Helen Thomas: The Ugly Truth

I am SO sorry to hear that Helen Thomas was such a bigot! I had NO idea and am glad to read this article. I was operating under the assumption that she was a wonderful role model for young women and am saddened to hear she was an idiot.



I am a Christian who happens to have a very open mind and love to learn about other religions. I cannot tell you how sorry I am for the horrible atrocities that have happened to you. I cannot understand why people can't tolerate one another's differences with respect. I want you and everyone to know that not all non-jewish folks are harboring evil thoughts like Helen Thomas. I love who you are and what you stand for. Keep being beautiful and thank you for being an inspiration. May GOD richly bless you all!



Linda Owen

Oh, gimme a break. Helen and my (Jewish) father were close friends for decades (as was I), and as an Arab, she was just as much a Semite as anyone else from the Middle East. She was always for tough, direct journalism and never for "gotcha" scenes like the one that this clown set her up for. Helen had more appreciation for humanity and honor in her little finger than this so-called "rabbi" did in his whole being. The world appreciated Russian culture without worshiping the Soviet Union. So it was with Helen and Jewish culture and Israel. I thought hate attacks were reserved for Neo-Nazis and Republicans (not that there is a fine line of distinction between the two).

Sometimes, conditions (age, alcohol, loss etc.) uncover silently held prejudices that have been covertly in check for years. We cannot and should not try to alter people's minds directly, but when these attitudes are made public, we have a responsibility to attack them forcefully.

A few days ago, around Aug 13, an ad paid for by CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America) asked people to call the NY Times "and tell the publisher to report the full truth about Israel and its neighbors"
The ad said that the NY Times 'White-Washed a Jewish girl's killer (Malki Roth) who was 15 yrs old when she was killed by a Palestinian terrorist in 2001 in a suicide bombing at a Sbarro Pizzeria in Jerusalem. The terrorist was a woman from the twon of Nabi Saleh in the West Bank. Her name is AhlamTamimi. She planned and helped execute the bombing. She boasted "I have no regrets. I would do it again." In 2013, Sunday, March 15th magazine in the NY Times, featured a glowing cover story romanticizing the Nabi residents as SYMPATHETIC RESISTENCE FIGHTERS and portraying Tamimi as a heroine who merely 'escorted a bomber to the pizzeria. The Times didn't talk about the victims. Malki's mother sent a Letter to the Editor to the Times, but it didn't print it. THE NY TIMES PHONE: 212-556-1234. I don't know who wrote the article, but I hope it wasn't a 'self hating Jew" I'm going to call myself. The national Jewish organizations should buy full page ads in the Cincinnati Inquirer, the Washington Post, Washington Times, Los Angeles Times, et al, explaining the Balfour Agreement, and some history. The media distort everything

Thomas was horrid. I appreciate everyone's comments.

You know when I chat with some of my liberal friends back in the states, not all of them goyim, they say the same things that Ms. Thomas did. We're European foreigners displacing the true natives of our land. Forget that the wonderful sights that Muslims and Christians come to visit were build by us thousands of years before their religious existed. Forget that it is the City of David- a Jewish City. Forget that the only reason we we driven out was that the nations tortured, raped, murdered and expelled us..it wasn't a choice. And now like people who blame a woman for being raped..they blame us for the exile they inflicted upon us with their own hands.

Our enemies have done a good job of controlling the dialogue and setting the premisses of the debate...even creating the very idea that a Jewish Israel is something new that needs debate. Perhaps they'd like to have a debate with a car thief as to whether or not he should return the car he stole.

Replace the word Jew with Native American or Vietnamese, or Australian Aborigine or Black and the world would stand up and cheer for an oppressed people that after 2000 years of exile and persecution returned to their stolen native lands took them back from their oppressors. Heck, if we were just blue and lived in outer space epic movies would be made about our victory. It would be an inspiration to millions.

Never forget that the only reason why there is a debate is that the people in this story are Jews.

Helen Thomas just made the mistake of saying what she and hundreds of millions truly think on camera.

My mailman once said that the doges he was most scared of were the ones that didn't bark. Those were the ones that lie in wait and get you when your back is turned. They do the real damage. Helen was a yappin' dog and easy to deal with. Worry about the others. Especially those among our own.

It is sad that in a country once looked up to as the pinnacle of truth and justice, that Ms. Thomas's deep-down, blatant anti-Semitism wasn't uncovered many years back. She was an embarrassment to Media...But then, media is it's own awful embarrassment today!

Helen Thomas' passing is no loss to humanity. She represented the worst of the dregs of society. I am sure that she never ascended to the heavens but is in a place reserved for the devil's disciples.

