The Longitude of Dogs

A Powder of Sympathy: Where the heck are we? Folks have been asking that question since well before F Troop. When The Holy One, Blessed Be He, asks us that question, the correct and most favored Biblical response has always been

Or, in its most recent and bravest iteration -

But where, exactly is here?

Way back in the Olden Days, Abq Jew recalls (see May 2017's Walking to Jerusalem), one could only find out where he was by a) asking for directions, which men (even then) never did; or by b) checking his good old Astrolabe (not, as it turns out, a Labe invented in Houston).

But as useful as an Astrolabe is (the sextant is even better), it could only determine one's north- or southiness from the Equator. 

Which is to say - one's latitude.

But how about one's longitude - one's east- or westiness from ... well from somewhere? As Abq Jew has pointed out - 

How hard? So hard that the British government established the Board of Longitude in 1714. Which issued a statement and announced a contest - with considerable prize money - to the first person who could figure out how to measure longitude at sea.

There were several attempts, and several different solutions offered. But it turned out that (Abq Jew is skipping the technical details here) the best way to figure east- or westiness required that the ship's navigator know exactly what time it was in the home port (or, eventually, in Greenwich). 

As compared with the [solar] time aboard ship.

Easy today. Back then, impossible. Clocks just weren't accurate enough, losing copious immeasurable seconds and minutes every day. What to do?

Rely on a dog - man's best friend. In this case - an injured, wounded dog. And on an ancient, pseudoscientific form of tele-medicine. As explained in New World Exploration -

One bizarre suggestion for telling time at home port was the wounded dog technique. This method depended on a miraculous substance called “powder of sympathy.” 

This mysterious powder was able to heal wounds from any distance merely by applying it to a piece of bandage that had been on an injured person. 

The important element of the procedure was that the patient felt a sharp pain at the moment the powder came in contact with a bandage that had touched the wound.    

Applying this strange phenomenon to finding latitude would require having a wounded dog on board every ship. 

Supposedly when the clock in London struck noon, someone there would dip bandages from all the dogs in the sympathy powder and the wounded dogs on ships anywhere in the world would yelp in pain, signaling that it was then noon in London. 

If a  ship’s navigator could then determine the solar time aboard ship he could calculate longitude. 

Even if the preposterous notion of sympathy powder were valid, the method would require a wounded dog on each ship and a person to dip many pieces of bandage in the powder at noon each day. Furthermore the poor dog’s wound would have to be kept open so the system could continue working. 

Fortunately this idea was never really taken seriously by anyone as no one could produce the powder of sympathy.

Longitude was eventually solved, the prize money was awarded, the health and well-being of our beloved and useful canine companions was preserved. 

All because clocks, aka chronometers, became way more accurate. Which leads us to the question -

On one hand - nothing. North- and southiness has - for us Jews - been solved. We Jews have always centered our maps on God, Torah, and - as must be stated these days - the Land of Israel. Jerusalem is now and has throughout history been our North Star.

But on the other hand - everything. It's the east- and westiness of the world and its religions, cultures, and politics that we Jews still struggle with - to understand and deal with them.

American Jews (in particular) have veered to the left of the political spectrum since we got here. But we now find that our formerly liberal friends are too "liberal" to support Jewish people and values.

Some American Jews have found solace in the politics of the right. But our new, conservative, Israel-supporting friends too often veer to the far right, antisemitic corners of the political spectrum.

So where the heck are we?

Stuck in the middle - with Jews.

The Last of the Liberal Jews

Adam Katz, Future of Jewish: There is, on Substack and elsewhere - on the Internet, and in the World - a newish publication called Future of Jewish. 

Abq Jew thought you should know about it.

Future of Jewish

From their About page:

Welcome to Future of Jewish, the fastest-growing independent publication about Judaism and Israel, featuring 73,000+ subscribers from 50+ countries!

Our mission is simple, and hopefully worthwhile: to help many more people become smarter about Judaism, Israel, and the Jewish world.

As “explanatory journalists,” all of our materials are sourced from a wide variety of people and organizations, across every possible spectrum you can imagine (political, societal, national, ethnic, religious, et cetera).

Our goal is to ensure that everyone — regardless of income, location, or status — has access to accurate knowledge about Judaism, Israel, and the Jewish world.

Here is a Guest Post by Adam Katz, which appeared on his Substack as well as on Future of Jewish. Abq Jew found it to be especially meaningful in these tubulent times.

