By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Wednesday night Judy, Margalit, and I watched The Secret Life of Bees. The movie, produced in 2008, is based on the book by the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. The story takes place in Southern Carolina in 1964 in the midst of racial turmoil. The Civil Rights Act had […]
Remembering the Exodus and the American Civil Rights struggle Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USABerlin 36. Running time: 103 minutes By Norman Manson SAN DIEGO–Over the years, the Olympic Games, supposedly a time of international brotherhood, have instead produced notable examples of strife and tension. One of the best-known examples of this animosity occurred at the so-called “nazi Olympics” of 1936, when the atmosphere was pervaded by the Hitler regime’s emphasis on anti-semitism
San Diego Jewish Film Festival preview: ‘Berlin 36’ Read More »
Travel and FoodWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– The government crisis in Lebanon, prompted by Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the government coalition, continues to draw commentary from member of Congress. Here is a roundup of comments issued to the media: * Rep. Dan Burton (R-Indiana): “I am deeply dismayed by the decision of Hezbollah to withdraw its cabinet ministers from
Hezbollah’s role in collapse of Lebanon’s government draws U.S. congressional fire Read More »
Travel and FoodMOUNTAIN CITY, Tennessee (Press Release)–A Tennessee county’s preference for Christianity in its courthouse displays violates the U.S. Constitution, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Americans United, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, is challenging the Johnson County Commission’s decision to display the Ten Commandments and Christian
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Without taking any partisan position, but purely on the issue’s historical merits, nothing could have been more appropriate than Sarah Palin’s use of the term “blood libel” to describe what happened to her after the Tucson killings. I know because my direct ancestors were the target of a blood libel.
Commentary: The fact is accusations against Palin were ‘blood libels’ Read More »
International, USAJERUSALEM — A New York Times story from Qatar begins “Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered a scalding critique of Arab leaders here on Thursday, saying they badly needed reforms to jump-start their economies and overcome dwindling natural resources, or risk having extremists take root in their societies.” She said, “In too many places, in too
Clinton’s critique of Arab leaders not likely to change their minds Read More »
Ira Sharkansky
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –The only reason that takes me to the shrine of the Western Wall is the company of tourists and the occasional Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Unlike some Jews who profess piety, the place doesn’t move me to prayer. In fact, the ostensibly religious hustlers who exploit it for blatantly irreligious, even discriminatory,
Thoughts on seeing a grandson sworn into the IDF at the Kotel Read More »
Middle EastTORONTO (WJC)–Violence erupted during a demonstration in Toronto on Tuesday night by anti-racist groups opposing an alliance between the ‘Jewish Defense League’ (JDL) and the UK based ‘English Defense League’. Four protesters were arrested and a police officer was injured in the violence . Demonstrators representing several anti-racism and social action groups shouted slogans and
Coalition of Jewish and English right-wingers subject of rioting in Toronto Read More »
Travel and Food
By Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, TAIWAN — When Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Virgnia Beach, Virginia was invited to the annual Chanukah Party at the Obama White House in early December, he brought my 1985 Jewish children’s picture book as a gift. I had no idea this would happen, and the very notion that Bubbie and
Bubbie and Zadie go to the White House Read More »
Travel and Food
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – StandWithUs is turning another page in popular Israel advocacy—and it’s in a comic book. The Los Angeles-based group, which sends speakers and sign-bearers to counter Palestinian demonstrations and purchases space on billboards to tell Israel’s message, recently issued the first number in a comic book series to
Look, up into the political atmosphere… It’s Captain Israel! Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories
Battle of the Two Talmuds: Judaism’s Struggle with Power, Glory, & Guilt by Leon H. Charney and Saul Mayzlish, Barricade Books, Fort Lee, NJ; ISBN 978-1-56980-439-1 ©2010, $22.95, p. 224 plus glossary By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — One does not need to listen to very many rabbinic sermons before he or she hears the words, “And the
‘Battle of the two Talmuds’ looks at an ancient split between Israel and the Diaspora Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California–Judy and Howard Rubenstein will be joined by songwriter Ron Horvitz as the featured presenters for Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices next Tuesday evening, January 18, 7: 30 pm at the Astor Judaica Library, Lawrence Family JCC. This free series, showcasing local poets and song writers, will begin its third consecutive year.
Jewish poets take the the JCC stage Read More »
Eileen WingardBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–You don’t have to have inside information or be blessed with special analytical talents to realize that there’re currently systematic efforts in Israel to make any division of Jerusalem in a future peace deal increasingly impossible. The fact that this is happening nominally outside government control – e.g., through legal purchase
The battle for Jerusalem is being fought by real estate investors Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –You might find interesting some details from the Israel Security Agency report on 2010. –Iran smuggled about 1,000 mortar shells and hundreds of rockets through Sudan and Sinai into the Gaza Strip in 2010. –The most significant new weapon for Hamas is the Kornet anti-tank rocket, the best in the
Israel’s Security Agency is upbeat in annual report Read More »
Middle East