The reaction to Helen Tomas' death and the extolling of her dubious virtues should not have surprised anyone. The actions taken against her, as a result of the public statements she made, and her obvious anti-Semitism, were just the politically correct thing to do and should not be regarded as moral outrage.

This serves to remind us of the "some of my best friends are" people we encounter.
The smiling friendly maggots who attach themselves to us for whatever reason . Even without the Biblical reference, the Land of Israel reveals archaeological proof it is the Jewish Homeland. Whenever I am asked the question of whether land should be returned to the original people, there is no doubt that the Jewish Homeland was stolen and occupied for thousands of Years. The Land has been returned to the Jews, yet more land is still occupied by squatters who have defiled this Holy Land with hate.
As a Sephardi Jew of Spanish and Middle Eastern Heritage, should I go "back to Germany"? Should all Middle Eastern Jews who have lived in Israel and the Middle East for thousands of years go to Germany?. This is what make her comments so idiotic. Wherever her spirit went, I'm sure she is covered from head to foot, being beaten, and told to "shut up" by the Males for being outspoken.

Susanne Geha, Helen Thomas' niece, was a news anchor for a local television station in Grand Rapids, MI. We watched with amazement and dismay as she twisted the truth about Israel. I''m sure viewers were writing the station, as I did, to voice their objections. She eventually "resigned". Good riddance!

Thank Hashem you did that video interview, otherwise hardly anyone would believe what filth came out of her mouth! Great job!

Anti-Semitism is socially acceptable, especially in Europe and increasingly so in the United States. I am not Jewish (in fact, I am a Romani Gypsy and grandson of Holocaust survivors) and often hear comments about "Jewish money" and "Jewish lobbying," yet little mention of Christian money or Muslim lobbying. Israel is commonly perceived, especially in Europe, as part of the USA's evil empire (the USA is often perceived as evil, immoral, greedy). Those who want Israel's Jews to "return" to Germany, assume that they came from Germany to STEAL the land as part of a US-backed operation by European Jewish imperialists and religious fanatics convinced that they are superior to non-Jews because they are "chosen" by their deity. The notion that Zionism is racist, imperialist and rooted in American capitalism (perceived as "bad") and religion (perceived as "bad") is widespread. When discussing Jews, Judaism, Israel and Zionism, I try to explain that Zionism is about reclaiming a native land for a native people. It is a noble cause, and is the opposite of racist. Most Israelis, even religious Jews, are not fanatics but open-minded, intellectual, family-oriented, moral, hardworking, generous and amazing people. (The media spews out an image of Israeli settlements with barbed wires and angry-looking, alienating strangers in black robes.) And JEWS IN ISRAEL DID NOT ALL COME FROM GERMANY. They mostly came from Middle Eastern countries; they were always quite local and they forever remain native to the region. Some Jewish families have always lived in Israel. These stories need to be told, and I try to share these stories whenever I get the chance. But who will listen, and who wants to hear the inconvenient truth?

Normally, I would not reply to a reply, but I wanted to say thanks to this Romani. In college, as part of my Russian and East European studies, I studied East and West European gypsies. Many Jews know how the gypsies were exterminated by Hitler in the concentration camps. What they do not know is paralleling the war against religion as practised by the various communist regimes, the communists broke up the caravans and required the gypsies to settle down in communes where the intent was to break up their culture. After the breakup of communism, the same persecution against the Jews continued, howbeit in different forms. Sadly, the same can be said for the Romani.

... for what this guy told you after this woman died: this is really appalling - as well as the veil put above what exactly she said:

I am a German - and it really hurts to be associated with what our people did, but these words of that Mrs. Thomas are really disgusting and totally wrong because of first, what happened here and second, that ISRAEL is your original living area (although your people are welcome to me, because I gained so much guidance and help from G'D through your people - spiritually and socially).

Be blessed - may these words not hurt you permanently - may you be healed through your belief.

SHALOM to your people.

Why are we surprised?? Esav soneh et Yaakov. How much clearer can it be said?

First of all as a son of Holocast survivors, thankfully living in Israel for many years, after the war there were no homes to return to, because they were all stolen by the local population. Living in a time were evil is promoted as good and good is portrayed as evil, for one minute Hashem ripped Helen Thomas's masked away to reveal her true hateful self. That the media reversed itself is no surprise , they are the ones promoting a false worldview based on a agenda of lies and deceit a true ego based society. When one looks back in history any ego based society , hates a supreme being, which leads to Jew hatred, because , our basis and foundation are rooted in that supreme being. As far as role models , one has to be extremely careful to fall for one. We can only hope that we are going to witness many more occasions of mask ripping, in order to see the truth in front of us. Helen Thomas is gone, but sadly there are still to many Helen Thomases out there to take her place.

