On December 11, 2024 at 2:56 pm, Queen of the Jungle wrote:
Hi Laura- so nice to hear that a real Jewess will be running the show today in the absence of our beloved Mark, since I have a very "Jewy" inquiry to make.
Several months ago, thanks to one of those Ancestry sites, I found out that the man whom I called "Dad" and always considered to be my father, was actually not my biological relative.
For many years my mom, who had dementia, would often tell me that my dad was not my real father. In fact, even before she got full blown dementia, she would bitterly say the same thing when she and dad were on the outs. (ours was a pretty dysfunctional family).
My mom had told me an incredible story that I had a hard time believing, to wit: that my real father was a Jewish doctor who had been her obstetrician! Pretty crazy, huh? Well it turned out to be true and I also found out that I have a half brother with this same doctor. We discovered each other through Ancestry and he was able to provide a lot of information about our biological, Jewish father including photos of him and our cousins. Come to find out I have quite a Jewish history that I am so very proud of!
So here are my questions: If my biological father is Jewish, what does that make me? Am I half Jewish? And what are my children and grandchildren? To what degree are we considered Jewish?
Should I tell my siblings (we are in our 70s) and my adult children who are in their 50s?
I once started to tell my brother my suspicions and I thought he would have a nervous breakdown.
So, dear Jewish Mother and expert on all things Jewish- I would love to know your thoughts about my situation if you have time to share them. I imagine this will be a busy show today.
In any event, thanks for all that you do and I LOVE all your articles and essays.
On December 11, 2024 at 2:56 pm, Jerry wrote:
Theological question if you'll indulge me – I know Judaism (particularly orthodox) is very keen on specific rules for lack of a better term. What are the consequences of not doing these? (I'm far more familiar with the Christian context when it comes to sin/forgiveness, heaven/hell, etc.).
On December 11, 2024 at 2:59 pm, Doug Cole wrote:
Hi Laura and welcome back to my favorite substitute deputy undersecretary of Guest Hosting. You should be promoted to full strength official guest host status. You are that good!
Say, with the seemingly sudden collapse of the Assad regime, can you shed some light on the subject and why it is considered a disaster to Jew-hating Iran? I admit I am not fully up to speed on all that sort of thing. It just seems the everyone in the Middle East has it out for Israel so not sure why one failed dictatorship makes it better. Unless it does.
Keep up the good work and enjoy your promotion!
Doug Cole
On December 11, 2024 at 3:00 pm, Commander wrote:
David Mamet, I believe, opined that his mother always looked at current events as to whether it was good for the Jews or not. Do you believe the fall of Assad is good for Israel?
On December 11, 2024 at 3:12 pm, Lisa wrote:
Any thoughts on what a Trump-negotiated solution to the Israel-Hamas war would look like?
On December 11, 2024 at 3:13 pm, OLGA from Arizona wrote:
Hi Miss Laura!
Thank you for pinch-hitting!
I've been trying to parse out Syria, & it's giving me a headache.
That al golani bloke sounds like a nasty piece of work, but are
any of the other factions any better?
I do like that the Israeli jets swooped right in & did a bit of
neutralizing. I know that'll make for a little less evil in the
world.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:20 pm, David Coats wrote:
Hi Laura, It's always great to hear your soothing voice when Mark is absent. What is the local Canadian man/woman-on-the-street take on Trump's meeting with Trudeau and Trump's jabs at regarding Canada becoming the 51st State and that maybe Trudeau could be governor? How are these comments being received?
On December 11, 2024 at 3:20 pm, Fran Lavery wrote:
Hi Laura,
Are you enjoying how President Trump is pulling his team together with all his serious MAGA picks for top slots to fight, fight, fight the elitist globalists who are trying to "malform" a one world government?
Will Pope Francis ever get that he's the head of the Catholic Church globally and to cease reaching out to the terrorists? His unveiling of Baby Jesus in swaddling of a keffiyeh is very insulting to Catholics who feel very connected to their Jewish Biblical roots. One of only three Bible readings at the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist is taken from the Old Testament. And doesn't he know that the Baby Jesus is not supposed to be displayed until Christmas Eve?
On December 11, 2024 at 3:22 pm, D.C. Alan wrote:
The day after Donald Trump's meeting with Justin Trudeau with the notorious "Fifty-First State" provocation and the threats of tariffs, the government of Ontario began running sentimental ads on FOX News touting their long trade relationship with the U.S. Will this have any effect on U.S. public opinion for trade policies with Canada?
On December 11, 2024 at 3:23 pm, George Pereira wrote:
Laura,
I'm led to believe from talk on the internet that Fidel Trudeau's mother was something of a wild child in her younger days spreading her favors far and wide.
