By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — As a confirmed incrementalist, I’m not a great fan of the conventional occasions for summing up, asking where we are, and where we are going. As an Israeli plugged in to international networks, the obvious times for such stuff come as we approach January 1, or א’ בתשרי , i.e., […]
2012 was a year of incremental change Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastReport: Israel monitoring Iran from Eritrea (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel is operating an intelligence gathering base in the East African nation of Eritrea to monitor Iran’s activities in the Red Sea, the Stratfor Global Intelligence company revealed Tuesday. The company says it uses a unique, intelligence-based approach to gathering information via open-source monitoring and
JNS news briefs: December 12, 2012 Read More »
InternationalBy Robert Gluck/JNS.org In the world of ideas and imagination, Rod Serling lives on. Known for his work on the television show “The Twilight Zone,” Serling was born to a Jewish family in Syracuse, NY. Although it has been 37 years since his death, his work still has a notable impact. Serling was the inspiration
Ithaca revisits ‘Twilight Zone’ annually Read More »
Travel and FoodSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Chanukah is the Festival of Lights, but it is also the holiday commemorating the Jewish people standing up to an oppressive bully – for themselves, each other and what they believe in. This is exactly the message that San Diego’s Jewish teens want the world to see this Chanukah, so
A new Chanukah song… from San Diego NCSY Read More »
Jewish Religion
Photos and story by Sandi Masori SAN DIEGO — Mr. Chick at 6618 Mission Gorge Road is a great little casual/ deli style restaurant. The food there is very moderately priced, ranging from $5- $15, and incredibly yummy. The space itself is small, holding only about 40 people when set up as a restaurant,
Restaurant review: ‘Mr. Chick’ Read More »
San Diego CalendarBy Mary Soltz SCARSDALE, New York — I daresay how I came to be here tonight is a different story than most of our congregants’. On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Ned spoke of faith and asked if any of us had been moved by a fervor that would change our lives, a moment
A rebbitzin remembers the rabbi who converted her Read More »
Jewish ReligionFatah-Hamas collaboration on the rise after Abbas authorizes celebration (JNS.org) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is allowing Hamas to hold a festival in commemoration of its 25th anniversary, showing a clearer willingness by Fatah to collaborate with Hamas, Israel National News reported, citing the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency. The festival will take place in the city of
JNS news briefs: December 10, 2012 Read More »
International
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Dear Readers, I have received numerous questions related to Hanukkah. Most of these don’t have much to do with financial matters. However, I will do my best to give a financial take when possible! Dear Money Maven, I’m concerned about my kids playing dreidel and betting gelt. Am I
Money Maven: Solving tough Chanukah questions Read More »
Jewish Religion, Sheryl RowlingBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Choosing among 34 political parties is much simpler than it may first appear. The first step is deciding who you are, and what is important to you. The second step is to avoid wasting time thinking about 20 or so parties beyond the edge of reality. It is easiest for the
Deciding how to vote in a multi-party election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
(Editor’s Note: The following article was written and photographed by Yaakov Shkolnik for the Jewish National Fund in Israel. It features Ulla Hadar, a Ruhama resident and former correspondent for San Diego Jewish World. In conjunction with the partnership between Sha’ar Hanegev Municipality (which includes Ruhama) and the Jewish Federation of San Diego, Hadar has
Hadar maintains wilderness trail in Sha’ar Hanegev Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Politics is serious business. It is how societies move from disputes about issues large and small to the selection of their leaders, choices between public policy alternatives, and the actual implementation of what government does. Politics is also theater. It provides the platforms for the best and most bizarre actors
Politics replacing Habima as Israel’s national ‘theatre’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Cynthia Citron SANTA MONICA, California — Five deez-dem-and dowz guys are currently chewing up the stage of the Ruskin Group Theatre here. You might think of them as the Sopranos on steroids. In the first of playwright/director Sam Henry Kass’ three one acts, jointly titled Siddown!!! (Conversations with the mob) the terrifically nuanced
3 looks at ‘da mob’ at the Ruskin Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Historically, the holiday of Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday when compared to holidays like Passover or Yom Kippur, or the Sabbath. Nevertheless, its significance should not be under-appreciated. I realize many Jews try to make more out of the Hanukkah holiday in order to make
Not the victory of military power, but that of spirit Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Hanukkah, the little holiday that could, begins with the lighting of the first candle against the darkness tonight. Year after year, the assessments begin and the questions accumulate: Is Hanukkah the Jewish Christmas? Which one came first and how are they related? (Of course, the real inquiry every
The real Chanukah-Christmas connection Read More »
Jewish Religion