Jews, Muslims & Power

While literacy is certainly indispensable for a good life, the much higher literacy found among Jews compared to moslems is not why we Jews are so much more successful than they are. Rather, it is because of our moral values. Osama bin Laddin, of all people, really summarized it best when he said that "We moslems love death, while you Jews love life!" He said it in a mocking way, of course, because to his twisted, evil mind, death is better than life. We Jews, however, have always put far less emphasis on some Afterlife, and far more focus on making this world a better place. In fact, our share in the World-to-Come, is based on what we say and do here, in this world. And our Torah has clearly given us hundreds of commandments directing us to be better, kinder, more humane human beings. We do not waste our time figuring out ways to blow people up or chop their heads off. We Jews are too busy building civilization, to have any desire whatsoever to destroy it.

unfortunately, our religion doesn't really allow for critical thinking. you either believe or get ostracised. our failure to look ourselves squarely and allow for constructive, intellectual, modernist thought is almost sneered at. And Muslims also live in fear of being outcast by families and their own societies. Other countries have moved on through less inbreeding, better education systems, open and free thought leading to higher IQ.
We are being and have been left behind.
Very sad.

The relative failure of Islam is a fact and the dissatisfaction that it causes Muslims is conspicuous yet just claiming discrimination over looks the reasons. This article outlines the problem so exactly and having for the past 3 years worked in Scandinavia after more that 20 years in Muslim countries I can see so precisely that the concept of personal responsibility over divine provision condemns that failure to continue. Actually the greatest victims of Islam are the Muslims. May I suggest that the figures in this article are updated as currency and accuracy are all the more powerful !

The author poses the question; "Why are Jews 100 times stronger than Muslims," ​​then "There are only 14 million Jews in the world; seven million in the Americas, five million in Asia, two million in Europe and 100,000 in Africa. For every single Jew in the world there are 100 Muslims. Yet, , Jews are more than a hundred times stronger than all Muslims together. Ever wondered why? " He gives the answer himself: "Education."
I can add an answer, namely; Inequality between men and women in almost all Muslim countries !!! Especially where there is dictatorship. It keeps the half population back!

Well, i agree with the writer for the most part. Arabs...... send your boys, DOUGTHERS to school. That way you will ease the burden of religion. God or Allah will not be disappointed for using what he gave us.

Muslims also have a long list of philosophers, mathematicians and poets. you just to have to do the same exercise you did for the Jews. look on the internet!!

Well, half tongue in cheek and half seriously:

He may have left out one other reason for Jewish power and influence:



Humor and comedy.



In 1979, for example, Time estimated that whereas Jews made up only 3 percent of the American population, fully 80 percent of professional comedians were Jewish.

The proportion today remains at levels that raises to anyone noticing it the question of "WHY are Jews so massively over represented in humor, comedy, and professional comedy. A legit question since, after all, unlike education which is explicitly encouraged in both formal Jewish religion and the Jewish culture, there is no formal or cultural mandate among Jews that you should develop in your child a skill at humor.

I leave that "why" question to others.

But suggest that humor and the ability to use it, oddly, brings power.

You need only consider how much political influence John Stewart... nominally "just running a comedy show".... has. Arguably more than any one senator?



And Jewish humor turned inward in its own culture provides important checks and balances to help mitigate corruption and abuse of power (which unchecked eventually disempower a country or culture that doesn't clean it's own house): This from Wikipedia:

" Jewish humor was also a device for self-criticism within the community, and I think that's where it really was the most powerful. The humorist, like the prophet, would basically take people to task for their failings. The humor of Eastern Europe especially was centered on defending the poor against the exploitation of the upper classes or other authority figures, so rabbis were made fun of, authority figures were made fun of and rich people were made fun of. It really served as a social catharsis."

if you have an education you should use it not alow it to be subverted into rubbish or trashing other cultures. Look at a Spanish man named Chavez he learned the system then worked to improve it for his people,

