By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel is usually in the headlines about war, terror, great power efforts to make peace, or some other bloody or politically charged issue. This note is not about any of that exciting stuff, but deals with the way others and Israelis often view themselves. That may have something to do […]
OECD mischaracterizes Israel's economy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–When the early Zionists wanted to turn the Jews into a people like all other peoples, they didn’t dream that it would mean that the Jewish national home which became the State of Israel would treat other people in the way other people treated Jews. But that’s what’s happening nowadays, not
Sleepless in Jerusalem over whether Israel is becoming as bad as any other nation Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — “On the tenth of this month they shall take for themselves a lamb…” (Ex. 12:3) It took great courage for the Jews to bring the Korbon Pesach (Passover Offering), as Moshe (Moses) had commanded them in the name of Hashem (G-d). The lamb was worshiped by the Egyptians.
The blessing that led to a fortune Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Philip Graubart LA JOLLA, California–Did God write the Torah? The question came up in my son’s Jewish high school last week provoking some surprisingly heated discussions. I say “surprisingly” because I wouldn’t have expected eleventh graders to care so passionately about a theological issue. Also, this is a community Jewish school, a pluralistic,
Debate over God's authorship of the Torah also a debate over meaning in the world Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Considering all of the bad press Israel receives, I was thrilled to see the NBC Nightly News positive coverage of the field hospital set up by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) following the earthquake in Haiti. If you did not see the NBC broadcast last Tuesday, you can
Haiti field hospital demonstrates Israel’s humanitarianism, technical skills Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Forward started it in December. Ha’aretz picked up the theme this month, writing, “The Bush administration violated security related agreements with Israel in which the U.S. promised to preserve the IDF’s qualitative military edge (QME) over Arab armies, according to senior officials in the Obama administration and Israel,” and
Has U.S. eliminated Israel's qualitative edge over possible Arab foes? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USANEW YORK (Press Release)–Following the incident on US Airways flight 3709 from New York to Louisville on Jan. 21—which made an unscheduled landing when a flight attendant was alarmed by the Jewish religious article of a young passenger—B’nai B’rith International is urging aviation officials to more systematically equip both airline crew and airport security personnel
B'nai B'rith wants airline personnel to be educated about Jewish religious articles Read More »
Travel and FoodWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)- U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, Republican-Michigan, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement to mark the failure of the Obama administration to meet its rushed, self-imposed one year deadline to shutter the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and implement the so-called High Value Detainee Interrogation Group
Hoekstra calls on Obama to rescind decision to close Guantanamo Bay prison Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat-Maryland), chairman of the Judiciary Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee, on Friday called for a careful examination of the Administration’s plans for the indefinite detention of Guantánamo detainees. He released the following statement: “One year ago today, President Obama ordered the closure of the Guantánamo
Cardin seeks review of reported plans to hold some Guantanamo detainees indefinitely Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Two Algerian detainees, Hasan Zemiri and Adil Hadi al Jazairi Bin Hamlili, have been transferred from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the custody and control of the Government of Algeria. As directed by the President’s Jan. 22, 2009 Executive Order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of
Two Guantanamo detainees transferred to Algeria Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The Defense Department announced Friday that the convening authority for Military Commissions withdrew and dismissed the charges, without prejudice, against the five detainees charged in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. This action comes in light of the announcement by the attorney general of the United States that the Department of Justice intends to
Military drops charges in 9/11 cases to clear way for civilian prosecution Read More »
Travel and FoodWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican, Florida) Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight on Thursday, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano urging prompt action to enhance our nation’s visa screening capabilities overseas to keep terrorists out of the United States.
Congressman Bilirakis calls for increased U.S. visa screening overseas Read More »
Travel and FoodTOLEDO, Spain (Press Release)—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano on Thursday traveled to Toledo, Spain, at the invitation of her Spanish colleague, Interior Minister Alfredo Rubalcaba, to meet with her European counterparts regarding ways to bolster international aviation security measures and standards. “The attempted terrorist attack on Dec. 25 threatened the lives of individuals from
Napolitano, Europeans discuss airline safety upgrades Read More »
USAMACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida (Press Release) – Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Central Command commander, stated on Thursday that he was very concerned to learn that rifle scopes being used by some troopers deployed within the CENTCOM area have coded numbers referencing Bible verses on them, in addition to the normal markings on the scopes. “The codes on
Petraeus says references to biblical verses have no place on rifle scopes Read More »
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