By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–What we hear are hints of American proposals, veiled threats of sanctions and violence, yet claims of salvation if everyone behaves reasonably. If this is a place for reasonable action, it would be a change of what has happened too many times since David sent Bat Sheva’s husband to his death alongside
Abbas: Palestine state will welcome Israeli citizens Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastDr. Barry Rubin, a Mideast scholar bassed in Herzliya, died Sunday, Feb. 2, at age 64 of cancer. Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) reports that he leaves his wife Judy and two children, Gabriella and Daniel. “Barry was a prolific scholar, and friend, who was fervently committed to the pursuit of truth
Barry Rubin, Mideast analyst and journalist, dies Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today issued an open letter to Secretary of State John Kerry in response to his comments February 1 at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, in which he described the price he believes Israel will pay if there is a breakdown in the peace talks between
ADL politely criticizes Kerry in open letter Read More »
Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM – It was an unusual sight on Friday night at Judaism’s most sacred site, the Western Wall. Around the blue-and-white Israeli flag, waving over the multitudes of Sabbath prayer-goers, a group of young adults were holding hands and dancing – in complete silence. The group consisted of young deaf Jewish
Deaf Jews tour Israel Read More »
Travel and Food
By Alex Traiman/JNS.org Egyptian Defense Minister and Field Marshal General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Jan. 27 was cleared by the country’s army to run for president, one day after an interim government announced that presidential elections would be advanced to take place within 30-90 days. Now, just three years after a revolution that toppled longtime secular
El-Sisi presidency in Egypt would help Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Alina Dain Sharon/JNS.org With the Winter Olympics gearing up for their Feb. 7 start in Sochi, Russia, the Jewish debate on the games mirrors the discourse taking place in the broader international and athletic communities. While some Jews say they view the games purely as sport—with social or political issues not factoring into
Jewish world debates Soshi Olympics Read More »
International
TEL AVIV (Press Release)–Camels are mentioned as pack animals in the biblical stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Jacob. But archaeologists have shown that camels were not domesticated in the Land of Israel until centuries after the Age of the Patriarchs (2000-1500 BCE). In addition to challenging the Bible’s historicity, this anachronism is direct proof that
Dating of camel bones contradicts Bible account Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationWhile Roger Waters targets Johansson, SodaStream CEO ‘proud’ of Israeli factory (JNS.org) SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum, whose company aired a Super Bowl commercial featuring Jewish-American actress Scarlett Johansson on Sunday, said he is “very proud” of his company’s presence in Israel. “We are very proud of our factory in Mishor Adumim,” Birnbaum said. “It is
JNS news briefs: February 3, 2014 Read More »
InternationalBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Secretary of State John Kerry and special envoy Martin Indyk have been meeting and talking with groups of American Jews in an effort to “sell” the interim deal Mr. Kerry plans to put on the table for Israel and the Palestinians. With Mr. Kerry acting as the “bad cop” and
Indyk ‘good cop;’ Kerry ‘bad cop’ to Israel Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
Benjamin Morse, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever, Orson and Company, (c) 2012, ISBN 978-0-9858136-0-5, 77 pages with illustrations, $30. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–The title of this book is intriguing; what can that oldest bedtime story possibly be? Once a parent and child begin this colorfully illustrated and judiciously edited book by author and
Book review: ‘The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever Told’ Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM– “Staid” is the only adjective one can apply to the audience at the regular chamber music concerts held in Jerusalem’s august YMCA auditorium on a monthly basis. The average age is pulled down sharply by anyone under sixty, and there aren’t too many of those. The concerts, under the auspices of
Argument made concert memorable Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Rabbi David Hartman, the distinguished exponent of contemporary Judaism, who died a year ago, built his monument while he was alive and named it after his father: the Shalom Hartman Institute. The Institute has become a powerful presence in Israel dedicated to opening the eyes of Israelis to pluralistic Judaism and
Can there be worldwide Jewish unity? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO―Get ready movie mavens and meshugenahs for a cornucopia of cinema, delicatessen of documentaries, a feast of feature films, and a smorgasbord of shorts (you probably get the idea without the food metaphors) at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival running February 6-16. Although I have not viewed all the films―contrary
The Wandering Review: SD Jewish Film Festival Read More »
Travel and Food