Abbas: No U.N. resolution, no more cooperation with Israel (JNS.org) Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas threatened to break off ties with Israel if the Palestinian-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution demanding Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank by 2017 fails. Speaking to reporters in Algeria, Abbas said that the Palestinians are “determined to restore
JNS news briefs: December 23, 2014 Read More »
International, USA
JERUSALEM (WJC) — The Israeli Tourism Ministry is working in cooperation with church officials and other bodies to facilitate the celebration of Christmas by the 70,000 visitors expected to arrive in Israel for the Christmas period. “The State of Israel has a close relationship with Christian leaders and we will continue to invest in the
Israel expects 70,000 visitors for Christmas Read More »
Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) –When Mark Halawa lights his family’s menorah during Chanukah, it is not without recalling his unique journey as a Kuwaiti Muslim to Orthodox Judaism. The 38-year-old businessman, who lives today in Jerusalem with his wife and family, keeping Shabbat and kosher dietary laws, began his journey 12 years ago in Canada.
A Kuwaiti Muslim’s journey to Chanukah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Toby Klein Greenwald JERUSALEM–These latest parshiot (chapters) of the Torah readings remind me of the summer and fall of 2001, when the women of the Raise Your Spirits Theatre put on the production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to sold-out audiences who came on bulletproof buses from all over Israel to our
Joseph was dressed for success Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein GreenwaldBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Entry to politics does not require a test of intelligence, or even political savvy. The best most recent evidence appears in reports associated with Tsipi Livni and John Kerry. Livni–along with Shimon Peres–advised John Kerry to postpone action on the Palestinians’ request of the UN Security Council to grant it statehood
Livni, Kerry ploy backfires to Netanyahu’s benefit Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — When partners fall out with each other, the fallout can be devastating. In marriage it’s called divorce, but, of course, it occurs in many other situations. In Israel, it has just become an election issue with possible serious consequences. The late Ovadia Yosef, a former Sephardi chief rabbi of
A split in Shas; other Haredim restless Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Sam Litvin SUSIYA, Israel — It was a most unusual heat on a December morning in the hills south of Hebron. The white rocks stacked in serpentine order reflected light heavenward while the green patches in between them soaked up the rays. The light disappeared inside the ancient caves and cisterns of the old
On tour in the Judean settlement of Susiya Read More »
Middle East, Sam Litvin, Travel and Food
Editor’s Note: Janet Tiger, a San Diegan, is a member of the Jewish community who has written, produced and acted in numerous dramatic presentations. She shares her story with us on the night of Chanukah’s seventh candle. ©Janet S. Tiger all rights reserved (A man comes onstage, he is wearing a yarmulke, dressed from the seventies,
‘A Great Miracle Happened Here’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — They arrest you for having any opinion that isn’t theirs. They arrest you for demanding elections; the last thing they want is to know you want different leadership. They arrest you for having a Facebook page that is out of step, or you don’t have Facebook at all.
U.S., Europe ignore repression by Cuba, P.A. Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– In response to the murders of two New York City police officers on Saturday afternoon, Union for Reform Judaism President, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, delivered the following statement on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014: “Today we mourn with the families of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, New York City policemen murdered in Brooklyn
Reform Judaism body mourns 2 NYC police officers Read More »
USANEW YORK (Press Release)– The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is deeply disappointed with the European Parliament’s failure to establish a task force to fight the rise of anti-Semitism across Europe. “European Parliament inaction on an anti-Semitism task force is simply an inexcusable dereliction of duty,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris, who has long been
AJC rues European inaction on anti- Semitism Read More »
International
SANTA CRUZ, California (Press Release) – Twenty-two advocacy groups on Monday, Dec. 22, applauded University of California (UC) Provost Aimee Dorr and UC administrators for protecting the well-bring of Jewish students. For the first time ever, UC administrators publicly affirmed that UC faculty are prohibited from bringing hateful anti-Semitic propaganda and the boycott of Israel into
UC faculty barred from BDS advocacy in classroom Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAPalestinian terrorist indicted for fatally stabbing Israeli woman in Alon Shvut (JNS.org) An indictment for murder was filed Sunday at the Samaria Military Court against Maher Hamdi al-Ashalmoun, the Palestinian terrorist who fatally stabbed 26-year-old Israeli woman Dahlia Lemkus last month at the entrance to the community of Alon Shvut in Gush Etzion. According to
JNS news briefs: December 22, 2014 Read More »
International, Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (WJC) — Despite a rise of 7 % of the immigration to Israel from North America, aliyah from France to Israel this year will be more than double that from the United States, according to figures revealed by the Jewish Agency for Israel in Jerusalem. Based on the current pace, the number of French
French aliyah could top 7,000 in 2014 Read More »
International, Middle East