First off, he never once mentions the name of the Jewish nation, Israel, which has produced so much scientific innovation that Muslims themselves rely on. Second, many of the people he mentions as "Jewish" are not Jewish at all, e.g. Karl Marx, Ben Kingsley and I'm sure many others. Third, and maybe most important is the reason that Jews are so successful. It is not education since during most of their existence maybe, formal education was denied them. It is their belief that you can and should question everything -- including God. It is also the belief that all people are loved and have a purpose from God. While Muslims believe that non-Muslims must convert to Islam or be killed or should have to pay a "jizya" to Muslims in order to be "allowed" to live, Jews have no such belief. It is the fear of the world that Islam teaches and its incessant hatred of others (even other Muslims) which keeps them in a state of primitive backwardness. Sadly, I don't see this changing for at least a hundred years. They are ignorant because they value ignorance and their clerics forbid any education which does not accept the rantings of Mohammed as absolute truth.

This was such an astute observation and understanding. I am a writer and just today I wrote about MiddleEast Madness and Messed up Genes.

Most of what you said about Muslim's lack of interest towards education is true. Furthermore, what you said about Muslims declining economy is also true. However, this article is heavily biased towards the Jewish side of the debate. The truth is that we Muslims are the cradle of all the knowledge, Jewish people are boasting about. In addition, such a heritage we Muslims have will never collapse. In other words, what you are seeing of the Muslim's failures is not because they left science, it is because their governments ignored religion. Any way, I would like to say at the end that nothing stays the same, everything changes. The same way Jews started from weakness and servility, they are going to return to it. Also the Muslims, they started with tremendous power, they will also return to it. Muslims now are returning to the original and powerful ISLAM. They are only days and the Muslims will have an extremely powerful economic, cultural and scientific stature.

Your comments exemplify why your people are such losers and the scourge of humanity. Values determine prosperity. Mohammed was a plundering warlord pedophile who married 6 year old Aisha. thesexare Muslim values. Sadly for you, the civilized man will always rule the barbarian, e. g., every war of combined barbaric Muslim armies, the tiny civilized Jew always wins.

That is complete and utter nonsense asserting that the success of the Jews is because they control the media and finance. If they did, we wouldn't have need of the Istanbul Process and the anti-blasphemy law about to be invoked at the UN and if the Jews controlled finance, why the hell is America going broke. That is just another lame excuse for the failure of the Muslims - always victims, always blaming everyone but themselves for their sorry state. Even with all the oil money in the world (which in fact controls the media) they have never understood that EDUCATION is everything.

There is no any magic answer than this. It is absolutely true, we Muslims should change our attitudes towards education and stop complaining all the time. In the hadith "He who acquires knowledge acquires a vast portion." AND "If anyone going on his way in search of knowledge, God will, thereby make easy for him the way to Paradise." And so in the Holly Qur'an, Read for the name of you God purposely show the meaning of Education and its effective application. On the other hand, I think this education should help us to build security of our people without killings and bloodshedding. By that case i'd probably claimed that this education doesnt direct us towards retaliations. Lets use it more effectively, so it can reduce the bloodshed of innocent people. And by that, education would be more effective.

This list of Jews who have accomplished much is quite impressive. What you'll not see, however, is a multitude of Sephardim and other non-Ashkenazi Jews who have achieved like that. At least almost all the Jews listed here are Ashkenazi. Even though I myself am Ashkenazi, I believe that Sephardim should accomplish as much as the Ashkenazim per capita. We should see at least a few of them on this list. After all, ALL Jews, not just Ashkenazim, value education a lot. By that logic, then, there should be at least 4-5 Sephardim alongside the Ashkenazim!!!

