RABAT, Morocco (SDJW) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to Morocco, said on Friday, April 4, that he and President Barack Obama will evaluate whether the United States should continue its role as a mediator in the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, in light of recent actions taken by both […]
Kerry: U.S. to ‘evaluate’ Mideast role Read More »
Middle East, USA
CANBERRA, Australia (WJC) — Australia’s Jewish community has rejected plans by Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s government to loosen laws punishing hate speech and racial discrimination. Under the federal government’s proposed changes, the new Racial Discrimination Act will no longer make it illegal to “offend, insult or humiliate” an Australian because of their race or ethnicity.
Australian plan to modify hate speech law protested Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — The National Civil Rights Museum, built on the site of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, and visited by 200,000 people every year, is re-opening this weekend. A remarkable renovation, joining history to our moral future, has been completed in conjunction with the 46th anniversary of the MLK assassination
Recalling MLK who was murdered 46 years ago today Read More »
USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — A few years ago our congregation participated in a “Torah for the Troops” campaign that was spearheaded locally by Gary Jacobs. After making a lead gift, Gary encouraged San Diego Synagogues, the Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Community Foundation to contribute funds to commission the writing of a
Bringing Torah to the troops Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USAGaza terrorists fire four rockets at Israel (JNS.org) Israeli Air Force jets struck five targets in the Gaza Strip on Thursday night in response to rocket fire from Gaza, Israel Hayom reported. Terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired four rockets into southern Israel earlier Thursday, prompting sirens to go off in the Shaar Hanegev region
JNS news briefs: April 4, 2014 Read More »
International
By Norma Zager/JNS.org LOS ANGELES — Those of the mindset that religions are inherently at war with one another must have a difficult time reconciling the friendship between the State of Israel and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Yet, in the real world, it makes perfect sense. Muslim countries that use Islam—a traditionally peaceful religion
Azerbaijan: A modern Muslim nation befriends Israel Read More »
International, Middle East
By Jenni Frazer/JNS.org BRIGHTON, England — In August 2012, a Christian and a Jew bumped into each other in Brighton, the languid seaside resort on Britain’s south coast that has become the hub of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) protests at the local Ecostream store. The Israeli-owned shop has attracted weekly demonstrations from the
British anti-BDS group employ humor Read More »
International, Middle East
By Sean Savage/JNS.org BOSTON—The U.S.-Israel relationship finds itself at a critical juncture while American Jewish opinions and passions swirl regarding the U.S.-brokered Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which stand on the brink of collapse. Against that backdrop, six Israeli Members of Knesset (MK), each representing a slice of the diverse Israeli political landscape, had the chance
Six MKs show their differences at Boston forum Read More »
Middle East
By Giora Bar-Sakai TEL AVIV –Spring is my favorite season: the weather turns warmer, flowers are blooming all around, the days are already longer and the sunsets are simply unbelievable. And one of the most vivid places to enjoy the spring is my city: Tel Aviv. Please allow me to share with you the top
Nine good reasons to visit Tel Aviv Read More »
Middle East, Travel and Food
PHILADELPHIA (Press Release)—Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME), a grass roots organization of over 30,000 academic members based in Philadelphia, expressed its great concern over recent events at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.. Controversy erupted there after an “International Studies 110” class (IS) traveled over Spring break to Israel to study water policy. The IS
SPME protests blockage of classroom by Israel foes Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & EducationTEL AVIV (Press Release) — Is a picture worth only a thousand words? According to Dr. Carmit Katz of Tel Aviv University’s Bob Shapell School of Social Work, illustrations by children can be a critical tool in forensic investigations of child abuse. Dr. Katz’s study, published in Child Abuse and Neglect, compared the results when
Abused children reveal more in drawings Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — In the kitchen of Ahuva Guterman, a Gur Hassid who lives in Mea She’arim, stands an unlikely group of people – a Christian from Texas, a Muslim Arab from the Mount of Olives and a Christian Arab from Jerusalem. Even more unusual is that the group is learning how
Baking Bread: What all people have in common Read More »
Middle East
NEW YORK (WJC) – The World Jewish Congress welcomed a statement by the Polish Parliament, the Sejm, saying that kosher slaughter of animals is permitted in Poland if performed for the needs of Jewish communities. Last July, the Sejm had voted against a government proposal that would have granted a general exemption for kosher and
Polish Parliament okays shechita Read More »
International, Jewish Religion