Poor, child she is so ugly, maybe the hatred really was and became because of her looking at the mirror... its quite easy to hate jews.. because jews are pacific people!! G-D fearing people!! smart people!! smart people dont go kill themselves for someone elses dreams for becoming rich and powerful, the palestinians are not schooled unless its on hate and love for the country. Its truly sad.. she is now with the Almighty One, and now she must feel so stupid!! I hope she didnt have any offspring! (maybe shes a descendant of Amalek). Well, one less!

She most certainly will be remembered, along with other anti-semites; her "expertise" is forever vitiated by her hatred, instability, lack of integrity and morality.

Her "beauty" was only surpassed by her "warmth." Bet there aren't any cool breezes where she is now.

The fact that Helen Thomas's disgusting conduct and blatant anti-semitism has been trivialized is infuriating. For the record: I have tried to obtain a German passport (my mother was born in Germany in the 20's), but apparently, the Germans, to this day, are sexists. I was told that only documents from my FATHER would be considered. That means that my mother's suffering does not count, and her rights are wiped away even though, as Jew, I am defined by my maternal lineage. I also tried the Polish route (because my father was born in Poland), They told me that without proper documentation they cannot help me. Well, when Jews were deported and put into concentration camps, what documentation could they have saved? The Polish authorities themselves were not exactly vigilant in preserving Jewish records either. So when I heard Helen Thomas tell me to get the hell out of Palestine and go back to Poland, or wherever the hell I came from, I wanted to make it clear that even if I complied with her disgusting advice, there is no getting back there. Speaking of going places, I hope she went to hell!

Dont waste another moment of energy dignifying/legitimizing her statement. Its falsehood from an angry jealous mind.

He called me a “nasty filthy and smelly Jew …one of the ones Hitler missed.” I assume Helen Thomas was also his role model. Rabbi, this pains me because these are almost he exact words Marie said to me last night, as she told me that she loved me and "never let them forget, never again! Marie is a holocaust survivor and we talk to each other everday and attend Shabbot services. With all my might and heart I am Jewish and I love Yisrael! She makes me promise to her not to let the world know whar happened to her and I almost tear-up everytime she plead with me. You are so right, you are so right. Thank you, Rabbi David Nesenoff

The soul of Helen Thomas goes on, the memories of her hatefilled perceptions remain for us to Understand. Her life and profession are testimonies of her God given abilities to succeed in the culture of Washinton DC. Now, she is Dead and gone, but, she will return to be instructed by the Light, to learn meanings of words and the result of sitting in the seat of the scornful and taking counsel with the Ungodly. She lived to gain a world and forfeited cultivation of a Wise heart. Justice is the continuum of HaShem's Kingdom it is infinite in the unfolding.
Yeah, I hate anti-semitism, there are a few skulls I'd enjoy splitting, but they are my King's subjects, so I don't. I have a lexicon of hatred for Nazis and the ways of the Third Reich, but I have been instructed to choose my words carefully even if Helen Thomas can't. She is grotesque to me, but I can only complain to her Creator and protest His vile creation of such a Woman. She is an ugly child with a dirty mouth and an ego to match, she offends me, she angers me, she is from the Other side, and...I hear, '...there is none else besides Him', that he is One and His Creation is One. She has been hard medicine to stomach, this too has been from The Creator, I hear our kings and pay attention to our prophets and sages, this too has been for our Good. One such as Helen Thomas is for our Instruction, whether in hateful bigotry or blatant ignorance, the deceptive communications through the years or the hypocrisy of politicians. Why did He make such an Ugly Woman?

Excellent article. You articulate my thoughts with grace and power.

I am so happy when I read the truth. I always feel sorry for the haters. They seem to be a very unhappy lot. But, even though we all have free speech, hers just showed how unhappy and hateful she was. We should not join in that hate, but give her up to G-d to judge.

Sometimes the Truth is hard to accept, however this was the Truth about Thomas.

What the main stream media are doing now is simply damage control of any legacy she left...A reputation damage can possibly be repaired, but the eyes of the world would always look to the first crack. Peace On Israel.

