for Tuesday and may feel like there's no reason to go out and vote because their vote now will be meaningless. You have seen pl and this is the benefit of having someone do the weekly update who's been on the scene for decades. You have seen plenty of times where the polls say 45 to 25 and the 25 comes back and wins even at the last minute. So don't give up hope. Just go out there and do what you can. In this case, just go out there and vote. >> Quite the opposite. Uh you're making a vital point that people shouldn't believe those polls because for instance, our communities are under polls. We hardly register on it. They don't know all the people who have come now and registered and the new people coming just as the young vote let's say is is unpredictable was unpredictable that he was able to attract so many of them right but I think but I can tell you that the initial turnout the early turnout had many many people over 50 which is a positive sign >> and and I think it definitely is numerically possible. It would have been much more possible had there been only one candidate. But I still believe that if everybody focuses on on the person they believe it can beat the uh Mandami then uh I think the numbers could be there. >> All right. Here's my take on yesterday's rally in Israel because I'm trying to you know continue to be a unifying force if that's possible and you've encouraged it. you've encouraged aus in our community and I'll use the uh the you know I'll take advantage of the fact that I host this show to say what I have to say before I turn to you for your comments and reaction. On one side, I did understand that the quote unquote Karedi community was really essentially not really protesting against army service or against I think they were protesting and this is what they were trying to to convey that we should not be at the point where we're just throwing random draft dodgers into jail. And I sympathize with that and I'll tell you why in a second. On the other side, well, okay, let me tell you first why I sympathize with that. I sympathize with that because this has been such a divisive issue handled so poorly politically, socially, religiously. It's been handled so poorly for decades, I would say, since the Kipper War that to resort to now just throwing, you know, random draft dodgers into jail, I don't know if that's the best way to get onto the road of a solution. That's number one. On the other side, however, Malcolm, if in fact we do believe that one of the antidotes that October 7th was an antidote for the terrible divisiveness with the whole Supreme Court stuff, the whole judicial reform stuff that was going on in Israel. I don't know if 10 minutes after the war quote unquote ends, I don't know if it really ended yet. I don't know if 10 minutes there should be a million people, whatever the number is, protesting anything in Israel in that fashion. I've said what I have to say. What's your reaction? Uh so to take hundreds of thousands of people out in clearly what was not well enough organized that you had a fatality that people were climbing on cranes not coming down that other acts that I think are as opposed to people demonstrating for principle and for we believe it's violent that that Torah study has to be seen as a vital enterprise and a legitimate endeavor but at the same time there has to be a sense of there has to be a sense that that people live up to responsibility. The army can't take everybody. They don't even want everybody. And and you see that the increasing numbers of of a regime that are in it. But the image that's created is that religious people don't serve when in fact a disproportionate number of religious people were killed in in this war and are in the leadership even if they you know don't identify with a particular community. But you see the change that has taken place that that others evenic leaders have told their people if you're not learning go to the army you know and serve or finding alternative service then you look at all the guys who are in salah or zaka or doing other things uh where it's the preponderance that you we create the wrong image and it creates such a division in the cleavage and at a time when losses were so high and it touched so many families that they look at that sector and then they say, "Well, they're not serving or the Arabs aren't serving or some other part isn't serving." When there are many who who who are not the army can't take and doesn't take. Um, but you know, they're seeing this as a growing sector of Israeli society and there has to be a way to work this out. And and you know I I see the number of karedi guys who are being enlisted in programs like paris where they go literally from the base medish to the mousad to the shinbet to the army to doing research doing and their their training the gamarra learning is actually amazing training for it. So the situation there's no clarity and and there seems to be only heat dumped on this because it became so politicized and divisive uh for for I understand why but it's not tolerable at a time when we have paid such a heavy price over the last two years. It's a time when we they there has to be sane minds coming together >> and trying to find resolutions. >> And do you agree with my assessment that it's been handled terribly for decades? >> Absolutely. Absolutely. As I said, it became a political football, not a substantive issue. >> And um and also you were you were uh noticeably worried about the division in Israel before October 7th in judicial reform. Forget about whether you agreed with it or not. You just were very nervous. There was such a you know so much anger in the streets. Um I mean didn't that you know sort of bring you back to those days yesterday and didn't you start to worry like you know we've got to go in a different direction. This is not the way to do it. >> My concern before was borne out because if you listen to what the Arabs say, those who are involved Hamas, they looked at those marches and said Israel was weak, Israel was divided, that they wouldn't respond in a unified way to an attack. They read it and and this has been constantly true when they when our enemies see the divisions within it like Hmon did like you throughout history whenever they there was a lack of aus then they take