So, were theRabbis of the Talmud Bavli Ashkenazi? Perhaps Rambam and Ramban were from German stock? And, how did you manage to miss the fact that, other than Einstein, all the Jews mentioned lived and worked and researched in the USA. Where are the brilliant French, and German and English Ashkenazim? Also you failed to mention that at last two big guys, Marx and Freud, gave us theories and practices not because they were jewish but because they had rejected Judaism. Claiming them as ashkenazis because of their fame is an insult to Ashkenazim everyrwhere. But this is typical of the hoity toity Ashkenazim, to genuflect before the altar of Ashkenazi achievement and thereby belittle all other Jews. Why not mention Disraeli, Spinoza etc. those deniers of their jewishness who became famous because they were turncoats. Why not mention all those Russian Jews, Trotsky, Beria, Stalin himself who made the grade as Ashkenazim? what aboutthose Jewish Kapos, a la gorge Soros, whose achievements would make satan himself ashamed! Philanthropist indeed! We among the Sepharadim were busy building our own synagogues, communities families! Calcutta alone had 3 synagogues that would put thatin Budapest and London to shame. in my synagogue in Calcutta, Beth-El, we had 200 sepher torot, one miniature made of pure gold. You should be ashamed of crowing about the Ashkenazim when you know nothing and care less about your brethren from the East. Yes in Israel we sweep streets and wash out toilets while the Ashkenazim sit in their air-conditioned offices, but remember: Not only those who fight, but also those who stay behind to guard the stuff get shares of the spoils. We Sepharadim maintain the Jewish faith; the fate of the Ashkenazim is to assimilate and leae the faith because they would rather be the tails of Americans than the heads of Israel.

Having lived and worked in Muslim countries for about 18 year I have always wondered why those of the Muslim faith failed so badly. It is during the last three years since I have moved to Holland and work largely in Scandinavia that I came to appreciate and realise what the Protestant Ethic means. In most of Northern Europe a very high percentage, especially of the young are atheists, as am I. However the ethos of personal responsibility is so pre-eminent and reading J L Motley's Dutch Republic really brought home what it means. (This book written in about 1850 is largely about the fight to overthrow the Catholic faith and adopt Calvinistic personal responsibility). I paraphrase lightly thus: When a Calvinist says I will do this or that he has nowhere to hide, it is his commitment. I feel the Catholics less so as a quick visit to the confessional absolves that failing and the poor Muslim cannot undertake anything without specific divine sanction, (inshallah). If like me you not believe in any God is not surprising that nothing happens! In Oslo the other week I was about 2 minutes late for an appointment, my client looked at his watch in a most pointed way- what a contrast from my time in the Middle East where I almost cannot remember an appointment being on time. I have been told that the poverty of the Muslim countries was due to the policies of the West, never was the notion of ‘self –inflicted’ mentioned.

Author didn't mention one important reason for success of Jews and failure of Muslims:Jews control media and finance,Muslims none.

Can't you think for yourself? Recycling the old cliche about Jews controlling the media and the banks does not make a very argument, does it? If the Jews did control the media, then why does Israel get such a bad press?

You have said it far better than I. Israel's bad press is due to deeply ingrained anti-Jewish sentiment that's about 2,000 years old! It is up to us individuals to spread the good word about Jews and Israel. How amazing that this "Islamabad-based free-lance journalist" is doing it! He has really done his homework.

If Jews do control the media and finance bozo, then they only got there through intelligence and education! Muslims none.

Parrots repeat what they hear, whether there is sense or truth to it or not. This is one of the oldest libels against Jews in the book!

It is not only Education which makes the difference,but the right philosophy and intentions.The Nazis were intellectually advanced but totally lacking in spiritual and correct philosophical knowledge. The Jewish religion ,which teaches decent human values imparted in the home and in the synagogue,,definitely influences the direction of the education one receives. Without a desire to do good, Jews would not have succeded in intellectual endeavors. If M uslims continue to learn to hate from childhood, and are not taught to love all peoples ,no government nor Mullah will change their fate. Take the guns out of the hands of five year-olds, change your textbooks to teach truth and history, and y ou will experience a real revolution. People will hunger for freedom and equality.That is why Americans and Jews have accomplished so much.

Dr. Saleem, you are brave. Shalome Aleichem.

May I agree with Mr Imran Ali in some way; the fault is of the Muslim peoples' mysery is that they do not demand of their leaders' what is rightfully theirs: the distribution of wealth that comes from the ground. As well as the right to education for their male, and female children, on the same level of education that Jewish children, or children of other religions, receive. In my opinion, this has nothing to do with religion; it has a lot to do with people willing to practice what is essential to good, or better standards of living: a free education for all cildren in all regions, in all countries, Muslim-controlled or not. And untill you achieve that, you will alwas be left behind and forever will be crying out to Allah for help. For you are not prepaired to gain the help you need to better your own life, instead you are prepaired to destroy other peoples' lives with violent acts. Not all Arab leaders are bad: some are hamstrung and held back by their religious leaders. Just as some Western leaders are held back by their believes or believes of their advisers. At least people in the West knew what they wanted and got it through violent means, but internally and did not involve killing of people of other nations, like the Moslems do. It is a crazy world we live in.