I also know that Abraham Lincoln posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that you can't believe everything you read on the internet. And yet ...
Could you speculate on the state of what President Donald J Trump! refers to as gay North Dakota would be like today if she had been a tad friendlier with Mick Jagger that with Fidel?
On December 11, 2024 at 3:23 pm, Robert Bridges wrote:
Mark...on a semi-whimsical note, Trump dubbing Trudeau as the governor of the 51st state of Canada has brought both laughs and "outrage'. Mostly the outrage is in the halls of Ottawa. Would the USA be smarter to buy Greenland, invade Canada on a quest for freedom, offer a union...or just step as far back as possible?
Reminder... in the 60's the bad joke in the UK was QEII having to have tea with Mrs. Wallace, governor of Alabama, when GB became the 51st state.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:27 pm, James wrote:
Hi Laura – Great to hear your voice again! What are your thoughts on Pierre Poilievre and the current iteration of the Conservative Party of Canada? I know in the past not been that exciting or all that conservative, but are you feeling a corner has been turned?
On December 11, 2024 at 3:32 pm, Some Ape in Paradise wrote:
Do you ever get the impression of how gut level brainstem Human reactions really are? The reactions on social media to the alleged Health Industry CEO slayer Luigi Mangione are at times shocking in their positivity. Maybe one shouldn't be totally shocked. Ted Kaczynski had his cheerleaders, too. One striking thing about the fan mail were those gushing over his looks. It was a cosmic good fortune that Hitler didn't look like peak Robert Redford. If he had, Nazism would be swimmingly popular even today with some. We are truly lookist beasts.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:32 pm, Frank Gallenstein wrote:
Hi Laura,
Your comments about the commissioner appointment of Mark by Trump were hilarious! I don't often laugh out loud, but I sure did after reading that.
I*'d be interested in your thoughts on Netanyahu's comments about President Obama that were revealed because of his testimony. It appears to be just another confirmation that the former President always thinks he's the smartest guy in the room, as Rush used to say.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:44 pm, Charles Perts wrote:
Mrs. Cohen,
Laura, I always enjoy your input, and you are so open that you seem like family or a long time friend. Is this your natural state or a learned habit? Also, have you learned anything more about Mexico's new leader?
On December 11, 2024 at 3:44 pm, Elisa Angel wrote:
Who is your Person of the Year for 2024, Laura? You can list your top contenders for the title too if you'd like.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:46 pm, Sarge wrote:
Hi Laura,
To jump into the cultural realm, I'm curious how you've navigated the left-wing takeover of pop culture? Do you seek out the small number of conservative-ish TV shows and movies? Abstain entirely? Or separate your political identity and just put up with the woke stuff if the plot is decent enough? I have always tried to do the third one but it's been increasingly difficult given how in-your-face the ridiculous moralizing has gotten in various Hollywood exports.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:46 pm, Manny wrote:
Dear Laura, wait we don't want all of you, just alberta, sakatchewan, manitoba and nw territories! The rest can go with both coasts.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:47 pm, OLGA from Arizona wrote:
I want to weigh in on the Catholic thing.
A few years ago, there was that nice
Cardinal Vigano who called out the
Pope's transgressions (more trans
than gressions? :-) & they promptly
excommunicated him.
I predict a schism within a decade
& a new proper Catholic church
that will flourish.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:47 pm, PK wrote:
Did you see the news that Justin Trudeau has now made "Hanukkah Bushes" tax exempt? Some dumb staffer evidently didn't realize it was a joke.
On December 11, 2024 at 3:56 pm, Suzanne Reny wrote:
Hmmm Laura! Which recreational substances were you referring to exactly? Just kidding! Thank you for filling in today. It's always a pleasure to hear your thoughts. Best wishes to you and yours for a Happy Hannukah and for 2025! Same to the outstanding crew and our fellow Mark Steyn club members. Merry Christmas too!
On December 11, 2024 at 3:56 pm, Elisa Angel wrote:
Other Person of the Year suggestions:
1. Mark Steyn (goes without saying for free speech advocacy and because he's our pal)
2. Joe Rogan
3. Georgia Meloni and her silent film era worthy facial expressions
You've already said Donald Trump and Elon Musk. I'm with Trump as the winner.
On December 11, 2024 at 4:04 pm, OLGA from Arizona wrote:
Totally second the promotion to Official Guest Host!
Is there a petition we can sign?
On December 11, 2024 at 4:04 pm, OLGA from Arizona wrote:
Because if something is good for the Jews,
it's good for everybody :-)
On December 11, 2024 at 4:04 pm, OLGA from Arizona wrote:
P.S. On a cheerier topic, I watched a great interview
with Rama Burshtein, the director of Fill the Void.
Have you seen Fill the Void?
