La Jolla, California, based public relations executive Jacob Kamaras is a former editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). He is an active member at Adat Yeshurun Synagogue.
By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org HOUSTON, Texas – As Jewish media far and wide started picking up on the story of the recent devastating flood in Houston, which hit Jewish-heavy neighborhoods particularly hard, JNS.org was (in my own estimation) conspicuously late to join the reporting. That is by design. I am both our editor and a resident of […]
Jewish values and the Houston flood Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, The World We Share, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org Israeli television exit polls on Tuesday night showed that while the country’s national election remains too close to call, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party defied the projections of pre-election polling and would likely extend his current six-year run as prime minister. An exit poll by Channel 2 said that Likud won
Exit polls: Netanyahu slightly outpolls Herzog Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle EastJacob Kamaras/JNS.org WASHINGTON, DC—A day before his much-debated speech about Iran to a joint session of Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, March 2, attempted to assure the 16,000 people attending the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference—an annual showcase for the U.S-Israel relationship—that current tension will not derail the countries’ friendship.
Netanyahu: Speech won’t derail U.S.- Israel friendship Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel will fail, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference. “Beyond our traditional trading partners, countries throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, these countries are flocking to Israel” wanting Israeli technology, Netanyahu said. “The BDS
Netanyahu to AIPAC: BDS will fail Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, USA
By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BOSTON–The Ruderman Family Foundation on Monday, Jan. 27, announced that Dr. Michael Ashley Stein, a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and an internationally recognized expert on disability rights, will receive the inaugural $100,000 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion. Stein is the co-founder and executive director of the Harvard Law School
Disabled rights activist awarded $100,000 Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org The Taglit-Birthright Israel program has expanded eligibility for its free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18-26, JNS.org has learned. Teenagers who went on an educational trip to Israel during high school were previously not eligible for Birthright trips, but can now participate, confirmed Noa Bauer, Birthright’s vice president
Birthright expands eligibility for free trips to Israel Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle EastBy Jeffrey F. Barken and Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org HAIFA—Jay Ruderman has observed for years that when American Jewish leaders visit Israel or when Israeli leaders visit the United States, the conversation is “always about Israel” and how the Jewish state relates to Iran, Syria, the Palestinians, and others. “What’s happening in the American Jewish community?” and
Haifa University to offer American Jewish Studies Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org The imam of a mosque that is managed by the Muslim Brotherhood-founded Muslim American Society (MAS) was initially invited to speak at Thursday’s interfaith service in Boston to honor the Boston Marathon attack’s victims, but that invitation was later rescinded by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s office, JNS.org has learned. The Islamic Society
Muslim speaker replaced at Marathon service Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BALTIMORE—The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) set a theme of “Where the Jewish community downloads/uploads/shares” for its 2012 General Assembly well in advance. Then Hurricane Sandy came along and ravaged the East Coast, making the theme that much more relevant. “The uploads, the downloads, the connection—to me it’s all around the
Federation CEO on Sandy, Iran, young leadership Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BALTIMORE—Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the Reform movement’s congregational arm, was an atypical choice as scholar-in-residence for the 2012 Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly—by his own admission. “First of all, it’s an honor,” Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), said in an interview with JNS.org in
Jewish Federation pick Reform movement head as its scholar Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Jewish ReligionBy Jacob Kamaras and Alina Dain Sharon/JNS.org Capping a race that on a national level was largely defined by the economy but in the Jewish community turned into an extended debate over which candidate would steer the best course for the U.S.-Israel relationship, President Barack Obama defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney to earn a
Obama re-elected; what now for U.S.-Israel relationship? Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org The largest-ever joint defense exercise between the United States and Israel kicked off on Sunday and is lasting for three weeks in the Jewish state. Austere Challenge 12 (AC12), an air and missle defense training exercise, will involve 3,500 U.S. military members and another 1,000 from the Israel Defense Forces, according to
U.S., Israel in joint missile defense exercise Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle EastBy Jacob Kamaras and Sean Savage/JNS.org “There are, I think, almost 3,000 Americans in foreign jails. Almost all of them are in there for doing something.” That is the assessment given to JNS.org by U.S. Rep. Bob Turner (R-NY), a leading advocate for the freedom of 53-year-old Brooklyn flooring contractor Jacob Ostreicher—who, according to
U.S. Jews jailed, held hostage overseas Read More »
International, Jacob Kamaras, USAArab Lawyers Union honors terrorist who killed 21 Israelis in Haifa (JNS.org) The Palestine Committee of the Arab Lawyers Union recently bestowed its “highest honor” on female suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat, who killed 21 Israelis in a 2003 attack on Maxim’s restaurant in Haifa, Palestinian Media Watch reported on its website here. Jaradat, who worked as
JNS News Briefs: October 18, 2012 Read More »
International, Jacob Kamaras