By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Pinchus cared about G-d’s honor and accomplished outstanding things because of it. The daughters of Tzelofchad cared deeply about the Land of Israel and as a result, accomplished amazing things. When we care passionately about something, incredible things can happen as the following true story, written by Abraham […]
What helped an addict kick her habit Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Yoel Ganor JERUSALEM — My wife, Orly, and I recently returned to Israel after having completed a multi-city trip in the United States performing workshops for Hebrew-language educators. We espouse a new approach to teaching the Jewish People’s ancient language, one that draws heavily on new technology and unconventional techniques. The Hebrew language is a
A more rapid way to learn Hebrew as a second language Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — How many times have we heard it before? Haredi rabbis are going to great lengths to prove a point. They have no intention of giving up their Torah study to serve in the Israeli army. Tens of thousands of Israelis protested and demand that the
Should the Haredi serve in the military or stay in a yeshiva? Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Amid fans dressed as Super-Heroes, Walt Disney characters, and inhabitants of the Star Trek and Star Wars universes, two Jewish men named Stan on Thursday, July 12, assiduously worked the crowd, drumming up support for their latest ventures. Stan Lee, who as a Marvel Comic executive, brought forth
Stan Lee and Stan Mack market their creativity at Comic-Con Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Story and photos by Mimi Pollack TECATE, Mexico — There are only 70 to 80 people left in Baja California who speak Kumeyaay, according to Michael Wilken Robertson, an anthropologist with a specialty in ethno-botany who is curator of the Kumeyaay Museum in this city hugging the U.S.-Mexican border. In a recent interview, Wilken
Cultural Museum brings ancient Kumeyaay ways to life Read More »
Jewish History, Mimi PollackBy Gabriel Max Scheinmann WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israelis understandably feel imperiled by the misnamed “Arab Spring.” Their country’s three-decade peace treaty with Egypt is under assault, its strategic alliance with Turkey has dissolved, and its closest regional ally, Jordan, is withering from domestic protests. The breakdown in political authority has flooded Israel’s borders with
Israel grows stronger as neighbors unravel Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — The new president of Egypt has himself acknowledged that the military tyranny is still in charge, even as the good people of Egypt swallow the bitter truth of their brief, vanishing dream. Libya teeters; the Palestinians still smolder with the Hamas-Fatah blood conflict; Syria kills its own children
Don’t confuse Civil Rights Movement with Arab uprising Read More »
Middle East
I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish; Walker & Company, New York, 2010. 238 pages. By David Strom SAN DIEGO — Izzeldin Abuelaish is an amazing person. Being born and raised in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza strip did not deter him from becoming a spokesperson for peace everywhere in the world and,
A man of peace from Gaza Read More »
Travel and Food
By Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, TAIWAN — Media mavens both East and West are locking horns in global discussions about the effects of Hollywood’s attempts to appeal to the ”Chollywood” market. Will China’s ”soft opening” (scare quotes mine) to the West create more opportunities for Hollywood studios to market their wares inside the communist behemoth,
Will Hollywood soft pedal messages to win China’s business? Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Some years ago, my friend Malcolm Feeley published The Process is the Punishment. It deals with criminal charges against individuals at the lower end of America’s urban communities, widely viewed as guilty, but who manage to be judged not guilty or to have their cases thrown out of court. The
Olmert’s real punishment is the process Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Elan Ezrachi JERUSALEM — Cities most essentially belong to their residents. The residents shape the character of cities in which they dwell. The cities, in return, provide them shelter, employment, community and identity. Jerusalem defies this traditional model. While 800,000 individuals can be labeled “residents,” there are literally millions of additional far-flung stakeholders around
Yeru-Shalem Coalition seeks to harmonize Jerusalem and Diaspora Read More »
Middle East
By David Brin ENCINITAS, California– Nearly two thirds (65 percent) of Americans think that President Obama would be a better leader than Mitt Romney if an alien invasion were to happen. Hm, well, yes… and? So? A survey for National Geographic finds extraterrestrial visits not that crazy an idea to most Americans. Thirty-six percent of
Politics offer fertile grounds for science fiction Read More »
USABy Samara Greenberg WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 20, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal were scheduled to meet in Cairo to choose cabinet members for the Palestinian interim government that would oversee elections. That meeting never came to fruition, however, and senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan later said that
Gaza watch: Palestinian reconciliation on hold Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansksy JERUSALEM– Israelis are fortunate to have a large and active diaspora of Jews. Israelis are also unfortunate in having a large and active diaspora of Jews. The benefits are well known: a bit of money to top off the much larger sums that we provide for ourselves, political support where
Diaspora Jews are a blessing and a curse for Israelis Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East