R.I.P. David Littman

Lord rest his soul.

One of the virtues of David Littman that to me seems remarkable (though less remarked upon) was his implicit trust in, and respect for, the United Nations as an institution and process.

For decades, it has become a glib truism among many (particularly those "on the Right" and their "libertarian" cousins) that the U.N. is utterly bankrupt if not pernicious, alternately laughed at and demonized. One may reasonably infer, however, from Littman's indefatigable efforts, as part of his advocacy of human rights, to work within the U.N. system, that he did not share this glib truism. Given his age (born 1933), one presumes he remembers the classic age of the U.N. when it unfolded upon its formulation of its Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and that he always held on to the faith and hope that it was salvageable amid its tyrant-members and their representatives who periodically have tried to corrupt and co-opt it.

The profoundly corrosive cynicism and pessimism about the U.N. which has become fashionable -- and which too often goes beyond constructively scathing criticism to a darker gnostic denunciation -- may be part and parcel of a broader trend to distrust all Western authorities as gnostic "powers and principalities" against whom we must fight a crypto-apocalyptic war, when we are not nourishing this pneumopathology in the laboratory of our alienated minds in constantly haunted anticipation of it. To frame the problem of Islam in these terms, however amorphous they may be, is to botch the whole thing, grievously and catastrophically.

So very sad to hear this! He was a great man. RIP.

It is because of people like David Littman that man is more likely to remain free than unfree. RIP.

This is a true loss. When we finally win this war (after we finally start admitting it exists) and the history books are written, he will be recorded as one of the very few brave enough to stand up for the truth against a furious onslaught of fascism, butchery, corruption, cowardice, lies and ignorance. Rest in peace Mr. Littman.

I will pray for G-d's comfort for his dear wife - the courageous scholar Bat Yeor - and for their children and grandchildren.

David Littman was a champion of freedom, human rights, and equality. We can learn from, and be inspired by, his example. My sympathies to his wife Bat Ye'or, and to his family and friends.

My deepest condolences to David Littman's family and friends ...

Condolences to Dr. Littman's wife and other survivors.

With sincere sorrow. We truly lost one of a kind human being. How unfortunate that the world will not recognize or acknowledge this loss to all mankind. Rest in peace David.

More on David Littman's achievements.

http://www.newenglishreview.org/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/41389

Monday, 2 April 2012

The Oeuvre of David Littman

Excerpt:

"He has published, with Paul Fenton, a book called 'Exile in the Maghreb, the Jewish Condition under Islam'.

'This is one of the major references on the subject.

'It speaks so scrupulously and in detail about the "legal and social status of Jews in Islamic Maghreb between the Middle Ages and the era of French colonization." It contains translated excerpts and annotated historical chronicles in Arabic and Hebrew, Muslim theological texts, eyewitness accounts written by European travelers - prisoners, diplomats, doctors, clerics, and adventurers. This is the kind of book you read and to which you constantly return when you need details and accurate sources.


It is, above all, a work that constitutes a final and conclusive answer to the legend so widespread of a peaceful and fraternal coexistence between Jews and Muslims in Islamic lands...'.

And this. He did not only write, or speak. At a certain moment in his life, with his dear wife - who was at that time pregnant with their second child - he **acted**.

http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm/frm/52539/sec_id/52539

Conferring the "Hero of Silence" Order on David G. Littman (July 1, 2009)

“Operation Mural”: Casablanca 1961

Presentation by President Shimon Peres
(Presidential Commemoration Ceremony June 1, 2008).

I will add that his daughter Ariane, an artist, lives in Israel, and has three children, one of whom achieved the rank of 2nd Lieut. in the IDF.

He was truly a David: Dodavehu, Beloved of the LORD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hQ0OkcLKuE&feature=fvwrel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmDcliAQQKA&feature=related

There is a great exchange between Littman and delegates / officers on the United Nations Human Rights Council over the treatment of women (especially the barbaric female genital mutilation, etc.) within Islamic countries in R. Spencer's book, "Stealth Jihad, How Radical Islam Is Subverting America without Guns or Bombs," approximately pages 76 - 79.