advantage of it and and this is a a danger and what I was alluding to before the war and that we see it now and that people who are looking to an election maybe by June maybe earlier you know it's going to only exacerbate and raise the temperature on this and other divisions and I I would hope that the same minds would come together and find a way to to come up with resolutions as as people have in the past and I think the the um the concern about what is the message that the disunityity of of Israel and in fact I believe there's much greater unity and many positive things that have come out of this about the interaction communities how the community you know rallied to making all the dinners There's all the barbecues, all the things for soldiers going into Gaza every night making sure that needs are met. You see how many more people are putting on fillin because of this and more shamir shabas amongst people who were marginal before and even amongst the the even amongst the um the hostages and and others. The positive sides are getting completely drowned out >> because the negative is always easier. It's easier to exploit. I think there are a lot more segments in the Kharedi community than we think. We like to lump everybody together. I think it's much more segmented than we think. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah, it's a good point. Malcolm Homeline with us weekly update and this is America's one and only Jewish moments in the morning radio program heard on listener sponsored digital radio around the world web.com on the single network and of course the beloved NSN app. Our fundraiser, our year-end fundraiser has gone live. There is a recurring donation monthly um option that's now really prominent. You'll see it. Go to the top banner at malcolm.com and I thank everybody who insists on being among the earliest of donors to our campaigns. We could just keep on going. That's our goal, just to keep on going. You mentioned the hostages. So, what's the update? Is the update that two bodies have now been returned in the last 24 hours? That would leave 11 uh deceased who we're still waiting for. Am I accurate on that? >> Yes, you are. One an 85year-old, one a 25 a 35year-old. And uh I mean it's it's a relief for the families because they can finally come to terms. They get some closure. But obviously we see that these are people they were killed in captivity. And uh you know the world just ignores it. Doesn't hold them to account that the the Red Cross is not held to account nobody for all of their failures during this time. and you know the fact that kamas is showing its true colors by playing with the emotions of the families and it's inhumane thing and and the the exposure uh by that video of the fact that they were staging >> the the release I mean this was something that shocked a lot of them embarrassed people who who were loud defenders not enough and not enough care as they find out the details of the abuse and and the suffering that those who are retirement But those who were killed because the forensics indicate, you know, some of the things that they endured in captivity. >> Yeah. >> And that this is uh that but that video showing that they dug it up and then hid it, try to hide it and make it like they they returned to the Red Cross to inform them of their discovery of of the body when it was all a sham. And as we learn about many other things here that that were made up, the numbers of course and you know the casualties, the figures, all of these things, the the fact that now leading officials even from UN agencies admit that there was no famine and that they had concocted this idea early on before maybe even before the war before there was any any question about food supply. They already had determined they would start using the term famine and and accuse Israel of not supplying food when the officials said there was at least three months worth of food there at all times. >> Um kittish question of the week. I don't know if you know Malcolm, but if you would incorporate all the kdishes that go on throughout the entire globe on Ashabus morning every week you could come up with the most likely thing being discussed at the kdish. And the Kdish question of the week of course is, do you believe, this is what one person would ask another at the Kdish, do you believe that Hamas does know the location of every uh deceased, every murdered Israeli? So if we were standing with a plate of Chullent and Kougle together tomorrow morning, Malcolm, and someone approached you and said, "Hey, do you think Hamas knows the location of the final 11?" What would you say? >> Let me swallow first. He'll do anything to soul your answer. >> And where's the diet coke? Which is the probably the most frequently asked question at a kittish from people. You know, other communities get together. It's the scotch. But uh anyway, um uh look, I think they know where at least seven more are. >> Wow. >> Israel said they knew nine of the 13. The location is nine of the 13. Some of those return amongst the nine. It may well be that they don't know or don't want to know where a couple are, but they want to drag this on as long as possible and then to, you know, to look like they're being humanitarian. Uh the the Egyptians were allowed in to help look for it. The Red Cross is looking for it. Israel obviously sent in people to to look in the areas they control. Um it's very hard to believe that they didn't know where where um the bulk were. They knew. And if not, they can find out that they're built they're under rubble is only an excuse to try to focus the responsibility on Israel and Israel's response. These most of them were dead long before any of the bombing took place in those areas. >> Right. >> And u so I believe that they they will know where if if it's at most I think there were two or three that it's plausible that they couldn't find him immediately. But ultimately >> Wow. I mean, we're not at that stage yet where there's definitive information. I'm assuming Israeli intelligence, as you just indicated, seven out of the 11 are, you know, likely have a location. So, it's obviously Israel intelligence that's that's determining all that, right? That's I mean, this is not the enemy that's releasing the information. >> Well, it's both. It's