Jews rose up from disenfranchisement but never forgot where they came from. It took a betrayal of epic proportions to separate them from the liberal movement and the world may never be the same again.

The Last of the Liberal Jews

A few days ago, I received news that my former law professor passed away. I think back to his constitutional law class where he passionately advocated on behalf of the disenfranchised and how inspiring he was.

I saw in him what I saw in myself, raised in a second generation Jewish family that built a life in the United States. As our standing in society grew, so did our income, but we never forgot where we came from. My law professor who sadly passed away this week was an old school liberal Jew.

The Jewish experience in America is like no other because we truly gained representation in government and acceptance in society. The pace at which Jews rose from the packed tenements of Chicago and New York to become leaders in industry and government is unmatched.

It is proof of the American dream that Jews are now admitted to the most elite universities and country clubs, hired by the stodgiest old blue blood law firms, and recruited by elitist consulting firms. Shit, we can easily buy homes in rich white neighborhoods!

Jews are part of the fabric of our diverse and rich American community. We do not change our names any longer to avoid anti-semitism. We marry non-Jews and nobody notices except for an occasional grumpy Bubbee. We are accepted and appreciated and respected. We contribute to institutions and help build industries.

For awhile, anti-semitism began to feel like paranoia; we felt no different from our friends and neighbors and had no reason to. In short, the powerful instrument of democracy in America empowered Jews to a degree never before thought possible. It seemed sort of a little bit like we were … white?

And while we experienced an age of acceptance here in America, something miraculous occurred on the other side of the globe. Jews began moving back to their ancient home in Palestine and buying land from Arabs to establish their own nation. We watched in awe as a small group of Zionists built a government and infrastructure from nothing and our incredible country recognized a modern Jewish state called Israel.

The now common Jewish cycle of fear and pride began in the second half of the twentieth century. Fear turned to pride when the unfathomable events of the Holocaust led to world recognition of the State of Israel. We watched in fear as five Arab nations invaded following the announcement of the independence of the State of Israel in 1948.

Then we watched with pride as Israel battled those powerful countries back across their borders. Back and forth/fear and pride as Israel’s Arab neighbors invaded, sent missiles, blew up night clubs and coffee shops; and Israel advanced on the world stage, built industries, grew its economy, and established trade across the globe.

Israel fought seven major wars on multiple fronts against multiple enemies and won all of them. Out of necessity it built one of the most powerful militaries in the world and created one of the most respected spy agencies. Its economy boomed louder than the missiles from its neighbors and its innovation made it integral to modern society throughout the world.

In what can only be described as extraordinary, the confluence of Israel’s military acumen, innovation, economic stability, political clout, and perseverance led it to build an invisible dome in the sky so its citizens can go on with their daily lives while rockets are haphazardly sent into its territory by neighboring countries.

But, despite our success in America and in Israel, we still honor our past and remain staunch supporters of those not fortunate enough to be in our shoes. No matter how much money we made, taxes were secondary to protecting the disenfranchised. For a century, Jews were a reliable voting block for Democrats.

Jewish lawyers continued to battle in the trenches for the wrongfully accused and continued to protect everyone’s civil rights. Our millionaires gave millions to non-jewish charities and our billionaires gave billions more. We remained proud liberals because we remembered what it was like to be the underdog.

But then something very unexpected happened. The institutions we helped to build turned against us. The universities we supported began to support people who want to kill us. Being Jewish is controversial again and our public figures are concerned they may be outed as Jews. It is too controversial to say the words “Jew” and “Holocaust” when accepting a “Golden Globe” for portraying a Jew in the Holocaust.

Our liberal politicians cannot say the word “anti-semitism” without also saying “Islamophobia.” Jews were hunted down, murdered, raped, and kidnapped in Israel by a terrorist organization, but the UN indicted Israel’s leaders for “war crimes.”

The same terrorists kidnapped American citizens, and American college students protest the only country on the ground trying to rescue them because it is Israel. Presidents of Ivy League schools do not think calling for the murder of Jews is bullying, harassment or inciting violence, or a threat to safety of its students.

Where does an old liberal Jew go when the liberals turn against him?

In America, it seems the conservatives still have the chutzpah to call it like it is. Things that are clear to conservatives have become opaque to liberals. Simple facts are questioned by liberals:

• Fact: Hamas is a terrorist organization.
• Fact: Israel is a democracy.
• Fact: Jews are capable of being bullied.
• Fact: Israel is not the aggressor.
• Fact: Israel honors peace accords.
• Fact: Israel accepted a proposal for a two-state solution several times.