If they wouldn't waste their lives educating their kids to hate and kill Jews, then maybe there'll be time for real education and improvement of their quality of life. That is definitely Muslim mentality!

I disagree with Dr Saleem's subjective assumption that education alone is power. Sources of power are varied. Influence, persuasion, authority, legitimacy, roles are all effective means of securing and maintaining power. Education does play a significant part but is not the sole determining factor as Dr Saleem concludes. I agree with him that the acheivements of Jewish scientists and scholars deserve recognition - just as any other such contributions by human beings should. However, do remember that Muslims too have made many positive contributions to the modern world we live in today. Many of which were realised UNDER and WITHIN an Islamic framework during the Caliphates. Therefore I reject that Islam holds back such progress. Muslim's are not powerless, their power is contained in the natural resources of their lands and their strategic locations. Puppet Muslim leaders do not exercise this positional power - therefore have chosen for themselves and their people to be powerless. Imagine what would happen if the oil stopped flowing (70% of world supply??)? If the Straits of Hormuz were closed? If an effective economic zone were created for Muslim lands with it's own currency? That would provide the Muslim world with a very strong positional power role in global politics. This could be used effectively to quickly establish a prosporous standard of living and development in the Muslim lands. This change will only come about when there is a realisation and a willingness to change within the hearts of the Muslims. Until then, Muslims cannot exert their true power potential. With it's abundance of resources, geo-political locations, huge population....a sleeping giant one may say........

Our Torah promises our continuity. You see, we are obligated to study every single day. Studying means, one has to be literate. One has to read and write. Other religions and societies up until a few hundred years ago were illiterate. They wanted the masses that way in order that they wouldn't ask questions on their religion. Education was for the rich and powerful. All the rest were uneducated. Thats why we're awesome!

Albert Michelson is my progenitor. I am Jew therefore I must be remarkable too. It is education, formal or informal, that makes the difference.

Don´t forget many jews such as Madoff, who have been so well educated and powerfull, but who have disgraced the world with the biggest frauds in HISTORY. Therefore, I second some other commentors' point that education doesn´t make people or a community contribute to Tikun Olam, only to power, but that´s not what the world needs to be better. Power corruption = a bad place to live.

How odd! I know this article was written by a muslim but I have read some very similar ones written by jews and what I wonder is why some Jews wellcome with open arms, actual non jews (some of them don´t come from jewish mothers but only fathers) to the triibe; but when it comes to actually answering the question of WHO IS A JEW? they would be excluded from the tribe as their mothers are not jews. Such is the case of Karl Marx for example, some Hollywood stars, etc, that don´t even consider themselves as jews or are even jew-haters derived from this very attitude such as Kissinger, Chomsky, and a long list.

I was going to share the articel until I saw George Soros, a slef hating Jew who has never donated a dime to Israel or any Jewish causes. During the Holocaust,he turned in Jewish People's lands to save his own skin. Not to mention he only donates to causes that are self serving to bring down America. George Soros makes Bernie Maddof look like an honest man.

I agree with you Jonathan. People of his ilk are our worst enemies.

My Muslim students will be dumb-founded after reading through this eye-opener. It is thought-provoking.. Stephen (Prof. S P Pandey, PhD) .

I hope and pray that as many Moslem people as possible will read this - and learn. possibly that will enable them to participate in Tikkun Olam..