Excellent article, and re: your assertion that Helen Thomas is no role model from feminists - I'll add, it's been my experience that modern feminism has grown increasingly anti-Jewish and anti-Israel, ie anti-Semitic and it's masked by the very same rhetoric that Ms. Thomas used ie "denying Jewish rights and our human rights" as you mention.
Anyone who believes that the Arabs here are mistreated and are capable of making peace, with land as the price - is simply in denial of the obvious. They live in four story HOUSES, one floor for each wife, with lovely gardens and space all around - all paid for by state funds. Yes, for all four wives and all their kids. We Jews live in cramped apartments, 8 floors high with no gardens, no private villas and are our poor are disparaged. Why do we let them make claims of our taking land that isn't ours, when it's the Arabs that are building all over the country - just look around - they build private houses, we build apartment buildings. And they're victims? Feminism and anti-semitism has so primed this generation on college campuses, it's because a hostile environment for Jewish students all the pro-"Palestinian" rhetoric in classes and in the quads. It's not so well-hidden, just from those who have grown insensitive to the implications of their arguments.

I get the authors point. What Helen did was inexcusable. Of course. Got it. Then move beyond it with your own words and behavior. Why end the article by giving any air space to the anti- Semitic rants some idiot spewed. Did it really deserve repeating? Stop feeding fear & hatred... towards ourselves and others.

Dear Rabbi,
Excellent article! I am reminded of the Democratic National convention where Jerusalem and the Jewish people were booed... Yet many of our own fellow Jews, too many in fact, voted for the very majority that booed them... There are numerous "Helen Thomas's" running around out there without the same notoriety. And so many of our Jewish friends happily stand together with them? This is sheer madness to me personally. But you were at the White House? Does this mean that you at one time counted yourself among the Helen Thomas crowd (before she was exposed that is...). Your article is excellent, and you point out how the President and news agencies have massively toned down the rhetoric or revised the truth about Helen Thomas. I don't know where you stand politically, but it's time for Jewish people to wake up and realize who our true friends are and who are our enemies. Shalom L'cha

I am 100% behind your comment

Very well said. Couldn't have said it better myself!

The world may try to laugh off her racism by saying things like "Oh, that Helen" but I can assure you one question no one wants to think about is "Where's that Helen?" Because she certainly is not in the presence of HaShem.

How cruel that Helen Thomas could even suggest that the
Jews "go home" to homes and countries they were so
cruelly kicked out of. I can never get over that. Her mindset
was as ugly as her demeanor.

This line in your comment reminds me of the tale of someone greeting a man with the comment "are all those in your village as ugly as you?" the reply..."go ask the creator who made me?" Helen Thomas freely chose her opinions. Her "demeanor" was the work of our creator and when you criticize that, aren't you questioning his work?

The truth can only come out one way . Helen Thomas was anti-semetic by her own words. Now You know where Mika of MSNBC stands... with her role model.

I fancy that right now she is not enjoying death. 'He who touches Jerusalem, touches the apple of G-d's Eye'

Well said. Please continue to inform and enlighten.

Thank you for this article, which articulated so well the outrage I felt at all the eulogies the media delivered on the passing of Thomas. Thomas disgraced herself only a few years ago -- and suffered the public humiliation she so richly deserved -- yet, at her death, the accolades in her honor sung by so many in the media (and mouthed by Obama) pointed to her heroism as a feminist and tough reporter and skipped over the shame she brought upon herself and her past achievements. I was stunned and disgusted with the whole media circus; little comment on her passing at all would have been more appropriate. Thomas was a huge disappointment to me ... I had thought of her as a role model, too, at one time (like, back in the '70s) and was genuinely horrified at how she revealed herself in her dotage. Yet, it seems if one lives long enough, past 90, the media just forgives people's little picadillos, like rampant anti-Semitism. If she has dissed Martin Luther King Jr., would Obama still have found a kind word for her?

and Goebbels was both more talented and better looking than Helen Thomass

I almost never write comments but this time I felt compelled to express my appreciation for such excellent writing. I never heard of this woman before reading this but I am glad to be prepared with an insider's view of who she really was. And I can't believe that email at the end, wow! Many thanks to the talented author for filling us in on the truth.

Helen Thomas put her point across at the end of a long and prestigious public life, she has had to wear that mantle of hatred for all of that time, mixing with the very people she loathed and hiding her bias like a bowel bag against her guts. She was just one of a very large group who tell Jews to go home - we went home and they are still telling us to leave! The Jews are here to stay but Helen Thomas will be gone and forgotten with the nematode as her final front-row audience.

Thank you! While I was hearing the news of this womans death, I thought to myself..have the jounalists forgotten what this woman said? Why are they sweeping the obvious under the rug and still regarding her as their hero? Unfortunately while one antisemite is gone there are many to replace her. You made an lasting impression on me after I heard you speak of your experience this past Dec.