It was the teamwork of a republican politician and private Jewish citizen that took down the president of Harvard after her shameful testimony before congress. Biden has been an incredible supporter of Israel, but as soon as the party switched allegiances, its new candidate slowly pulled the support to appease liberals. Jews who were lifetime Democrats are leaving the party in droves.

I never learned what my law professor felt as he witnessed the liberals’ great betrayal of the Jewish community. My guess is that he felt very similar to me and the millions of Jews in America who never dreamed they would be raked over the coals by the people who they thought were their brothers and sisters. The Democrats appeased the far Left of the party and lost the Jews, and the world may never be the same.

Peter Yarrow Dies at 86

Day Is Done: As you have almost certainly heard - Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary - has died, at the age of 86. The Associated Press reports:

Peter Yarrow, the singer-songwriter best known as one-third of Peter, Paul and Mary, the folk-music trio whose impassioned harmonies transfixed millions as they lifted their voices in favor of civil rights and against war, has died. He was 86.

Yarrow, who also co-wrote the group’s most enduring song, “Puff the Magic Dragon,” died Tuesday in New York, publicist Ken Sunshine said. Yarrow had bladder cancer for the past four years.

“Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life. The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest,” his daughter Bethany said in a statement.

Abq Jew will leave it to the many, many others who knew Peter Yarrow - or met him, or heard him perform - to provide a proper eulogy. There's plenty of them, and they're all over the Internet.

Instead, here is Abq Jew's tribute - Day Is Done, written by Peter Yarrow in 1968. One of Abq Jew's favorite PP&M classics, which he used to sing to his son - when both of them were a lot younger.

Wikipedia tells us -

The song was written as an anti-war song during the Vietnam War era. According to Yarrow, it was written from the perspective of his younger brother who faced the possibility of getting drafted into the army.

Yarrow performed it as the opening song at a concert during the anti-war march he helped organized in Washington in November 1969. It became one of the best-known protest songs of the era. 

Yarrow said that the message of the song is that 

"Children will lead us to a better world".

First - a version with Peter, Paul and Mary; the Smothers Brothers; Donovan; and Jennifer Warnes.

Click here for video

Day Is Done

Peter Yarrow

Tell me why youre crying, my son

I know youre frightened, like everyone

Is it the thunder in the distance you fear?

Will it help if I stay very near? I am here

And if you take my hand my son

All will be well when the day is done

And if you take my hand my son

All will be well when the day is done

Day is done, day is done, day is done, day is done

Do you ask why Im sighing, my son?

You shall inherit what mankind has done

In a world filled with sorrow and woe

If you ask me why this is so, I really dont know

And if you take my hand my son

All will be well when the day is done

And if you take my hand my son

All will be well when the day is done

Day is done, day is done, day is done, day is done

Tell me why youre smiling my son

Is there a secret you can tell everyone?

Do you know more than men that are wise?

Can you see what we all must disguise through your loving eyes?

And if you take my hand my son

All will be well when the day is done

And if you take my hand my son

All will be well when the day is done

Day is done, day is done, day is done, day is done

And if you take my hand my son

All will be well when the day is done

And if you take my hand my son

All will be well when the day is done

And here - the classic version with Peter, Paul and Mommy. And with the incomparable Paul Prestopino, of blessed memory, on banjo.

Click here for video

,

The Dutch Collaborators

More Than We Knew: As Abq Jew has often mentioned (see January 2024's Escape From Amsterdam; June 2023's Amsterdam: Occupied City; and April 2023's Hiding During the Holocaust), he has become fixated on the travails of Dutch Jews during World War II. 

But then we New MexiJews celebrated Hanukkah and New Year's and other joyous events (see Welcome, Alana Lee!). No one was paying attention to the news shmews. And then Abq Jew caught this story on NBC News. 

The story almost slipped under the radar. In fairness, it was (lightly) covered by other news media, including Jewish news media. But Abq Jew caught David Hodari's more complete exposition on NBC News.

Half a million suspected Nazi collaborators are named as the Netherlands reckons with WWII past

Eight decades after the Holocaust, the list was made public in the country of Anne Frank as a law prohibiting its release expired on New Year’s Day.

