International

General tells NATO about women in Israel’s military

By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM — The Women’s Affairs Advisor to the IDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Rachel Tevet-Wiesel, participated this week in the annual conference of NATO’s Committee on Gender Perspectives, which took place at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Representatives from some 30 countries attended the conference to discuss the integration of women in military services […]

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International, Middle East

Jews will gather for learning in Moldova

CHISINAU, Moldova (Press Release)– Nearly 400 mainly young Jews from Moldova and the southern Ukraine will gather in the city of Chisinau, May 23-25, for Limmud FSU (former Soviet Union) Moldova. Limmud FSU is a festival of Jewish learning featuring a packed program of lectures, workshops, round-table discussions, music and cultural events. More than 22,000

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International, Science, Medicine, & Education

Survey finds diaspora Jews more liberal than Israelis

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) released a report on Wednesday, May 21, on the views of world Jewry concerning Israel’s character as a Jewish and democratic state. Following Justice Minister Tzipi Livni’s appointment of Professor Ruth Gavison to explore the constitutional anchoring of Israel’s Jewish and democratic character, Prof. Gavison

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International, Middle East, USA

JNS news briefs: May 21, 2014

After anti-Israel slur, Turkey’s Erdogan thanks Israel for mine disaster response (JNS.org) In a rare conciliatory remark, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised Israel on Tuesday for showing compassion and sensitivity following last week’s mine disaster in the town of Soma. In his weekly address to fellow party members, Erdogan thanked Israel for canceling

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International

Many religious sites are a matter of faith, not history

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Those tempted to think that Judaism is the most spiritual of the three religions that developed from Abraham should think again. True, Judaism does not have a man-god with lots of paintings and statues at its center, and it does not seek to conquer the world in order to advanced

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Ira Sharkansky, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Frankel supports action against Boko Haram terror

WASHINGTON, DC  (Press Release)– Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-Florida) spoke on the House floor Tuesday, May 20, in support of H.Res. 573, which condemns the kidnapping of female students by the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram.  Congresswoman Frankel, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is an original co-sponsor of the resolution. In a video message, sent to news

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International, USA

Netanyahu honors Israel’s innovators

TEL AVIV (Press Release)— In an impressive ceremony at Tel Aviv University on May 19th during the university’s annual Board of Governors Meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu awarded the fourth annual Prime Minister’s Initiatives and Innovation Prize to Dafna Lifshitz, CEO of Appleseeds Academy. The grassroots organization will receive NIS 80,000 ($23,000) to further

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

ADL: No rush to judgment in ‘Nakba’ shootings

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today criticized the “rush to judgment” by the United Nations and others in the international community calling for unwarranted levels of investigation of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) relating to the shooting deaths of two Palestinian youths at the scene of violent attacks against Israeli soldiers on May

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International, Middle East

Yarmuth: Extend jobless benefits now

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – In a speech on the House floor Tuesday afternoon, May 20, Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Kentucky) renewed his call for a House vote to extend emergency unemployment insurance. Millions of Americans were cut off when Congressional Republicans led an effort to block an extension of the program, which expired December 28. Every

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USA

Schatz: Equalize Social Security for straights, gays

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) co-sponsored the Social Security and Marriage Equality (SAME) Act of 2014 to make sure all legal marriages are treated equally by the Social Security Administration (SSA).  The bill would ensure that same-sex spouses receive the same spousal benefits afforded to married, heterosexual couples. Because the Social

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USA