There is another reason why Muslims see themselves as powerless, and that is one of attitude. Jews, regardless of observance level, have a number of precepts governing their attitudes toward living among the nations: * Dina d'malchuta dina - the law of the land is the law. Jews have always done their best to live as good citizens, regardless of how their host countries have treated them, working *within* the framework of the law and getting along with their neighbors. This is especially true in America. * Tikkun olam - the desire to make the world a better place, continuing the process of creation begun by the Creator of the Universe. *Uvacharta bachayim - Choose Life. Human life is a value sacred above all others, and one is required to break any and every law in order to preserve human life. Muslims, on the other hand, have no similar values. They do not seek to work with or within the frameworks of existing countries - they wish to take them over and subjugate them in the name of Islam. Their idea of perfecting the world is to make the world submit to the Koran and Sharia law. And human life itself is expendable - death is glorified in the name of Allah and his prophet. Perhaps education will open their eyes to these differences between themselves and the rest of the world. Perhaps then there will be an opening for peace.

To add to that summary ove whelming,envy of..." betters" in the world and leaving settlement of all such matters to Allah !

I am a Muslim and I am agreed with what you have written. Muslims today (especiallu girls) are affected much with world, I mean the unimportant things! As I, a 15 years old schoolgirl, I am not caring much about style, socialite, teenagers fashion, love and relationship (except to my family of course, I am caring much about it), and so on. We know, as students our duty is study. And I wish I could be a Muslim that going to get Nobel Prize someday. Amin. May Allah bless us! Plus, Mark Zuckenberg is also a Jew. Randomly I got a same special feature in major Jewish brands (but not all) : THEY ARE COLOURED BLUE, maybe related to David Star. God knows.

Elizabeth you sound like a smart girl! You keep up the studying. Don't waste your time on hatred because it leads to misery. You are the future and the only path to bettering this world.

Einstein might have been smart, but he was just as powerless as a bedouin camel (remember the most brilliant scientist had to run away to stay alive). Mohammad on the other hand did not go to university but he still has real power that moves our world after 14 centuries (at least if you believe the "war on terror" propaganda). There is little correlation between power and education, except by way of influencing those who are already in power. That is called politics. Muslims made it too obvious that they intended on conquering the world, so surprise surprise they didn't make many lasting friendships. The Persians hated us when we conquered them, and I'm sure you'll agree that was just the beginning of a wonderfully successful public relations campaign by Islam's leaders (look how popular we were with the Europeans - they couldn't wait to convert!). Let's face it, Islam has a superiority complex (which is a relevant point for a largely Jewish audience - don't pretend you don't - I do too - it's not necessarily a bad thing to think highly of yourself - but some can take it too far) I'm all for education and "questioning" but the problems with Muslim countries are : 1. Islam 2. Islam 3. Islam The Doctor's first conclusion should be to acknowledge that Islam is the opposite of "education". I grew up in a 3rd world Muslim country and it is nothing less than a crime the way children are brainwashed into being pawns in someone else's chess game. Muslim imams are not spiritual leaders for individual confused worshipers, they are political tools of an archaic power control mechanism (the individual is worthless in Islam). Please Israel, I know I will be long dead by the time it happens, but please please oh please conquer all the land you want and take all the riches you deserve and let our future generations be brainwashed with the lessons of Torah rather than anything else. When it comes to religion, "newer" does not necessarily equate to "improved".

Wassim, you are a very wise man! Where oh where are more men like you? However, Israel does not want to conquer anymore land and it does not want Arab riches. It just wants to live in peace. Muslims will have to fix this mess up themselves. Unfortunately, it does not look like they are going in the right direction.

When I hear Jews described as powerful, I am wary. It sounds reminiscent of anti Semitic propaganda. What the author describes is in fact contributions in various fields, foremost medicine and science. There have been periods in history that Jews were admired for their knowledge, but at the same time, persecuted and powerless. There are a few names that may have achieved fame and respect, but are self-hating Jews who have not brought credit to the Jewish people. Also, identifying individuals with unusually high IQ's seems irrelevant because innate intelligence is not the issue, it's contribution.

Kissinger is a Jew who hates the fact that he was born a Jew. Madeline Albright is a practicing Christian. Other "Jews" in the list were born of interfaith marriages. Muslims learn the KorAN BY ROTE. JEWS ARE TAUGHT TO QUESTION. YES, EVEN QUESTION THE TORAH. PERHAPS THE MIND THAT IS TAUGHT TO QUESTION AND TO ARGUE THE POINT HAS THE SOLUTION TO MANY VEXING SITUATIONS.