The indefensibility of Helen Thomas' anti-Jewish remarks as reported originally by Rabbi Nesenoff & his cogent criticism on her numerous obits is quickly and sadly subverted by his uncalled for and, quite frankly, racist comment anent George Zimmerman- Trayvon Martin was shot because he looked like Martin Bormann?

As a Jew of Middle Eastern descent, my people ARE now where they came from, and when people say ignorant things like "go back to Europe" to my people, I find it to be just stupid.

SHE IS FROM LEBANON. TO BAD THAT THOSE COUNTRIES CAN NEVER GET IT TOGETHER FOR DEMOCRACY OR THERE PEOPLE. THE MUSLIMS NEVER CAME OUT OF THEIR DARK PERIOD WHEN THEY LOST CONSTANTANOBEL. ISRAEL IS THE MIRACLE GARDEN SPOT OF THE WORLD AND THERE ARE ANTI-SEMITES ALL AROUND US. YOUR CLOSE NEHIBOR IS ONE I BET. SHE CAME OFF AS AN UGLY ONE!

Thank you for saying what had to be said. This woman was as ugly on the inside as she was on the outside. I
was outraged at all of the positive eulogys at the same time as the demonizing of George Zimmerman.

Some people just have to push their agenda even at the cost of destroying the truth.

Destroying the truth is their agenda. Wolves in Journalist's clothing can hide their teeth for a while, but sooner or later, they show. The nasty remark of Thomas' fan demonstrates how the death of the poisoner does not affect the power and spread of the poison. As for happiness at her death: When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.

To the person who said America is not our home, only in the respect that Israel is our historic home. Liberal Dems have always been pro-Palestinian and pro Muslim. The Republicans, like both presidents Bush were pro Israel. yes, it's because they are Evangelicals, but so what? TX Gov Perry is also pro Israel. The problem is that American Jews are knee-jerk liberals who always vote for Dems who are anti Israel, no matter what. For example, Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential primary called her top campaign aide a "Jew" in anger. Even Jewish commentator William Kristol said, "she said it only in anger and people says things they don't mean when they are angry" Baloney. In anger is when the truth comes out. Yet, the Jews will vote for her. Emabarrassing

While this woman could not help her exterior looks she could have done something about the ugliness of hatred in her heart. She was too long idolized by other aspiring would be women journalists. I for one am so glad she was exposed in such a public manner before she left this earth. Eventually the hatred and ugliness of soul does come out for all the world to see. Of course Helen had her fan's that embraced the same ideology as she did. These followers of hers will come to the same end if they don't do a recheck of their hearts. As sad as it is for anybody to die in the muck and mire of hatred in their hearts..I keep hearing a line from a film..."Ding Dong, Ding Dong The Wicked Witch is dead!"

Sad for her. But sadder for those still alive and revering her journalism.

thank you. I was looking for reporting of her anti-Jewish comments in all the obits and was very disturbed to see that there was no mention of the fact that she lost her job and professional reputation as a result. What a whitewash!

First of alll, I would like to say that not speaking ill of the dead is a practice that should be dismissed. Many people who have died are extremely worthy of being spoken ill of. When I go to a woman's funeral and she was a real bit- - and someone reads Asish Chaya (don't know how to spell it, then how can it mean anything for a truly virtuous, righteous woman? It cannot! It reminds me of the joke about the horrible man who died. At his funeral no one wants to say anything about him. Finally an old man in the back raises his hand and says, "His brother was vorse!"
As for Helen, I can see how she would be admired for asking sharp questions to get at the root of the matter. However, her answer to a question was disgusting and I am glad that she was punished in so many ways and hope she is stilol getting punished where ever she is!

And so......all of her good works, became as filthy rags before G-d suddenly.

Although Helen Thomas' words were certainly hateful, this is no reason to mindlessly continue to cycle of hatred and bullying. Helen was another human being, and we all have our weaknesses. Don't you? Please stop passing hate around. This arrogance is prohibited by the tenets of Judaism. I wish you and everyone Peace. Shalom is all we have time for in this ailing, hurting world that we all must share. No more knee-jerk reactions, please. Shalom. May Peace prevail for all. Peace is the true prosperity.

Nobody becomes anti Semite at 91, she must have been one from way back. She posted a few anti Semitic statements before but nobody made a big deal over it.

To paraphrase Bette Davis, "I was always taught to speak good of the dead. Helen Thomas is dead. Good!"

