Disagreeing to disagree

Commentary editor and New York Post columnist John Podhoretz abruptly exited the stage Monday night at the 92nd Street Y, after becoming too incensed to continue a discussion about Israel.
Read more: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/john-podhoretz-storms-off-stage-at-92nd-street-y.html

Jane Eisner wrote about her take on the evening.

Of course, I expected a feisty evening when the venerable 92nd Street Y asked me to moderate a panel about what it means to be “pro-Israel” (their words), with Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street; David Harris, executive director of American Jewish Committee, and Podhoretz. And from the outset, it was clear that Ben-Ami and Podhoretz were going to disagree about everything, with Harris positioning himself — literally and figuratively — in the middle.
Read more: http://blogs.forward.com/forward-thinking/189373/the-exodus-at-the--street-y/#ixzz2nuah7KD8

John Podhoretz responded at Commentary.

Bottom line: I’d had a long day and I didn’t see the point in spending more of it getting booed and shushed. So I left. So sue me.
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/12/16/a-bad-night-on-92nd-street/

Ronn Torossian opines on the evening at IsraelNationalNews.

In New York City last night, there was a panel discussion on “What It Means to Be Pro-Israel.” In an ideal world, one might expect a balanced discussion. What one saw at the 92nd Street Y was three left-wingers opposing one ardent Zionist, and an audience which could hardly be considered friendly to the State of Israel.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/14251#.UrK17KR3vcc

Incidentally, the INN article begins with the following words, "Norman Podhoretz faced a trio of anti-Zionist panel members at the Y. At some point, he had enough self-respect to walk out."
Can you please change "Norman" to "John"? After all, there is a 30 year age difference between the two men so it shouldn't be difficult to identify which one is which.

To a different topic,  Francesca Kaplan Grossman writes about her feelings of wanting to celebrate every year in December the Jewish counterpart to Chanukah, only to find that she doesn't want to, now that she is married with her own children. She writes how she learned why it is important that she doesn't have a tree.

It took me more than 30 years to really get it. That being able to live with out it – because of, not in spite of, who I actually am, is really the important part.
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/my-half-jewish-child-wants-christmas-i-dont-anymore/?_r=0