Psssshhhhh, beautifully correct! You forgot one thing though that they are educated in- lacking the true value of human life

The oddest aspect of 20century Moslem lack of innovation is the Middle Ages were the great era of Arab invention and transmisssion. Moslem rulers encouraged science securely self-confident. Today Moslem countries are in a double bind. They are highly autocratic but science needs free thinking. Even the Tsar did not stamp on Mendelev's chemical research - the periodic table - despite his liberal politics. Second, a part result of European imperial centuries and Western technology, Moslem peoples are in an identity crisis where anything Western - dress or music; science or tolerance is, "theirs" to be hounded off the streets, the public prints and TV. In the autocratic atmosphere and narrow minded imams sharp enough to call riots government fear of crowds lets the mob vent itself on anything accused of being against Islam. This fundamentalists' fear of humour and their own doubt, and ability to use the doubts of others against them by fright stops enquiry. It is from questioning that knowledge emerges. The mind, like a parachute works best when open. As for the Jews and Moslems in the West; Jews have been there long and have lived The Enlightenment separation of powers inclusive keeping clergy out of the lab as clergy, even if not as scientists. Second most Western Jews are third to sixth generations in and so know the local language and manners and have established themselves in the local commerce, industry, academia and politics. Western Moslems are mostly immigrant or second generation. The second generation have benefitted from local education and are making their careers including public office. It is only time before they and their children blossom. However while the World Jewish communities rejoice in Einstein and others' successes; the Moslem World ignores Abdus Salaam 1979 Nobel Physics laureate for atomic weak force. His native Pakistan shuns him as an Ahmadi instead of Sunni. Enough said!

As a Jew, I appreciate Dr. Saleem's acknowledgment of the success of Jews and its source being the Jewish focus on education. Dr. Saleem clearly did his homework in identifying the contributions of Jews. However, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT HE CANNOT BRING HIMSELF TO LIST A SINGLE CONTRIBUTION OF AN ISRAELI JEW (WHICH INCLUDES SEVERAL NOBEL LAUREATES AND MANY CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELDS OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE). Dr. Saleem's makes a single INDIRECT reference to Israel by mentioning that "if PM Ehud Olmert were to discover that the earth is flat, AIPAC will make the 109th Congress pass a resolution congratulating Olmert on his discovery." It seems that even an educated Muslim like Dr. Saleem, who attempts to be honest about the ills of the Islamic world, cannot rid himself of his bigotry toward the State of Israel. Dr. Saleem, please read the recent book "Start UP Nation." I know you will find it educational!

Jews perform so well on the world stage as a result of Judaism. that is the core. Though many secular Jews succeed, the seeds of success were sown by their religious forefathers (and mothers). Judaism, the Torah, instills in us the desire and obligation to seek out knowledge of God through the Torah. There are no bounds on this, no limitations just our own ability and diligence. When this percolates down to the less religious and non religious grandchildren and great-grandchildren this becomes the pursuit of secular knowledge or just ambition to succeed in the world, i.e. business, music, etc. Incidentally, because Einstein or many secular Jewish scientists lacked the means to pass on their knowledge or understanding to their children we do not see generations of great Jewish scientists as we see scions of Rabbis. Where are Einstein's 'einiklach' today? For that matter, there have been many great rabbis and gaonim who make the likes of Einstein look like immature children. They produced works that have lit up the generations not just for a select few but for the generations of us who followed. Thus the only way to ensure Jewish success is to ensure we continue to educate ourselves in the ways of Judaism. Education per se, though an antedote to ignorance is not just the answer, Torah based chinuch is!

Becker is not Jewish. Sores should be listed as the most antisemitic Jew in the world, who started his fortune during ww2by denouncing Jews. Don't underestimate Muslims, they have oil, money, and are advisers as Jews in math and science .remember the middle ages

may your message be istened to---you are a brave man to speak the truth to nations who do not want to face the truth.

G-d promised Abraham in the Torah, the nations of the world will be blessed through you(r descendents) Those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will be cursed. As far as power, that is exaggerated. Where was all that supposed Jewish power during the Holocaust?