Your whiny jeremiad neglects to mention that Helen Thomas died just days before her 93rd birthday, so she would have been 89 or 90 when she made her tawdry anti-Semitic remarks. Nowhere do you mention that she had been showing signs of getting dotty for years, her press conference questions becoming more like angry harangues than questions.
Which of us can be so sure we won't lose our marbles in old age and say stupid stuff we never would dream of saying now?
And just how does the rabbi know her mind so well to know that she hid her anti-Semitism for 60 years? It's not possible that her anti-Semitism is something she came to more recently? Rabbi Nesenoff should have let the old lady's passing go unremarked.

The media gave her a pass in her previous anti-semitic comments. She was pretty much a thorn in everyone's side!

Yes.... We might say " stupid stuff" as we age.... Albeit what came out of her mouth was her inner truth.... If it wasnt she would have denied saying it.

Helen Thomas was 89 when she spoke the racist words about Jews. She was a courageous, smart and fair journalist during her long career. I have known many elderly people who as dementia begins to take their brain brains and personalities say things that they would never have uttered years earlier. I was surprised at the time that all the folks who dumped on Ms. Thomas did not take into consideration her advanced age and obvious disabilities. We should judge people by the entirety of their life's work, and not just the things they say at the end of a long life.

There were no indications that Helen's anti-semitism was due to any type of disability and it's shameful for you to even suggest so. People who DO suffer from dementia don't suddenly turn into anti-semites.

Why nobody mentioned, after Thomas ugly remarks, that as she's Lebanese origin: "go back to Lebanon!"

May your words cross a CNN crawler and let people know a fair dose of truth! Todah rabah!!

I was so glad to read your article about Helen Thomas. I really thought I was losing my mind when she died and the whole world seemed only to be singing her praises. I remembered the foul words and vitriol that spewed forth from her and couldn't believe it was being whitewashed from history! Thank you for being our collective memory. In this case, absolutely necessary.

I agree with your position 100%. Your article is beautifully worded. I just have to say that the tendency to paint a good picture takes place in everyone's eulogies. Why do we do that? I guess we do it out of sympathy for family members of the deceased, but it is a common practice. I guess the big problem here is that the eulogy becomes a documented part of history.

doesn't she look like the wicked witch of the west?

Don't answer, let the thought stop right here.

How easy it easy even for highly credentialed individuals to fall captive to their instincts to weed out others. Humanity has the ability to take the most natural laws of God and Nature and to pervert them.

If one were to illuminate the rhetoric of one of the 20th centuries greatest symbols for peace, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through a Jewish "kabbalistic" lens, one would discover that the answer just might lie in "weeding out hatred" through a global campaign of symbolic weed pullings by children. This one simple physical prayer would send a signal to the world. President Obama is in a position to put the muscle of the American as well as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in action, by staging a globally televised White House Mega-event in which two billion children would be called upon to root out symbolic weeds of hatred.

I'm sure she has already faced a far sterner Judge, who has already imposed His justice.

Thank you for writing such a good article… It is scary that Obama kissed Thomas' rear after her death. Unfortunately the United States is not our home no matter how comfortable we feel here..... I wish that weren't so for my children and grandchildren but reality is what it is for us as Jews and the sooner we never forget that/wake up to that the better off/safer we will be.

Unfortunately the fact that Obama lauded her shows his inclinations- and we know about his F.Office. i feel sorry for those Jews who think USA is wonderful - when will you wake up to realise that USA is not home?

Um, last I checked, the fools running Israel - our "home" are relasing terrorists who actually, physically and bruttaly murdered Jews with their own hands. Oh, and the reason they are being released is to have the privilege to discuss how much more of our "home" should be given away to these very thugs. Nice one.

I think it is unfortunat that after years of asking the tough questions and serving as a role model for us all, Helen Thomas had to spoil all this by showing her true colors. Her personal prejudices are just unacceptable amd should not be glossed over.

Please read this op-ed about Helen Thomas to the very end. It contains impt. material missing in most other sources http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/9531

Mr. Honigman, I could NOT find the article with link you posted. Could you please correct the error if any, thank you.

Thank you for your sage words.
The world would be better offf without the Helen Thomases rewriting history.

Helen Thomas was an ignorant and hateful woman . Sadly , I think there are more like her who have chosen to conceal their anti-Semitic beliefs for fear of reprisal . I am not entirely sure that some within the highest levels of our own government are not among them . In fact , I rather believe there are those who resent the Jews but cannot express it openly . At least , not at this time . It is a scary world we live in .We must not forget the lessons of our past . There are always people willing to hate us without cause .Hopefully , there will always be someone like Rabbi Nesenoff who is willing to bring it to the light .

