By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hady Amr, the Biden administration’s envoy to Israel and the Palestinians, went on a mission to help Palestinians. He asked Israel to take steps to alleviate “Palestinian suffering” and help the Palestinian economy. What he really meant was to help Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian […]
Why Are We Bailing Out the Palestinians? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – News came over the Internet about a Florida man being arrested on Wednesday after he was found in possession of a still living Goliath Grouper which he had caught off a bridge in Islamorada. Goliath Groupers, which can grow to 800 pounds, are a protected species. The one
Judaism, Islam, and a fish walk into an article… Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — One thing is clear about the recent decision by Ben & Jerry’s to stop selling ice cream in what the company described as “Occupied Palestinian Territory” (referring to parts of the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem): Jewish opinions about the frozen products are on fire. As the passionate
Choosing a Flavor of Response to the Ben & Jerry’s Boycott Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, USA
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Within a week, Pope Francis and two prominent black men took steps that can only benefit the Jewish people in a followup, perhaps coincidental, to a rally of Jews and others who gathered near Capitol Hill to protest antisemitism. The July 11 event in Washington, D.C., with an
Recruiting Allies in the Fight Against Antisemitism Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
North Coast Rep Theater is not going to go gentle into that good night. On the contrary, they are rounding out this streaming season with the intense one-man psychological thriller, Dr. Glas. The novel, penned by Hjalmar Söderberg, is a staple in Scandinavia, but lesser-known in North America. It was first published in 1905, set in Stockholm at the turn of the century. The plot unearths a moral dilemma and one man’s obsession. [Eva Trieger]
Daniel Gerroll Stars in North Coast Rep’s ‘Dr. Glas’ Read More »
Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Judeo-Christian theology espouses an immanent, loving God, a celestial coach rooting for each individual’s spiritual growth. Scripture is filled with reminders of this abundant love, with prayers and rituals offering myriad opportunities for returning God’s grace with grateful service. On the other hand, Biblical stories are rife with descriptions of disastrous cause-and-effect chain reactions resulting from arrogance, indifference and infidelity. God’s love includes challenging us with real life responses to our choices. The secret of true love is tough love, the presence of consequences. But it all starts with love. [Sam Glaser]
Spiritual Parenting: The Gift of a Reprimand Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Sam Glaser
These entirely poetic passages are attributed to Isaiah II, [1] after 538 BCE when Emperor Cyrus released the Judean Babylonian exiles, to return to Judea.
It is the first of seven haftorot after the 9th of Av, designated as prophecies of consolation, preceding a special haftorah on the Sabbath before Yom Kiippur. These haftorat have no connection to their corresponding Torah parashot readings. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah Reading for July 24, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Well, here we are on this Shabbat Nachamu reminding us that in just seven weeks we’ll be celebrating Rosh Hashana. This “Sabbath of comforting,” from the haftarah in the Book of Isaiah, we read, Nachamu, nachamu ami “Comfort, comfort my people,” and we have the first of the seven haftorot, Sheva deNechamata, of consolation helping us prepare psychologically and spiritually for the holiday of Rosh Hashana. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Torah Reading for July 24, 2021 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Many Jews would like to find an easy way to learn what Judaism teaches about various subjects. Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin, an Orthodox rabbi, gives them this information in his fact-filled book Rationalism vs. Mysticism: Schisms in Traditional Jewish Thought, with quotes from many sources and many learned footnotes, all easy to read.[Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Book Review: ‘Rationalism versus Mysticism’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Recently, Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America and former CEO of Hillel International, reported that a new level of antisemitic intensity has been reached. Whether antisemitic sentiment itself has increased or merely has just become more acceptable, he isn’t sure. Regardless, the reality of overt Jew-hatred in the US and Canada is being felt more intensely – to say the least. [Steve Kramer]
Worrisome Growth of Antisemitism in U.S. Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Less than 24 hours after receiving the news that Ben & Jerry’s announced they would not allow their ice cream to be sold in Judea & Samaria, what they called “occupied Palestinian territory,” there has been a grassroots backlash against this company. Both the Israeli TV and social media channels are reporting that Israelis are boycotting B&J’s ice cream. [Barry Shaw]
Ice Cream That Leaves a Bad Taste in Our Mouths. Read More »
Barry Shaw, Business & Finance, Middle East, USA
Short story writer Clive Aaron Gill presents the discovery of the connection between IBM and the Holocaust in a pair of moral dilemmas, faced first by a grandfather and much later by his granddaughter Rebecca, whom we first meet as a school girl and later as a public relations executive for a charitable organization. [Donald H. Harrison]
Short Story Focuses on IBM’s Business With the Nazis Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Edwin Black, USA
El, the elephant, offers to help the boy find God. So off they go, the boy on El’s back, and they see a flower and a meadow; feel the effects of the wind and the sun; and the coolness of river water. The boy asks when they will find God, and El explains that the boy already had met God in the beauty of the flower; the peacefulness of the meadow; the strong winds; the warmth of the sun; and the life-giving, thirst-quenching water of the river. [Donald H. Harrison]
Juvenile Fiction: Elephant Helps a Boy Find God Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
Signs the earth is experiencing severe climate change: … The power company shuts off your electricity due to heavy usage caused by high temperatures, but you have no trouble reading at night because the forest fire outside your house casts enough light. … [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: Signs of Severe Climate Change Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire