There are just two days to go until Turkey goes to the polls in a referendum that could give sweeping new powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He wants to replace Turkey’s parliamentary system with an executive presidency. It would mark the biggest change in Turkey’s political system in the nation’s modern history. After a
Turkey referendum: Polls give narrow lead for ‘yes’ Read More »
Middle EastNorth Korea’s vice foreign minister on Friday blamed President Donald Trump for building up a “vicious cycle” of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, saying that his “aggressive” tweets were “making trouble.” In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang, Vice Minister Han Song Ryol also warned the U.S. against provoking North Korea militarily,
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal JERUSALEM — We spent Seder night and the First Day of Passover at Kibbutz HaSolelim in the Galilee. This is where Dan, Michal, his bat zug (partner), and their adorable baby daughter Kerem live. Like many kibbutzim, HaSolelim is now “privatized.” This means that members’ salaries are differentiated and gone are
An Israeli seder and tour during Pesach week Read More »
Middle East, Travel and FoodBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — No matter how hard I try, and believe me, I have and do try, passing over Passover is very hard to do if you live in Israel. The countdown to the festival begins for some people one month beforehand, namely, as soon as the previous festival is over
Hard in Israel to pass over Passover Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Middle EastPittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney died on Thursday, the team announced. He was 84. No cause of death was released. Rooney was admitted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He served as general manager of the club from 1975-2003. Rooney’s father, Art, purchased the Steelers in 1933 and the family has run
Steelers owner Rooney passes away at 84 Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, Sports & Competitions, USANew Zealand’s north island is being hit by Cyclone Cook, which many fear will be the severest storm in generations. The country is still recovering from Cyclone Debbie which destroyed houses and saturated land with heavy rains. It left the town of Edgecumbe flooded by thigh-high water with many people still unable to return to
Cyclone Cook hits New Zealand Read More »
International, The World We SharePHILADELPHIA — Student leaders of Pennsylvania State University’s fraternity system apologized to the family of Tim Piazza, the sophomore who died after pledge night in February, in an open letter released this week. “The fraternity experience failed your son,” wrote Penn State’s Interfraternity Council Executive Board, in a letter released publicly Wednesday evening. The letter
Penn State frat leaders apologize in student’s death Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, USACHICAGO — The United Airlines passenger dragged from a plane at O’Hare International Airport Sunday will require reconstructive surgery, and both United and the city of Chicago are responsible for Dr. David Dao’s injuries, his attorney said Thursday. Blaming an overly aggressive response by the city’s Aviation Department officers and accusing United of failing to
United passenger broke his nose, lost teeth, will ‘probably’ sue, his lawyer says Read More »
Travel and Food, USAThe first Muslim woman to serve as a judge in the United States was found dead in the Hudson river in New York on Wednesday. Police found the body of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, 65, floating in the river near Harlem. A New York Police Department spokesman tells Newsweek that the death is not believed to be
First Female Muslim Judge in U.S. Found Dead in River Read More »
USABy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — A frustrated Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Liberman, criticized the United Nations for ignoring the issue of Palestinians killing Palestinians. In a phone conversation with Nikolay Mladenov, the UN Middle East envoy, he complained that while the UN regularly condemns “justified Israeli actions against terrorism” they have nothing to say about
World ignores Arabs killing Arabs Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle EastFalkland Islands officials have fired a warning shot at Argentinean Jewish billionaire Eduardo Elsztain to back away from buying FIC – Falkland Islands Company. FIC, founded 165 years ago, operates the island’s vital supply routes, and stores and plays a vital role in the fishing and oil industries. The UK government is concerned that Elsztain’s
Elsztain warned off buying Falklands co Read More »
InternationalDetroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, left, and second baseman Ian Kinsler celebrating a win over the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park in Detroit, July 20, 2015. They are two of the most prominent Jews in the majors this year. Leon Halip/Getty Images Ryan Braun hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs in a game
The 2017 Jewish major leaguers Read More »
International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USAIRBIL, Iraq — The U.S. military says a misdirected airstrike this week killed 18 friendly fighters battling the Islamic State alongside the international coalition in northern Syria. U.S. Central Command said Thursday that coalition aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces for a strike intended to target militants south of
US military says misdirected airstrike in northern Syria killed 18 allied fighters Read More »
Middle East, USAProposed changes to textbooks by the UN agency reportedly include revised maps, a ‘balanced representation of Jerusalem,’ and excision of messages seen as incitement By Dov Lieber Palestinian children at a school in the Gaza Strip city of Rafah. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90) The Palestinian Authority Education Ministry on Thursday announced it was suspending ties with
PA suspends ties with UNRWA over planned curriculum reform Read More »
International, Middle East