Dear rRabbi Nesenoff,Thank you for your article. Unfortunately, I too forgot the essence of Helen Thomas. Your article was pivotal for my understanding of the world at large - we stand alone and we must find a way to cling and cleave together as one and look only to Hashem for saving us.

Does not the Tanakh tell it like it is about the unrighteous dead, like Ahab and Jezebel? Do you speak well of Hitler and Mengele and not tell the truth because they’re dead?



Why should there be a problem speaking the known and unvarnished truth about the dead? Is that as bad as the custom of speaking flattering lies to comfort mourners and try to make the wicked dead look good? A legacy is a legacy, written in stone. Let it be what it is. Let’s not condone fantasy and political correctness, but let truth be the criteria of right and wrong, and let truth be told for the right reason, to expose falsehood and evil for goodness sake.

Most people are not aware of the fact that the majority of Israel's Jewish population does not have its ancestry in Europe; most of them have their ancestry in Arab countries - Morroco, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, to name a few. Helen Thomas' comment did not merely reveal bigotry; it revealed ignorance.

I never thought I would say this because I did love the Clintons both of them, but there is no difference between Helen and the Clintons - they are just not old enough YET to slip as much, and keep most of their REAL opinions under the radar. Hillary upon returning with her daughter Chelsea from Israel did say (not quoting) how sweet the Palestinians were and how aggressive all the gun toting Israelis are.

Bill most recently said Israel must make peace with Palestine, knowing fully that it is Palestine that doe not want peace. NO there is no difference between them, just that the Clintons are smarter in what they do not say to much.

excellent....extremely well-written

Very well written Rabbi. When Ms. Thomas died and I heard all the news stories about her I remarked to my husband, "How come they don't mention her anti-semetic remarks." I wrote a Letter to the Editor of my local paper sating that and have not seen it in the paper yet. Your article should be printed in total for all to read, although anti-Semites will probablyy put a different spin on it. Thank you for bringing this out.

I hope this piece will get national attention. Thanks for writing it. As a retired journalist, I had admired Thomas until her ugly remarks about Jews. I was glad she was thrown out of the White House. Too bad her obit was whitewashed.

We are all aware of Ms. Thomas's comments. At the time she made those statements, it was obvious to me that that her ability to function as a reporter had diminished immensely. He questions were no longer pointed but rather had become accusatory and pointless. And this was in all areas, not just on Middle East issues. It was apparent that she had become an embarrassment to the press corp. But how many of us have seen elderly people make vicious and bigoted comments as they begin to fail mentally and physically. We have seen elderly people we love become hateful to their family and make horrid comments about friends and family that we knew that they loved. I don't know Helen Thomas's life story and don't know whether her anti-Semitic attitude was apparent in those years when she appeared to be a distinguished journalist whose probing questions went to the heart of the issue at hand. If her bigotry was a latent part of her personality that was hidden from public view, then she deserves no accolades. But if it was a product of slipping mental faculties brought on by the ravages of aging, then we should not allow our distain for her later comments to mar our respect for what was otherwise an outstanding career.

A noted psychologist said that as we age we become more of ourselves. Her hate was always there just as a drunk's rude comments only took alcohol to free the feelings and produce a rude word.

Bill, I have noticed that it is not a total personality change that we see in some older people, but rather a lessening of restraint. What was buried inside comes out.

I remember watching Presidents' news conferences as a kid as early as Nixon and observing this ugly, self-important woman always asking the first question. My dad always said she was the most overrated reporter around. it was truly puzzling why the others in that business genuflected to her. She must've had photos of AP or other news execs in very compromising positions to retain her position including at such news conferences. For those who think it's wrong to speak ill of the dead, I'll just say that when she was alive, Helen Thomas was a bigoted, disingenuous, miserable primate, and she was not even a good writer. That is the unvarnished reality of her existence.

What a hateful and evil woman. I certainly did not mourn her passing, and I will not miss her. She has done more to instill hate and bias than anyone I know. Her family should be ashamed.

It's human nature to want the situation both ways. That way you can be both martyr and tyrant at the same time. Helen Thomas was an Arab and no Arab wants to see a Jewish State in what was THEIR Palestine. They don't care that they sided with the Nazis and so ended up on the losing side. They want what they want. They don't care that the Israelis beat them on the battlefield every time they started a war. They don't work off our western rules. There is even a faction that wants Moslem Spain back! The retort back to her when she told us Israeli Jews ought to go back to Germany and Poland was "All Arabs should go back to (Saudi) Arabia and take Islam with them out of the Far East, Central Asia, North Africa, etc." But she wouldn't understand - she wanted what she wanted, logic and common sense had nothing to do with it.

