By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Arik Sharon gave the media plenty of time to prepare his obituary – eight years and one week to be exact. For it was in early January 2006, while serving as Israel’s prime minister, that he had a stroke which rendered him unconscious until he died. And dying today,
Sharon was a politician of great complexity Read More »
Middle East
By Aryeh Savir After eight years of a comatose state and after deterioration in his health this past month, Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon finally passed away on Shabbat, January 11th, 2014, at the age of 85. Hi adopted son, Roni Schayak made the announcement. Ariel Sharon, also known as Arik, was born as Ariel Scheinermann, (February 26th 1928).
After 8 years in a coma, Ariel Sharon dies Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — American culture, having turned over from social justice to narcissism, has now become a fertile field for the self-glorification that attends many birthdays. Like the cavalcade of grades of iPhones, this one is “better” than that one; here is a “milestone” event and there is “just another one.” The
Birthday reflection: A time to avoid vanity Read More »
Travel and Food
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Americans for Peace Now (APN) joins its Israeli sister organization, Israel’s Peace Now movement, in strongly criticizing the government of Israel’s issuing new tenders for 1,877 new housing units in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. APN’s President and CEO Debra DeLee said: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
Peace Now denounces new Israeli housing starts Read More »
Middle East
By Alina Dain Sharon/JNS.org CHICAGO—After the Modern Language Association (MLA) held the much-anticipated “Academic Boycotts: A Conversation about Israel and Palestine” roundtable on Jan. 9 as part of its 2014 convention in Chicago, MLA members expressed their opposition to academic boycotts of Israel during an alternative session offsite. The official convention panel, which JNS.org could
Scholars’ panels duel over BDS at MLA convention Read More »
Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) –The Republican Jewish Coalition on Friday, Jan. 10, applauded the strong support among GOP Senators for the Kirk-Menendez bill, bipartisan legislation that would bolster ongoing diplomatic efforts to stop Iran’s progress toward obtaining nuclear weapons capability by clarifying that sanctions will be strengthened if Iran fails to comply with international demands.
RJC lauds sponsors of new Iran sanctions Read More »
USASAN DIEGO — Remember when our nation’s leaders could laugh together? Here are President Ronald Reagan, House Speaker Tip O’Neill, and Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker attending a performance by comedy juggler Michael Davis at Ford’s Theater. How we out in the hinterlands would love to see such friendships among our leaders again! Thanks to
When U.S. political leaders could laugh together Read More »
Travel and Food
NEW YORK (Press Release)–Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Thursday, January 16, 2014—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new
Tu B’Shevat comes Thursday, January 16, this year Read More »
Jewish Religion
NEW YORK (Press Release)–The President of EL AL Israel Airlines recently met with Israeli Mayors whose cities’ names adorn the airline’s fleet. At the meeting, EL AL President Elyezer Shkedy presented each mayor with a model of the plane that bears the name of their city. As the national airline of Israel, every plane is
El Al names planes for Israeli cities Read More »
Travel and Food
COLOGNE, Germany (Press Release) — Authorities have charged an 88-year-old former member of an SS division with 25 counts of murder over allegations that he took part in the largest civilian massacre in Nazi-occupied France. Cologne state court spokesman Achim Hengstenberg said suspect Werner C., whose last name wasn’t given in accordance with German privacy
Charges brought in 1944 Oradour-sur-Glane massacre Read More »
International, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — This Shabbat lucky Torah readers will chant Shirat Hayam, the Song of the Sea. Shirat Hayam is the poem the Israelites sang after they safely crossed the Sea of Reeds. Looking back, they saw the waters closing upon the pursuing Egyptians and knew that they were finally safe.
Another aspect of ‘The Song of the Sea’ Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO―New Jersey Governor Chris Christie apologized for one of his aides ordering the closure of the George Washington Bridge’s entrance and exit lanes to and from Fort Lee, New Jersey, as a political reprisal either against the city’s Democratic mayor or the state’s Democratic Senate. Although Christie hopes to weather the
Humoring the Headlines: January 10, 2014 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Steve Kramer NETANYA, Israel — Michal and I recently attended a fascinating lecture by Genie Milgrom, an American citizen of Cuban heritage. Although raised as a Roman Catholic, Milgrom had an affinity towards Jews and the Jewish religion from an early age. She described her conviction for Judaism as something that you don’t know
Former Catholic relates discovery of her Jewish identity Read More »
Travel and Food
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — About 3.54 million tourists traveled to Israel in 2013, half a percent more than the previous record year of 2012 according to a report by the Israel Tourism Ministry. Jerusalem was the most popular city to visit , with 75% of all incoming tourist traffic visiting the capital. Tel Aviv
Jerusalem is gold for Israel Tourism Ministry Read More »
Travel and Food