uh and and you know they're under pressure from some of their quote allies to produce because the United States is putting pressure and and um and the president's comments that you know if they don't deliver Israel will have to just go back in and do what it has to do. Uh I think right now that that they're afraid of that, the remaining leadership of Hamas uh you know it's a transitional period and while clearly the the outcome of the war uh in most respects is clear, we don't know what the long-term implication is. The fact that we've enshrined the roles of Muslim Brotherhood countries like Turkey and Qatar and given them uh a platform in in Gaza, let alone in in Syria or in in Lebanon. uh the you know the disarmament of is going on a pace. We we know that they exploded so many the Lebanese army supposedly exploded so many cases of arms that they ran out of explosives and appealed for additional stuff but many of that was in Palestinian territories in in Lebanon. uh Hamas is is refu is refusing to to really disarm as is Hamas basically and we have to see whether the pressure will be brought to bear what the long-term plans will be the fact that Israel controls 53% of Gaza today but the main the 60% of the tunnels remain in the areas under the uh the control of of kamas that the huge caches of weapons still exist there and that we have to have a complete disarmament. We have to have that that of kamas and we have to have their removal from positions of power. And now you see the pressure that the PA be brought in, but the PA is bringing back in a lot of kamas people. So there's a lot of questions that have yet to be resolved. Um it took many decades for us to educate the next generation as to what the green line is. And the green line is green if I know my history because literally the marker they used to to uh to make that that boundary was green, right? Is that the reason it was a green line if I'm not mistaken? >> On the on the map that they drew. >> So now So now is the yellow line don't tell me the yellow line is the yellow line. They used a highlighter. Is that why it's the yellow line? Is there another reason why? The yellow line is because they that was on the map that they agreed on and that they actually painted the markers in Gaza and put down boulders that were painted in yellow so there would be no excuse because when when uh when people from the other side get too close, they can clearly identify and warn them and then have to take the appropriate action when they become threatening to the to the the troops that are there. And uh and so they painted all of these yellow markers and put up uh uh boulders and other things to to clearly identify the the line that Israel is is protecting. But Israel will have to cross those lines too when they when they come under fire and when they see that there are threats developing that they send drones as they have eliminated people in Lebanon in Gaza uh who even today this past week some people were involved in in October 7th >> uh you know we forget that it's it's two years have passed we also should remember the 480 almost people soldiers and others who died since the war began, you know, they comes a statistic and we should remember all the families and the people who um you know who still suffer and who have you know enga have to maintain these laws and all many of them have families with young children and we all have to remember it. You saw Avi Goldberg's widow got married this week and all she talks about is continuity and you know moving forward and when we spoke when we spoke >> people super unbelievable superhuman >> when we spoke when we spoke to her on the air and she described how her you know her children's attitudes told her this just remarkable I mean just complete heroism and incredible attitude so yellow has joined blue white and green as significant colors in modern Jewish history and I don't know if you like that huh and I don't I don't know if you're right, by the way. I mean, Israel has to go and cross over the yellow line again. Didn't you hear that? President Trump, I believe it was four days ago. I think that was the day. And I quote, he said, "I I will decide what's right for Israel. Can can they cross that yellow line without Trump USA permission?" I I think that there is coordination as you know there is a center that was established that the vice president went to visit and Rubio went to visit and the prime minister also went to visit the last week where Americans are stationed in Israel they're not fighting they're not crossing into Gaza but are stationed there to coordinate and uh the the public presentation has been that they have to approve when Israel is taking actions or at least Israel has to inform them and whether they have a veto power or not has been a subject of of discussion. There's a lot of criticism whether about what the nature of the relationship is and putting Americans in that position um to to um to veto or not to veto what Israel does. I don't believe I think Israel still maintains freedom of action. Uh I think that they there is coordination. I think that's very important because the negotiations are going to start about what's going to happen in Gaza in the future and we need to have America and Israel on on the same sides. We we've seen some changes um even let's aler a minute change. We see the Jordan border heating up and and we need to have international attention to that. Iran continues to try to smuggle weapons especially into Yun Shimon to the West Bank. They they um and of course what will happen in in Syria is very critical to Israel. So far they've been able to maintain the positions that they've held but there's growing pressure. >> Plus can Lebanon disarm Hezbollah >> and that's very critical and a lot of the infrastructure remains in terms of Hezbollah as well and the I believe Lebanese people want to get rid of it. The question is the Lebanese army capable of doing it. They have, as I said, made important uh steps in that direction. But remember that we that Iran, while they've suffered a big blow and their economy is in still in ruins and they um uh their biggest bank, one of the leading private banks just went under with a $5 billion uh loss. the um the uh the situation in internally in Iran is bad, but they continue