4 | JANUARY 6 • 2022 

T

he nuclear talks 
between world powers 
and Iran are moving 
forward and will soon reach 
the decision-making stage. 
To borrow a 
soccer analogy, 
the sides are 
done feeling 
each other out.
The Iranians, 
masters of 
negotiation, 
tried condition-
ing the continuation of talks 
on the removal of sanctions 
and were rebuffed. It appears 

that this time the Europeans 
(mainly Germany, France 
and Great Britain) are more 
involved in the talks, while 
the Americans, who spear-
headed negotiations under 
former President Barack 
Obama, are working more 
collaboratively with the other 
global powers.
It seems that despite the 
mutual threats and prevail-
ing sense that the talks were 
headed toward failure, an 
agreement will ultimately 
be reached that will restrict 
Iran’s pace of uranium 

enrichment and give Tehran 
what it wants with the 
removal of most of the dra-
conian sanctions.
Iran’s long-term strategic 
interest is to possess a nucle-
ar weapon. In the short term, 
however, under the yoke of 
sanctions and a sputtering 
economy that threatens the 
regime’s survival, Tehran 
must get the sanctions lifted. 
The United States, under a 
president with plummeting 
approval ratings, needs an 
achievement to improve his 
standing. The Chinese and 

Russians, which regardless 
don’t abide by the sanctions, 
will be glad to return to 
doing legitimate business 
with Iran — such that ulti-
mately, all sides have an 
interest in reaching a deal.
Israel is in the toughest 
position of all. If a deal is 
reached, currently sanc-
tioned funds will be unfro-
zen, allowing Iranian terror 
and influence to run amok 
across the Middle East. We 
can expect the situation in 
Syria to change as well, and 
for the Iranians to apply even 
more pressure in an effort to 
cement their influence there. 
The Iranian nuclear threat 
won’t be eliminated, either, 
with the country remaining 
close to the threshold point. 

PURELY COMMENTARY

continued on page 10

I

f you are a fan of the DIY 
network, you are probably 
familiar with many aspects 
of the building trade. Maybe 
you have seen houses built or 
rebuilt. However, 
I would venture 
a guess that 
none of them 
was redone with 
music.
“Home on 
the Range” has 
graced many a campfire; at hol-
iday time, we know that we can 
go “up on the rooftop quick, 
quick, quick.
” The actual parts 
of a house have been memorial-
ized in many songs, if you think 
about it. And, of course, I am 
going to.
The idea of a home as an 
entity has been captured in 
“Take Me Home” (Phil Collins), 

“Nobody’s Home” (Deep 
Purple) and “Home” (Michael 
Buble as well as Sheryl Crow).
Though a house would never 
be built this way, let’s start at the 
top and work our way down. 
“The Roof” (Mariah Carey), 
“Rain on the Roof” (Lovin’ 
Spoonful) and “Up on the 
Roof” (Drifters) all give a shin-
gular start. (Stay with me; it can 
only get worse.)
We know of building walls, 
tearing down walls, climbing 
the walls and having seen the 
writing on the wall. Therefore, 
we are not surprised to find: 
Pink Floyd telling of “
Another 
Brick in the Wall;” Bon Jovi has 
been concerned with “Walls;” 
Sam Smith has told us that the 
“Writing’s on the Wall;” Miley 
Cyrus has recounted being a 
“Fly on the Wall.
”

To look in or to look out, 
what can serve better than a 
window?
Melissa Etheridge has asked 
us to “Come To My Window;” 
the Temptations have assured 
us that “I’ll Keep a Light in 
My Window.
” “O Mary, At the 
Window Be” was urged by 
none other than Ludvig van 
Beethoven.
Whether it is protected by 

an additional screen or being 
double wide or lifts up to reveal 
the garage, a door is the portal 
to the structure. It has been 
the concern of several singing 
groups. Consider “Looking Out 
My Back Door” (Creedence 
Clearwater), “Knocking on 
Heaven’s Door” (both Bob 
Dylan and Guns N’ Roses) and 
“Behind Closed Doors” (both 
Diana Ross and Dolly Parton).
So, you see you do not have 
to be good with a hammer or 
drawing plans or have elec-
trical/plumbing skills. Just get 
some song sheets and start. 
Happy house singing! 

for openers
Sing Me A House

CORRECTION
In ‘No Jew Should Be Alone” (Dec. 23, page 12), Ellen 
Kershenbaum’s name was misspelled, and it should have 
said that Rabbi Hershel Klainberg is also retiring.

Sy Manello
Editorial 
Assistant

opinion
Israel Is Fast Approaching the 
Moment of Truth with Iran

Eliezer 
Marom
JNS.org

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