Since when are Lenonese Arabs? Yes they speak Arabic. That logic makes Jesse Jackson Anglo-Saxon, hence German. & there are no Palestinians, only Servants & their descendants imported by the Turks & Brits from arabia. They have no valid credentials as "natives"..

Right now she is where she belongs.

I truly believe when writing an article about Helen Thomas, the truth of this woman should be spoken wholly and in its entirety/

Helen Thomas was able to disguise her Lebanese Arab origins under her US Anglo married name.
If there is a welcome feminist project to take off the shelf, it is for the rest of Europe & the Anglophone World to adopt the Hispanic custom of keeping maiden names public and adding married names.

Excellent points.

Perhaps some of Helen Thomas's post-mortem accolades are on account of her being a "trailblazer" for women reporters. If so, then she should be compared to Leni Riefenstahl, who some considered a trailblazer for women directors - she directed propaganda films for the Nazis in the 1930's.
When a private person dies and that person was mostly miserable during his life, then it's proper to refrain from talking about his miserable nature at the funeral. But when public figures die and are spoken of in public venues, decency requires that the truth be told. Nobody would have said anything nice about Helen Thomas if her bigotry were expressed against African Americans (they should go back to Africa) or gays (they should go back to the closet).
Helen Thomas was a wicked bigot with a big mouth and no discretion. She was vain and obnoxious, and I always felt that way before she revealed her pathological hatred of the Jews.
Whoever sent you the nasty email calling you a kike isn't any better and won't deserve any praise after death, either.

It is so difficult for me to comprehend how many Jews, and even some observant Jews, defend and support Obama, in the face of whom he admires and defends.

I am grateful to Rabbi Nesenoff for speaking the truth. Obviously at a time of daeath it is important to emphasize a person's virues. It is still important to present a truthful essence of a person. Sadly Helen Thomas revealed late in life who she really was, a person who harbored hatred. It is far better to remain silent in post mortem reflections in such a case, than to try to posthumously burnish her image. Some things ought never be buried, nor swept under the rug in our sometimes manic need to be magnanimous. The e mail that Rabbi Nesenoff received at the time of our death proves this important point.

I remember your Washington Post article shortly after the notorious incident on the While House lawn. You wrote that on the drive home, the NJ turnpike was the same, but the world was totally different for you. You had classified yourself as a "liberal" before the incident. I am wondering how much your attitudes and activities changed once you confronted the terrible truth of the virulent antisemitism that was dumped on you after the incident.

Exquisitely written. Please publish as a full page NY Times ad.

"Do I not hate your enemies O God"? - King David, Pslams

Helen Thomas was, inside AND outside, an ugly pig.

Six million Jews were burned in the ovens of Europe. Relatively few were actually killed in Germany itself. So is that any difference at all. Ironically, if you tell Blacks to return to Africa, you'll have to tell Jews to go back to Israel because that's where they all originated. Not all Jews lived in Europe. Many came from Arab lands. So finding the common denominator for all Jews, you have to speak of Israel. If all Jews were to return to Israel, it would actually solve a lot of problems for everybody, probably even bring the ultimate redemption. Not what Ms. Thomas had in mind, but she is nobody's problem anymore.

This women was on the wrong side of history,but people.Thought that she was wonderful and had a,brilliant mind.But unfortunately she was evil and used her,talents for bad!!Like a lot of Americans who think Israel is in the,wrong and.Give into the demands of her enemies,while they.Give nothing in return.It is wrong to speak of the dead but one,less enemy.Of Israel is around.

It appears that there was a lot of hell in Helen Thomas when it came to her attitude towards Jews.

Wonder what her reaction would have been if someone had said all Americans of Arabic origin should be sent back to their homelands after 9/11?

We have Helen Thomas, Mika Brzezinski's interview with Russell Brand and Lauren Green's interview with Reza Aslan - prime examples of of how 10 minutes can set back women's advances in the workplace 40 years. If you can't do a competent job, go home!

I don't doubt the author, but the statement: "And more recently..." does require a source. And out of curiosity, what did you ask her that prompted her career destroying statement?

You shined light on another corner where the roaches hide. Little by little the world will see the truth. Kol hakavod!! P.S. Mika is an idiot.

Helen Thomas was one of the worst antisemites ever. she represented the evil on the earth

Thank you Rabbi David for this honest article. I had no idea about 95% of what you wrote. And I'm sorry on how you learned of her death, but glad you mention this in your article. Amazing. We live in a increasing hostile world. Thanks for informing Am Israel about her. We need to know this too. kol tuv, Devorah

of Lebanese descent. That should explain everything.