to be able to supply weapons to engage in support ofah announcing new weapons. We shouldn't believe that this has been erased uh from the scene. The the hopefully the pressure, you know, the the sanctions and the snapback sanctions from the based on the on the agreement, the old JCPA uh agreement, JCPOA agreement that that will put additional pressure uh uh on them. But the exposures of their for instance this international network that they established and the threats against Jews around the world against others secret communications. They um Iran is paying a heavy price internationally for its failures. But they in in Australia for instance they had to close the the embassy because of the threats that were uh coming out from it. And you have a guy who has uh his name is Sardar Amar of the IRGC. He's a commander of 11,000 strong unit of the Kuds forces and he managed this international terror network which targeted Israelis and Jews worldwide. And there were many more incidents than not. So we should remember that's still a factor. Syria is still a big factor. and you know the Drews, the Kurds, the others are still trying to maintain their independence and Israel is protecting them and doing amazing things for them. The only good bright news was that the president of Argentina got reelected. >> Good guy, huh? that sent shock waves everywhere that everybody had written him off and thought he would be defeated or at least minority came in stronger than ever >> and and it's it's an amazing thing in contrast to the election in Ireland that elected a hateful person to be the the president although they have limited power Argentina's president has real power >> there's something authentic about him in Argentina there's something absolutely authentic about him people appreciate >> and I was with him at the hotel believe He he davined better than 99% of the Jews and and his his outright standing and and crediting it and he appointed an ambassador to Israel who's a from guy a religious guy and and uh he his uh affinity to the Jewish community. I thought that that would have a backlash in Argentina. clearly his economic policies and the fact that he's throwing off the the yoke of the old ways which people some people in New York seem to want to come back to >> and and to adopt exactly what those who've lived under socialism have rejected >> the the embassy point you made was the Israeli embassy in Australia? >> No, the Iranian embassy closed by the government. >> The Iranian embassy closed by the Australian government. >> Right. >> Okay. I misunderstood that because I was about I was about to react with uh I guess this is why the Nephesh event in Australia went so well this week but but now that now that's completely out of context but the reality is it did go well North America is doing well with aliyah now we see other Anglo countries also doing well with aliyah >> tell everybody what a real estate agent told me and motivated me was that every year you wait you lose one bedroom >> and and and the prices are going up I I showed my wife we were walking came to a kdish on on Sukkot and and we were on Dubnov Street for those who know Yush which and you see towards the valley we counted 17 cranes working business cr uh construction cranes that we could see 17 and it's everywhere they're building and they're building high-rise uh all over just as they're building low-rise trains which are eating up the whole city the the highspeed uh railroad roads, uh, but the light railroads. But it's it's amazing to see what's going on. So people, now's the time. Don't wait. >> Now, now is the time and no matter what amount of time you go back, that was the time as well. And don't wait any longer. Finally, Malcolm, Rabbi Alvin Cass, the chaplain, New York City Police Department. Um, I I mentioned his passing uh in addition to always enjoying my interactions with him. I mentioned it because I think he represented our community. Well, what did you say? >> Yeah, actually he was a rabbi of the Midwood Jewish Center, which is a block away from where I am. And now the streets are already blocked by the police. They're moving. They're towing the cars for like four or five blocks all around. Uh and and Ocean Avenue, for those who drive there, it's going to be closed. And the avenues L and M are closed. And um J and M are available. So, it's um maybe it's K&L. Um but the but just don't drive near it. He he was the remarkable. He used to jog past my house every day. >> Oh, is that funny? >> And and he's he was very skinny and I would see him in the winter with a shirt off or or just with a t-shirt. And he he literally joged every single day. He moved to Manhattan. Uh but he for 50 years he was a a a chaplain and um you know was so highly respected in the uh police department. I didn't realize till I saw these preparations the regard in which he was held there. But >> pretty amazing. >> Yeah. >> And I'm apologizing to those listeners who wanted your reaction to the World Zionist Congress. Maybe we'll do some of that next week. I I it didn't even I hate to say it. Historians may criticize me. It didn't even make my list this morning, but it >> it's a good reason why it didn't and it's been postponed for two weeks, right? That's no decisions. But but the fact that it became a national political issue with the introduction of Netanyahu's son into this equation and that the you know it's all backroom deals between the parties and and and you know the elections spent a lot of money and etc and and there's brought this year there was much bigger participation. The fact is that most decisions are still made with in closed doors and and in swapping and but the fruit participation was m was much greater. I think people may have come home disappointed because they didn't get final decisions >> but frankly this is the history of the world's Zionist congresses for going back to 100 years. >> Yeah. And historians can judge if this episode confirms or does not confirm what many people say about the prime minister. But we will not do that now. Malcolm, I thank you. Have a wonderful Shabas and we will speak. Please God again next week. >> God willing. Have a good Shabbat. >> Malcolm homeline with us. Our weekly update conference of presidents of major American Jewish organizations.