Bitzua — Can do! By Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — One of the Israelis’ most famous characteristics is a “can do” attitude – “Bitzua” in Hebrew. It is the concept that nothing is impossible, if you have sufficient determination. And over the past few weeks, Israel has shown just what can be done in the Jewish
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Michael Ordman, Middle EastIsraelis ‘believe we have no better friend than Canada,’ Netanyahu says (JNS.org) Upon hosting Canadian Foreign Minister Robert Nicholson in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israelis believe the Jewish state has “no better friend than Canada.” Netanyahu cited recent instances of “international hypocrisy,” including the passage of a motion to boycott
Jewish news briefs: June 3, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
Memoirs of a Jewish Gypsy by Jenny Graubart, with Lea Tenenbaum © 2014, ISBN 978-1-939758-88-0, 73 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – As a family keepsake encapsulating Jenny Graubart’s childhood memories along with photos of herself, parents and sister, this slim volume will have enduring value. However, the book does not extend itself
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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryChabad’s Secret: Inside the World’s Most Successful Jewish Organization by Chaim Dalfin, Jewish Enrichment Press, Brooklyn, NY; ISBN 978-0-9889580-7-4 ©2015, $35.00, p. 190, plus appendices, bibliography, glossary, and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, universally known as the Baal Shem Tov, is considered the founder of Chassidism, when in
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Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionIsraeli ministers increase efforts to fight boycotts (JNS.org) Israeli government ministers are increasing their efforts to fight academic, consumer, cultural, and sports boycotts against Israel in what has become a significant diplomatic priority for the Jewish state. Last Friday, Israel was able to thwart a Palestinian motion asking FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, to suspend
Jewish news briefs: June 2, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The election was March 17th. A day later we knew how many Knesset seats each party had won. Some commentators speculated that the head of the leading party, Benyamin Netanyahu, would have no trouble creating a coalition. Others saw problems in the variety of small parties, any one or two of which
The hassles of Israeli coalitions Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO (SDJW)—San Diego Jewish World acknowledges and thanks those writers and photographers whose bylines appeared during the month of May on its website. They were: David Amos Laurie Baron Caren Besner Dan Bloom Shoshana Bryen Stephen Bryen Garry Fabian Abraham Foxman Donald H. Harrison Natasha Josefowitz Rabbi Ben Kamin Tony Klug Steve Kramer Lloyd
SDJW thanks its May contributors Read More »
Barry Shaw, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Eileen Wingard, Eric George Tauber, Eva Trieger, Fred Reiss, EdD, Ira Sharkansky, Lawrence Baron, Mark D. Zimmerman, Melanie Rubin, Michael Ordman, Mimi Pollack, Natasha Josefowitz, Sheryl Rowling, Shoshana Bryen, Steve Kramer
By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Which of the following marched in the 2015 Celebrate Israel parade in New York City? A.Saint Brigades Drum & Bugle Corps, Kars 4 Kids, and The Amazing Juggling Mohelim. B. Jordache, Areyvut Mitzvah Clowns, and Mr. Pickle. C. Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps, Caucasian Jewish Congregation, and The Cheese
Jewish Trivia: NYC Celebrate Israel Parade Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Garry Fabian MELBOURNE, Australia — In a turbulent, ever changing world, for an organization to survive seventy years and still be strong and vibrant is an impressive achievement. This was emphasised Sunday, May 24, when B’nai B’rith Victoria celebrated its 70th birthday with a “gala Birthday Party” in front of almost 250 attendees. The
Australian B’nai B’rith unit turns 70 Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryTerrorist punished for giving interview to Hamas radio from Israeli jail (JNS.org) Hamas “military wing” commander Abdullah al-Barghouti, who is serving 67 life terms in Israel’s Ramon prison, has been placed in solitary confinement for speaking to Hamas radio on a smuggled mobile phone. In the radio interview, Barghouti, known as the Palestinian terrorist group’s
Jewish news briefs: June 1, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — As far as sports complexes go, the Paris Velodrome built in 1909 within blocks of the Eiffel Tower was a marvel. Housing the popular indoor 6-day bicycle races, the huge stadium contained a giant steeply banked oval track at its base with two tiers of seating for 15,000
The bicycle stadium that shame tore down Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryThe Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff, MIRA books, (c) 2015, ISBN 978-0-7783-1754-8; 374 pages By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–The last time we had the opportunity to review a novel by Pam Jenoff — The Winter Guest — it was about two struggling European sisters, who grew up prior to World War II believing
Love, jealousy, war elements in new Jenoff novel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison