By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Living in a Jewish country has its attractions. One of them is that you can enjoy being a Jew without being religious. Living in a Jewish country also has its problems. One of them is that you cannot avoid Judaism. Even outspoken Jewish atheists are surrounded by stimuli associated with
Israeli rabbinate grapples with homosexual sexploitation Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion
Nir Barkat: Better to let peace deal collapse on Jerusalem than to make ‘bad deal’ (JNS.org) With renewed Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations underway, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat warned against Israeli concessions relating to his city. “If the deal collapses because it hinges on the Jerusalem issue, so be it. It is better not to make any
JNS news briefs: August 9, 2013 Read More »
International
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — King Louis XIV (at least the Mel Brooks version) famously said, “It’s good to be the king.” He uttered this line whenever he wanted to justify his boorish behavior. The implication was that a king can do whatever he wants to do, whenever he wants to do it,
How should a Jewish ruler behave? Read More »
Jewish Religion“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act. It is but a habit.” Aristotle By Carol Miller During another of our summers in Greece, once again in front of Helena Moussou’s travel desk in the lobby of the Grande Bretagne in Athens, we noticed her making signs of desperation. “You
The private life of Shura Cherkassky Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rosalie Schwartz, PhD MONTREAL — The Colours of my Father is an eye-popping animated film about Montreal painter Sam Borenstein. Produced by the artist’s daughter, Joyce, and aired on the Documentary Channel, the biography opened a world of art and artists to me. Lithuanian by birth, the youngest of fifteen children, Sam Borenstein experienced
A search for Montreal’s Jewish painters Read More »
Travel and FoodIDF training complex will make Negev ‘Israeli Silicon Valley,’ Netanyahu says (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The Israel Defense Forces’ massive training complex in the Negev will cost Israel 21 billion shekels ($5.92 billion) to complete, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon both said during a tour of the site on Wednesday.
JNS news briefs: August 8, 2013 Read More »
International
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Between his therapy sessions, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner phoned Alex Rodriguez to get advice on how to delay disciplinary action for the duration of a contract and how to get past first base and not strike out. Commenting on the difficulties of restarting peace talks between Israel and
Humoring the headlines: August 7, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, USATEL AVIV (Press Release)— Tiny sensors and motors are everywhere, telling your smartphone screen to rotate and your camera to focus. Now, a team of researchers at Tel Aviv University has found a way to print biocompatible components for these micro-machines, making them ideal for use in medical devices, like bionic arms. Microelectromechanical systems, better
Printing biocompatible sensors may advance bionics Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationIran nuclear program will only be stopped by increased pressure, Netanyahu says (JNS.org) Newly inaugurated Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said at a press conference on Tuesday that Iran is “serious” about negotiations on its nuclear program as long as the other party in talks “abandons the language of pressure and threats.” But at a
JNS news briefs: August 7, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–We’re seeing another uptick in Israelis publicly pondering an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It might not come today, or ever. The increase in comments attributed to highly placed Israeli officials may be nothing more than frustrated politicians’ efforts to move the public’s focus away from domestic disturbances. The provocation may be
U.S. indecisiveness prompts Israel to chart its own course Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastErdogan will no longer visit Gaza due to border-crossing denial by Egypt (JNS.org) Islamist Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not be visiting Gaza later this month, as he had planned, reportedly due to Egyptian military authorities’ refusal to allow him to enter the Hamas-controlled territory through the Egyptian border. The denial by Egypt’s
JNS news briefs: August 6, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — If you expect the new Woody Allen film to have some Jewish content, you’ll be disappointed, but if you want to see one of his finest dramatic movies, then you’ll be impressed. Jasmine, played with astonishing range by Cate Blanchett, is a contemporary reincarnation of Blanche DuBois. Her grip
The Wandering Review: ‘Blue Jasmine’ Read More »
Travel and Food
By Anav Silverman RA’ANANA, Israel — There are around 780 million people across the world living with disabilities today. At a recent UN Conference, a leading Israeli non-profit organization that services people with disabilities took center stage. Jean Judes, the executive director of the Ra’anana-based Beit Issie Shapiro (BIS) spoke at the three-day UN Conference
U.N. consults Israeli non-profit on disability rights Read More »
Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir and Ehud Amiton ARIEL, Israel — In the wake of the European Union’s challenging resolution to boycott the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and to terminate all financial contacts with them, foreign journalists toured the Barkan Industrial Park and Ariel University in Samaria last week (July 29), an event organized by
International journalists tour Judea and Samaria Read More »
Middle East