One English version of the Mourners' Kaddish; I found it in an English translation of the Siddur, or Jewish prayerbook, some time ago, and transcribed it into my own prayerbook.

It is a magnificent and very demanding prayer, requiring of the mourner an affirmation of the holiness and goodness of God at a time when that holiness and that goodness may be very difficult to discern.

"Let us magnify and let us sanctify the great name of G-d
In the world which he created according to his will.
May His kingdom come and his salvation flourish
in your lifetime and in your days and in the lifetime of the family of Israel:
quickly and speedily may they come. - Amen.

"May the greatness of His being be blessed from eternity to eternity.

'Let us bless and let us extol, let us tell aloud and let us raise aloft
let us set on high and let us honour, let us exalt and let us praise the Holy One - blessed be He - though he is far above all blessings, songs, and honours that can be spoken of in this world. - Amen

"May great peace from heaven, life and fulfilment, salvation and consolation, healing and redemption, forgiveness and atonement, relief and deliverance, be granted to us and to all the family of Israel. - Amen.

'May He who makes peace in the highest bring this peace upon us and upon all Israel.

Amen."

More details, including the Hebrew and Aramaic text and literal English glosses, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaddish

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/kaddish.html

"May the angels lead you into paradise;
may the martyrs come to welcome you
and take you to the holy city,
the new and eternal Jerusalem.

May choirs of angels welcome you
and lead you to the bosom of Abraham;
and where Lazarus is poor no longer
may you find eternal rest.

Amen."

להתראות

Pamela Geller with David Littman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJdyEuWW21g&feature=related

RIP David

My condolences to Bat Yeor and others in Littman's family.

While I admired what Littman would do to draw the attention of UN bodies to Muslim abuses of human rights, the reason it would draw yawns was the seeming assumption on his part that the UN was still a force for good. In this, I agree w/ Lemonlime above - he probably still associated the UN w/ what it was in the wake of WWII, and beyond. Unfortunately, that completely overlooked the fact that the bulk of its members were either Leftist countries, or Muslim, and sometimes both - a transition that took place particularly in the 60s and after.

Much as I respected him, I always thought that approaching UN organizations for fair treatment wasn't that different from approaching the Arab League or the OIC and asking them to address Judeophobia within Muslim societies.

I was reading about David Littman and Operation Mural in Sir Martin Gilbert's "In Ishmaels House" a week ago.

My condolences to the Littman family.

World Prayer Assembly Takes Place in Indonesia Amid Growing Concern Over Rise of Islamism

Friday concluded five days of prayer and discussion for more than 9,000 evangelical church leaders from over 60 countries who assembled in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, for the World Prayer Assembly (WPA), a grand Evangelical event that kicked off Monday after four years of preparations.

The WPA, believed to be the world’s largest Christian intercessory prayer event, reportedly received permission from the government of the predominantly Muslim country, and home to the world’s largest Muslim population, to invite Christians from countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Laos, Vietnam, Egypt, China, and even North Korea. The WPA events were held at the 11,000-seat Sentul International Convention Center in Jakarta and other venues.

Read more: http://www.colindye.com/2012/05/21/over-9000-evangelical-leaders-conclude-joint-prayer-event-in-worlds-largest-muslim-country/#ixzz1vUdrqr4p

Waving black flags embossed with Islamic verses, thousands of radical Islamists rallied in the central Tunisian town of Kairouan on Sunday to demand a wider role for religion in a country long considered one of the Arab world’s most secular.

Read more: http://www.maghrebchristians.com/2012/05/21/radical-islamists-urge-bigger-role-for-islam-in-tunisia/#ixzz1vUWo1Edn

Youssef

There have been many rumours about a beheading that had happened in Mali, I had the privilege to sit with one man from Mali who was a brother and gave me a short view of how Christianity is lived in Mali today and also about the beheading that happened in Mali, which in itself was a false report that happened.

Read more: http://www.maghrebchristians.com/2012/05/21/pastor-in-mali-beheading-was-a-false/#ixzz1vUzW0rEu

Youssef

If each of us takes up a part of his battle against Islam and if each of us nurtures freedom daily in our own lives, we will continue David's impact and legacy in this world.

May God continue to bless David's family and many, many friends.