The Muslim world has the capacity to produce knowledge. I see it in the many students from Muslim countries whom I work with in engineering. What the countires lack is the willingness to focus on secular education and training. I attribute this to fear of clergy and emphasi on religious study rather than secular education. If it wasn't useful in the 7th century it isn't necessary to a devout Muslim today. This thinking enforced by clerical power over govenments is keeping the talent and intelligence of the Muslim countries suppressed.

I agree that education is the key to power and wealth creation in the modern world. Since Jews were landless for 2000 years, education and money were the only two routes for survival. And business was a way for Jews into a middle class, "bourgeois" lifestyle giving them a greater ability to provide higher education for their children than the land-bound peasants around them. But that advantage is rapidly disappearing, and particularly in Israel itself. The vast majority of those Nobel Prize winners were, and continue to be, diaspora Jews. Israel, now a normal country, needs regular workers and so 60% of Israeli Jews do not get a higher education. While Israel does have a higher scientific output than all of its Muslim neighbors combined, that advantage cannot be held permanently. Much stronger links between Israeli and diaspora Jewry is required if that relative advantage is to be retained. Both sides need to do more to understand each other and cooperate more closely. Language and culture can be a barrier, unfortunately.

One muslim well informed, 1.4 Billion -1 to go. I'm seriously optimistic

Very funny!

I agree with comment 13 (Tova Saul): education is not an answer in itself, correct values are also needed. The Germans were also highly educated but they acted in as barbaric a fashion as the primative invaders of the Dark Ages.

For the record, I'm a Catholic so I'll be speaking in third person of Jews and Muslims. Also, I wanted to throw my two cents explaining why the same theory explained here applies to Catholics. It's like when one goes to Harvard School of Law..graduates and enters a great firm, becomes head of a division and while doing so, hires many grads from Harvard as well, it's a good cycle. Jewish faith is also based on being the chosen "people", that has created a sense of synergy amongst you, that also has kept you from mixing (therefore you are so few, that's a chosen state, an accepted consequence) I see Jews helping other Jews everywhere in my country, you guys are glued and bonded, we have to learn that from you. It's also not-so-very-well regarded as a Catholic if you have tons of money (unlike Jews) our faith teaches us to live with enough and not accumulate (I'm not making a judgement here, just stating the teachings) therefore, it's harder for us to help our friends and family in the way you guys can. There's also the other side of the coin. Being so many, it's also hard to make a distinction between ourselves. Our communities are so large, it's hard to empathize with other Catholics, simply because we don't see each other as different to other people belonging to other religions (we just see people). I can't see a Catholic nor a Muslim doing business with diamonds in NYC just by shaking hands, ever, we're so many, I reckon the guy I'm shaking hands can run away an disappear, it's not like I can trace his lineage right? Education is the key, but that's the last part of the chain, I believe Jews are so relevant and successful because they have learned to thrive in harsh conditions, and are knit together unlike any other religious group or community..

courageous man - give him needed protection

For Christianity and Judaism the Almighty is the ultimate but not necessarily the proximate cause of all things but for Islam He is the proximate cause. If all things are the "Will of Allah" then human endeavour is discounted.

The article doesnt really answer why there is an unnatural ratio of Jews to ALL non-Jews who have accomlished and given to the world, so not really sure why this is a Jewish/Muslim comparison. According to the proofs the author is bringing it should be muslims/rest of the world comparison or Jews/rest of the world comparison but then the answer would not be education because the rest of the world according this article is afforded the same educational opportunities. There is no rational explanation just G-d's promise to us that we would survive no matter what and excel - so I can't really see any other motive of the author other than telling the Muslim population that Jews are more 'powerful' inciting further hatred.

Because there are so many illiterates in the Muslim world they will never know how uneducated and far behind the rest of the world they are, which leaves them open to manipultion by the unscrupulous.

Learned a lot from this.....Great article. Knowledge in and of itself is only as valuable as the underlying intentions as to how to use that knowledge. For example, knowing how to make a movie is only as valuable as the positive values expressed in the movie. It is the Jewish desire to make this word a better place, and the Jewish intolerance for needless suffering, that has underlined their educational attainments, and has made them a powerful source of good. (and Michael Douglas and Paul Newman had non-Jewish mothers-----But Leonard Nimoy is Jewish---He could be in the list of actors.)

yes the right thing said by the right person i mean by a muslim that too from a third world country.wouldnt it be great too publish it all over the world but dont youpublish it coz there are hawks eve.ry where

If the Muslims spent more time in dealing with facing their own shortcomings in the modern world and less time creating fiction about other people, they might find their standing in the world of accomplishments a lot higher.