By David Hodari

Dutch patriots guard townspeople accused of collaborating with the Nazis in Nijmegen,
Netherlands, after American airborne troops liberated the town in 1945.  Bettmann Archive

It has long been a source of shame as much as curiosity.

Now, some 80 years later, the names of those suspected of collaborating with the Nazis have been made public in the Netherlands as the country goes to new lengths to document the extent of its complicity in the horrors perpetrated by the Third Reich.

In the country where teenage diarist Anne Frank is the most famous victim of the Holocaust, a historical research group funded by the Dutch government has for the first time published a list of nearly half a million people suspected of collaboration during World War II, after a law prohibiting its release expired on New Year’s Day.

Part of Abq Jew's fixation on the Dutch story is due to his family connection: the stories not told by Abq Jew's mechutan (his son's father-in-law), but told by other members of the family and by straightforward historical sources.

But a major part of Abq Jew's fixation is due to the overwhelming tragedy, which Nina Siegal shared in her recent book The Diary Keepers:

• Of the estimated 140,000 Dutch Jews, only about 35,000 survived World War II. Some 102,000, along with hundreds of Roma and Sinti people, died in the Holocaust. 
• That means that about 75 percent of the Dutch Jewish population was murdered in five years. 
• In a single generation, the Nazis had managed to wipe out four centuries of Jewish tradition and culture in Amsterdam and the Netherlands
• In France, 25 percent of Jews were killed during the Holocaust; about 40 percent of Jews from Belgium were murdered. 
• The Netherlands holds the dubious distinction of having the lowest survival rate of all the Western European countries.

Celebrate on Liberation Day in 1945. Universal History Archive /
Universal Images Group via Getty Images file

David Hodari's article continues:

The Huygens Institute’s “War in Court” project, which received an $18.5 million (18 million euros) grant from the three Dutch ministries that govern education, health and justice, has made public a digital archive that includes a list of 425,000 mostly Dutch people who were investigated for collaborating with the Netherlands’ Nazi occupiers.

The archive is “an extraordinary resource, and one that is very timely in terms of the Dutch debates about World War II and levels of collaboration,” said Dan Stone, a professor of modern history at Royal Holloway, University of London.

“At the very least, it shows that huge numbers of people were accused of collaborating with the Nazi occupier,” Stone told NBC News by email. “And the fact that relatively few were imprisoned probably tells us as much about postwar Dutch society as it does about the wartime facts.”

Of those in the database, only a fifth ever appeared in court, with most cases concerning more minor offenses such as membership in the Nazi party, Reuters reported. According to the Dutch central statistics bureau, in 1939 — the year World War II broke out — the country’s population was 8.7 million. 

That would make just under 5% of the country suspected collaborators.

Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940 and occupied the country until the allied liberation in 1945.

During that period, more than 100,000 Dutch Jews — around three-quarters of those in the country — were killed in the Holocaust, with approximately 6 million Jews murdered overall alongside the Nazis’ political opponents and members of other groups declared to be inferior, such as Roma and LGBTQ people.

Why is this important now?

 A 2023 survey carried out by the Claims Conference — a U.S.-based nonprofit that represents Jews in negotiating for compensation and restitution for victims of Nazi persecution and their heirs — found that despite efforts by the Dutch government that include a new memorial in 2021 and a new museum opened last year, the efficacy of Holocaust education in the Netherlands is waning.

The survey found that 23% of Dutch millennials and Gen Zers believe the Holocaust is a myth or the number of Jews killed during WWII has been greatly exaggerated.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day
is Monday, January 27, 2025.

Welcome, Alana Lee!

Live! From Rhode Island! Mr & Mrs Abq Jew are thrilled beyond measure to announce the arrival, back in December 2024, of our newest granddaughter, Alana Lee, born to their wonderful daughter Alex and her equally wonderful husband Jake.

Mr & Mrs Abq Jew waited 3,815 days (10 years, 5 months, and 9 days) (see July 2014's Welcome, Violet Olivia) for a third grandkid celebration.

But they remember waiting forever for their first grandchild (see August 2012's Welcome, Lena Rose).

And thus, Mr & Mrs Abq Jew joyfully send love and happiness to their machetonim, who have waited forever for Alana Lee!

To celebrate the arrival of Alana Lee, here is Harry Belafonte singing Malvina Reynolds' Turn Around. To which Alex and Abq Jew danced at Alex & Jake's wedding (see November 2023's At the End of the Rainbow).

Click here for video