If each of us takes up a part of his battle against Islam and if each of us nurtures freedom daily in our own lives, we will continue David's impact and legacy in this world.

May God continue to bless David's family and his many, many friends.

Thumbs up to David...he did good work while he was here...

Prayers for this heroic man's soul as well as his beloved family. May the God of truth comfort them at this difficult time.

Prayers for this heroic man's soul as well as his beloved family. May the God of truth comfort them at this difficult time.

LemonLime

I noticed that. The only thing I agreed w/ you above was the reason behind Littman's hope and faith in the UN. As you might guess, I certainly don't agree w/ the idea that the UN is a hopeful institution for mankind.

It did show a brief glimpse of hope in the early 90s, during Operation Desert Shield and so on, but after 9/11, it's gone back to being an association of US hating loser nations.

Problem is that a lot of institutions that were relevant during the Cold War have exceeded their expiry date. The Warsaw Pact was disbanded in 1989, but NATO still lives on. It's irrelevant, and problem is that most people who support it are still fighting yesterday's war. The most brazen example of it is still having Turkey in the organization, while excluding Israel and Russia. If the world were sensibly organized now as it was during the Cold War, you'd have an anti-Islamic alliance made up of all non Muslim countries - US, Canada, Australia, European countries, Russia, Israel, India, Thailand, China, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and so on - going face to face against the OIC.

Similarly for the UN - under the one country one vote model, the UN would only be a force for good if a majority of countries were either allied w/, or at least not hostile to, the US. But if a majority of countries are hostile to the US, the UN would end up voicing them, and that 'voice' is often erraneously referred to as the world community. It's hogwash - a fruit seller in Malawi or a Llama owner in Peru doesn't care one way or another about whether Israel builds settlements in Judea/Samaria, whether Serbs are ill-treating Kosovo Muslims, or whether the Assad regime is cracking down on its citizens. However, the UN does lend a facade to whatever a majority of its members want.

As has been pointed out here, the largest bloc in the UN today is the 50 odd OIC membership, and then, there are members of what used to be the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War, which was essentially a pro-Soviet bloc (Cuba, Yugoslavia and most Arab countries were members). As a result, whenever the UN votes, the result is a lopsided pro-Islamic vote.

As long as that is the case, the idea that the UN is a hopeful institution for mankind is a distant dream. Particularly when its membership includes all those 50 Muslim countries.

Sic transit gloria mundi. My condolences to Bat Ye'or.

The world has lost a great man. My condolences to Mr. Littman's widow, Bat Ye'or, family and friends. May his memory be eternal, indeed.

The world has lost a great man. My condolences to Mr. Littman's widow, Bat Ye'or, family and friends. May his memory be eternal, indeed.

The world has lost a great man. My condolences to Mr. Littman's widow, Bat Ye'or, family and friends. May his memory be eternal, indeed.

The world has lost a great man. My condolences to Mr. Littman's widow, Bat Ye'or, family and friends. May his memory be eternal, indeed.

I am sorry to hear of your loss, Mr. Spencer.

Perhaps you could write his autobiography.

David was a fighter who loved people and who loved life. His great sense of humour, his compassion and deep respect for others were not dimmed by his frustrating and difficult terminal illness. My sincerest condolences go out at this time to his wife and family.

Two mesmerisingly beautiful instances of a non-Jewish artist or artists inspired by a powerful Jewish text.

Ravel and the soprano Montserrat Caballe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an2qn2IJBes&feature=related

Paul Robeson. (I never knew, till I went looking for artistic meditations on the Kaddish prayer, that Paul Robeson seemingly knew Yiddish).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vIjCH30wt4&feature=related

Let these two artists speak for all of those Gentiles in Europe and in the USA who mourn for David Littman.

He both argued for and gave a defense of civil man. I shall:

Remember his zest for inquiry, sharp focus and good nature;
Honor his intellectual depth and compassion for humanity;
Offer condolences to the partner he so obviously adored.

DDA, Jan, and Wellington:

Yes, Robeson was a magnificent artist, but Wellington beat me to the punch (as he often does), about how I asses him. However, as I said above, I like to think that the Methodist preacher's son Robeson was didn't completely die in him.