Robert Bettmann

Release day today for new poetry book, “Falling Leaves: an Interfaith Anthology on the Topic of Consolation and Loss”, edited by Susan Meehan and me with support from @TheDCArts and Hakhel. Proud to associate with the gorgeous work in this book. day-eight-books.myshopify.com

I have felt uncomfortable participating in this platform for months. You can continue conversation with me over at Bluesky -- @robertbettmann.bsky.social

America now has 815 billionaires who currently hold a record $6.7 trillion in wealth. The bottom 50% of Americans control $3.7 trillion in wealth. When 815 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.

Today's absurd ruling by the ICC represents a final blow to the legitimacy of this body. #Israel is fighting a legitimate war that it did not start against adversaries that pledge to destroy Israel and eradicate its people. There is no more just cause for war than this one. 1/4

British news publisher the Guardian said it will no longer post to X, citing 'disturbing content' on the social media platform, including racism and conspiracy theories reut.rs/3ULpW4Q

This week we celebrate the beautiful and resilient trans members of our community. Throughout history, trans women have done so much for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, but rarely have they been afforded the care and acknowledgment they deserve. 🏳️‍⚧️💕

📆 Today in Jewish History: BURNING OF THE TALMUD IN VENICE (1553) By order of the Pope, the Talmud was burned in Venice on the 13th and 14th of MarCheshvan, 1553. The reason given was the churches libelous claim that the Talmud contained heretical statements. Venice boasted many famous Hebrew printing houses, including that of Daniel Bomberg, an Italian gentile who published the Talmud there during the years 1519-1523.

Exxon CEO tells Trump to chill on climate policy: “I’ve been advising that we have some level of consistency ... policy switching back and forth as political cycles occur and elections happen and administrations change... [is] not good for the economy.” politico.com/news/2024/11/1…

This may be the only opinion that I share with this politician:

Philharmonic Dismisses 2 Players Over Sexual Misconduct Accusations nytimes.com/2024/11/04/art… via @classicalbeat

In conjunction with JBC's annual Jewish Writers' Conference, we are sponsoring 3 important virtual panels in the days following the conference itself. These panels will be free & open to all. Reserve your spot here. l8r.it/6Tu8 Swipe through to check them out.

Whatever the result, it will never not be absolutely terrible that it’s even this close.

The former public editor of the New York Times, @Sulliview, interviewed me about the six-word newsroom corrective I have been floating since 2022: "Not the odds, but the stakes." margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/a-media-crit…

We are endorsing Kamala Harris. Among the reasons to fear a second Trump term is that the world has changed since 2017-21. Two wars are endangering America’s security, and there is a risk that Trump would be less constrained econ.st/4ednNpc 👇

Doing a tour of CESJDS, wanting to understand more about it as an option for high school for our family. Looks really good.

Now this keeps me up at night... Trump appointed 3 Supreme Court justices, another win could mean more lifetime picks, securing a conservative Court for generations. With justices Thomas (76) & Alito (74) potentially retiring, this election shapes our future beyond a presidency...vote! @KamalaHarris @TheDemocrats @HouseDemocrats @TheBlackCaucus @thereidout

Pricks. Where are my garden shears?

Breaking: A Jewish man and his five year son were confronted by a cafe owner over a Star of David hat. The owner stated the symbol was violent and demanded they leave. The man asked if the cafe did not allow Jews, the man was told they “might not."

The Baltimore Sun dissolved its features department Monday, reassigning its staff to news departments – the first time since at least 1888 the newspaper won’t have even one reporter dedicated to covering the city’s cultural life.

REALITY CHECK: There is another organized disinfo campaign taking place today on social media. The outlandish and unsupported accusations I’ve seen today about northern Gaza are in many cases absolutely preposterous. No Israel isn’t “burying people alive” or “throwing children into pits and murdering them” or “ethnic cleansing” or “starving Gazans.” It’s been a full year of these bulls*** accusations that are always proven false in retrospect after a bunch of keyboard warriors lose their minds over a nonexistent famine/genocide. No there is no genocide in Gaza if there was or was going to be, Israel doesn’t need to make every effort to avoid civilian casualties and you wouldn’t see civilians being evacuated from war zones No there isn’t ethnic cleaning or “extermination” or “death camps” in Gaza — the only reason civilians are being moved is to get them OUT of harms way. Meanwhile Turkey is on the warpath against Kurds and these clown keyboard warriors don’t even know what’s happening.

Pacifism is a privilege when no one is actively trying to kill you. 😐