The Jewish singers: Baruch Levine
The Jewish singers: Baruch Levine Read More »
Travel and Food
Declining birthrate, refugee influx may change Europe
By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — In the United States, the question of illegal immigrants, or whatever the politically correct term is this month, is near the top of the list for aspirants to be the Republican or Democratic candidate for president. Though the topic generates headlines, it isn’t an existential issue for Americans,
Declining birthrate, refugee influx may change Europe Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve KramerMuslim extremists prompt Temple Mount unrest
By Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Anyone reading the foreign press about the rioting taking place on the Temple Mount might imagine that Jews were running amok in Jerusalem. Nothing could be further from the truth. The violence derives from the provocative actions of paid volunteers of Islamist extremist groups such as Murabitun and Murabatat who, for
Muslim extremists prompt Temple Mount unrest Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle EastA new schism in Israeli Orthodoxy
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–There’s more to religious divisions in Israel than those between Orthodoxy and Liberal (Conservative and Reform) Judaism. There’re also many opposing forces within Orthodoxy: Ashkenazim and Sephardim; Hasidim and their opponents; Zionists and anti-Zionists. Yet they’re together in the Knesset and currently all in the government. In recent years, however, yet
A new schism in Israeli Orthodoxy Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastA Progressive Jew experiences Orthodox Yom Kippur
By Jenn Lindsay ROME, Italy–On Kol Nidre night that year, it was raining at dusk. I decided not to ride my bike to the progressive Yom Kippur service on the Boston University campus. If I rode my bike, I would get too thirsty coming home and I wouldn’t keep the holiday fast. So I went to
A Progressive Jew experiences Orthodox Yom Kippur Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAMiddle East Roundup: September 18, 2015
Declassified CIA report: Israeli offensive in Six-Day War surprised U.S. (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A newly declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report sheds new light on how the U.S. intelligence community viewed the outbreak of the 1967 Six-Day War, suggesting American officials were surprised by the clashes. “Hostilities began early this morning,” reads the
Middle East Roundup: September 18, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USAWhen is the proper time to repent?
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are called aseret yemei teshuva, the Ten Days of Repentance. These days are considered a particularly appropriate time to review our lives and correct our faults. The Shabbat which falls during these ten days is called Shabbat Shuva, the
When is the proper time to repent? Read More »
Jewish ReligionArab – Jewish holy-day battles have many precedents
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An American cousin sent me a link to the PBS documentary, 1913: Seeds of Conflict, and asked if it was a fair and accurate presentation. I clicked, and received a message, “We’re sorry, but this video is not available in your region due to right restrictions.” The Internet being what it
Arab – Jewish holy-day battles have many precedents Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastRepentance is how Jews deal with evil among us
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — With the Yom Kippur judgment pending (perceived as a moral threshold by most Jews, a time for cleansing souls), this is really one of the rare times of the year when our spiritual community actually ponders evil straight on. Most of the year, we’re thinking about good works. We’re
Repentance is how Jews deal with evil among us Read More »
Jewish ReligionIs Vatican City a model for Temple Mount?
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–The received wisdom of many pundits is that Jerusalem should be the last item in any peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, because it’s such a thorny issue. Professor Moshe Amirav of the Hebrew University believes that it must be the first item – precisely because it’s the most difficult
Is Vatican City a model for Temple Mount? Read More »
Middle EastHumoring the Headlines: September 17, 2015
The Republican presidential debate By Laurie Baron MARGATE, New Jersey — CNN advertised the debate like it was a boxing match in which some of the candidates would be knocked senseless in the ensuing exchanges. It turned out that the views of many of the candidates on abortion, childhood inoculations, gay marriage, the minimum wage,
Humoring the Headlines: September 17, 2015 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireJudge upholds Kapparot custom for Yom Kippur
(JNS.org) A New York City judge upheld the right of Jews to conduct the Kapparot ritual for Yom Kippur despite the opposition of animal rights activists. Traditionally, Jews who engage in the practice will wave a chicken over their heard while chanting “this is my substitute, this is my exchange, this is my atonement. This
Judge upholds Kapparot custom for Yom Kippur Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAMiddle East Roundup: September 17, 2015
Iceland’s capital city votes to boycott all Israeli products (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, voted to boycott all products made in Israel. According to a symbolic bill passed in a majority vote by the municipality, the city will not purchase any products manufactured in Israel, whether within or beyond the 1967
Middle East Roundup: September 17, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East