While I agree with the author's reasons of why the Muslims are so 'powerless', she fails to explain why the Jews are so 'powerful' beyond their miniscule numbers would suggest. To say that the answer is education does not answer why the percentage of offerings and contributions to society are so amazing compared to such a small percentage of the population. maybe it has something to do with the promise that the Jewish people will be "a light unto the nations"?

There is something more important missing from this article. It's the Jewish religious contribution to the world. And I say this as someone with a Ph.D. so I'm not discounting what the author says about education etc. Moreover, how sad that someone like Soros and someone like Kissinger are highlighted. If you want an example of a good Jew for the Muslim world, look to the Rambam. Unfortunately, many Jews don't even know who is the Rambam. Powerful? Not without G-d.

I could not agree with you more. Yes, we Jews have accomplished so much that is positive in secular society, and yet really, our foremost strength is in our religion, in our Torah, whose teachings have enabled there to be any kind of civilized society at all. And as for some Jews not knowing who the Rambam was, I would have never believed you, except that recently, I discovered that a very educated yet totally secular Jew I know, has never heard of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik. I am still in shock over that, how somebody that educated has never heard of probably the most prominent, important Rabbi of the last 100 years.

THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW!!!

This is something a Moslem said in a Moslem context as a way of trying to get his own people to change. i think it's a bit tacky of us to use it to say "look how much better we are." Why doi we need to prove that we are better than anyone else? What does that accomplish? Do you think anyone will look at it and say "Wow, aren't the Jews great, maybe we should change our politics?" Do we need to repeatedly prove that we are better than others for ourselves?

I detected a pattern here. The Dr. asked -why are Jews so POWERFUL? The response must be, in true Jewish style, a question: "What?Jews are powerful?" The more appropriately worded question, especially in light of the dozens of names and statistics he cited, would be "Why are Jews so ACCOMPLISHED, and the Muslims aren't?" His answers would then fit better. Beyond that, however, is his underlying apparent anxiety, that his nation far outnumbers those pesky, "powerful" Jews, and yet they have -EGAD!- the upper hand around here! Which is highly insulting to the Islamic mind, where what counts is being "POWERFUL." (Backed by Biblical sources: "By your sword you shall live," and their description as an "untamed wild man" -i.e. violent). Well, since it is not happening via literacy and education, by golly, they’ll be clever in other ways, since it is all about POWER. NO Money, no science, minimal flight training? Box cutters on airplanes work just as well. No education to rise to the top?Just infiltrate every political system of every Westernized country by overloading their immigration quotas; then proceed to riot, threaten lives, murder, and push for Shariah law. That earns power, yes indeed!Can't become wealthy through rising in industry, services and financial institutions after hard-earned degrees? No prob, Bro'... We got the oil; You need us (insert evil laugh here). Hear the drumbeats of power here? So, the good doctor has his facts right, and perhaps his heart is in the right place, as far as a heart that is disturbed about the dearth of Islamic educational accomplishments, but Doctor, we got other things to worry about from you guys. He’s right about their shouting to Allah...we should only start davening as powerfully and in such mass numbers.That is indeed where we need to rise to the top. Then we could merit seeing the reinstitution of the revealed "Power" of kvod malchut Shamayim coming to you live from Jerusalem, and brought to you by MelechHaMoshiach.

Great article and insight. But as one responder said, in which Muslim country would this be published or even allowed the light of day? Also I have to take exception with Soros and Annenberg. They may be powerful but Jews do not need what they are pushing.

The religion seems to have too strong a grip on the people. Male dominance is destructive in any society in which it exists. Women need the freedom to express themselves openly. Men do not need to control them. Take the power away from the mosque and give it to the people.

Very true. Should be circulated all over the internet.

in which muslim country was or would this article be published ?

Well said!