Oct. 24, 1930
A Death Blow to Jewish Nationalism
The final decision of the British government to restrict further Jewish immigration into Palestine will probably put an end to the phantasmagoria of Jewish nationalism.
Pious and well meaning dreamers and zealots may have received a rude awakening this week, but the future course of events may yet prove Britain’s action in the matter to have been a blessing in disguise.
For we may be sure — the contention of some vociferous politicians within our ranks to the contrary not withstanding — that Great Britain will fully protect the rights and liberties of our people now domiciled in Palestine. But in this attitude on the part of the British mandatory there is no room for hope that it will allow itself to be stampeded into any acts that will arouse the bitter antagonism and race prejudices of the entire Mohammedan world. Since the very inception of the Zionist movement, Non-Zionists the world over have held that Zionism insofar as it has been translated into Jewish nationalism can never furnish the answer to the Jewish question. What this final answer will be still remains within the womb of time.
Oct. 27, 1989
Yes, it’s a ‘virtual community’ — a link for worried relatives
People online often speak of themselves as a “virtual community,” but their response to last week’s earthquake has mirrored that of the “real community” around them.
Lack of power caused the Sausalito-based WELL, which houses the Jewish Conference, to be out of commission for some six hours. But once it got running again, people started logging on, making sure their friends and relatives were all right.
People far outside the area — including the distraught parents of students who couldn’t get through on regular phone lines — had no trouble reading the WELL through interconnecting computer networks. They then left numerous messages inquiring about people, and saying how relieved they were that so many of their Bay Area friends were all right.
One of the more reassuring touches was David Hawkins posting the user id’s of everyone who had logged on since the quake.
At first, though, “war stories” prevailed: “I was at Candlestick.” “I was at my daughter’s dance class.” “I was in BART.” “I thought my steering was gone.”
Meanwhile, other uses to which the computer network has been put include commuter reports, media criticism (mainly kudos for the hard-working local radio and television reporters who tried to keep everyone informed), and requests and offers of help.
Offers have included numerous offers of places to stay, food, long-distance phone connections, and assistance for radio and television operations that need help getting back on the air.
Wrote Judith Marks: “I took my daughter to our synagogue. Our rabbi commented on the phrase ‘act of God’ to describe the earthquake. He said that he thought God was in the kindness, warmth and compassion people are showing each other.”
The WELL, a commercial system, can be reached by dialing 332-6106 from San Francisco or Marin or 848-0841 from the East Bay. Modem settings are 7-E-1 at 300, 1200 and 2400 baud.
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