WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– In response to the Senate’s historic vote ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement: The Senate vote ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was long overdue: After 17 years of misguided and discriminatory policy, gay and […]
Reform Jews hail repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Read More »
USANEW YORK (Press Release)–Masa Israel Journey and the Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA) on Monday announced the launch of the Lainer-Masa Israel Fellowship, a two-year program for Jewish young adults interested in careers in Jewish education. This joint venture will engage North American Masa Israel undergraduate university participants while in Israel and place them in
Programs for future American Jewish educators expanded in Israel Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The headline is upbeat: “Palestinian Leader Has 60 Israelis to Lunch.” The picture features Mahmoud Abbas alongside Amram Mitzna, a former head of the Labor Party. Both seem pleased. The article mentions individuals concerned with the Geneva Initiative, “a group of Israeli and Palestinian figures who negotiated an unofficial blueprint
A Palestinian lunch to launch a new Israeli peace party? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — The French news agency AFP is reporting that France is giving the Lebanese army 100 anti-tank HOT missiles in February to be used by the military’s Gazelle helicopters. There are no conditions attached to their use. Israel is concerned about the deal. In November, the U.S. government lifted a
France reportedly selling anti-tank missiles to Lebanon Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–In one of those form-over-substance moments that produce endless opportunity for mischief, President Obama announced that the United States would affix its signature to the United Nation’s Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “The aspiration it affirms, including respect for the institutions and rich cultures of native peoples,
Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples sounds good, fraught with problems Read More »
Shoshana BryenTEL AVIV (Press Release) — Your plane has levelled at 30,000 feet. The seatbelt sign is off. Time to relax with onboard entertainment — and now you’ll have even more choices on El Al’s international flights. In a first-of-its-kind agreement, the carrier’s Boeing 777s will offer a menu of short films created by Tel Aviv University’s
Tel Aviv University student films to show on shorts channels aboard El Al Read More »
Travel and Food
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–I was alerted that back in my old hometown of Seattle, KING5 TV broke the news that some group with nothing better to do with its money has paid for ads to run on Seattle buses accusing Israel of “war crimes.” The very fact that this made news would seem to
Anti-Israel bus advertising hits Seattle Read More »
USA
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA–John Cook and Wael Elasady do not stop with legitimate criticism of a Jewish-related issue. They openly slur the Jews. Elasady compared Israel to Sudan’s genocide of Darfur’s people when he joined with others who assailed Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski for trading with Israel. Cook, a Republican honcho in Texas, dragged
Anti-Semitic slurs coming from the left and the right Read More »
USACompiled by San Diego Jewish World staff The School Board and the Bible (Editorial) Southwestern Jewish Press, June 24, 1955, Page 5 In re-reading “The World of Sholom Aleichem” by Maurice Samuels this week, it struck us that Jews in America have not come too far away from the old problems which faced European
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, June 24, 1955, Part 3 Read More »
Adventures in SD History, San Diego County
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–In the closing decades of the last century, the complaints I used to hear in Progressive/Reform/Liberal Judaism circles in Israel had to do with the dangers inherent in the secularization of the Jewish state. Religiously and politically liberal Jews were urged to articulate viable alternatives and create institutions to promote them.
In Israel, Reform must focus on providing alternative to Orthodoxy Read More »
Middle EastBy Michael H. Posner WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Although it has held a series of troubling elections this year, Egypt has an opportunity to fulfill the commitments its government has made to the Egyptian people as it prepares for next year’s presidential election, if it takes steps to implement several changes to which it has
U.S. official: Egypt should democratize before next year’s presidential election Read More »
Travel and FoodWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– American Jewish Committee (AJC) is urging the Senate to pass the DREAM Act, which is scheduled for a vote today (Saturday, Dec. 18) “The DREAM Act, addressing the critical needs of the undocumented student population, is an important step towards desperately needed reform of our immigration system,” said Richard T.Foltin, AJC Director of
American Jewish Committee urges passage of DREAM Act Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– A bipartisan coalition of 18 U.S. Senators, led by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, on Friday urged United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice to refrain from participating in the United Nation’s Durban III World Conference Against Racism, citing concerns that the conference will once again serve as a forum for
U.S. senators urge boycott of Durban III Read More »
USA
Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff In The Good Old Summertime Southwestern Jewish Press, June 24, 1955, Page 3 By Julia Kaufman Starlight Opera Company– To paraphrase the words of the immortal Gilbert and Sullivan: “I’ve Got It On My List,” and I hope you have too. Naturally, I’m referring to the “Mikado” which
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, June 24, 1955, Part 2 Read More »
Adventures in SD History, San Diego County