By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — President John F. Kennedy rarely spoke publicly about his personal faith, though he brilliantly and effectively defused the issue of his being the first viable Catholic nominee for the White House. It was an ignominious issue in 1960 (hard to fathom nowadays) and he mitigated it head-on at […]
Quick takes on recent U.S. Presidents Read More »
USA
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –The more the pundits write and talk aboutIran, the less do we seem to know what’s really going on. Perhaps this is because the experts are as ignorant as the public, just more articulate. Here’re a few of the many possible scenarios I’ve gleaned of late: 1. A strike onIran’s
Is Iran trying to goad Israel into an attack? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An internet friend sent me a video screed from an Atlanta television station that presents, in the most inflammable language, the old saw about too much foreign aid while Americans suffer. Even worse, some of that aid goes to refurbish mosques in unfriendly Cairo and elsewhere. The images tweaked
Giving foreign helps rather than hurts the U.S. economy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –Not being one of them, I find it often quite uncomfortable to walk in ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods inIsrael, e.g., Meah Shearim in Jerusalem, especially in the company of women. And when I read the notices and the graffiti on the walls, I become depressed by their often hysterical anti-Israel tone. It’s
Is El Al security particularly hostile to Arab passengers? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Not a typical weekend, but not all that unusual. This is a tense place, with frequent events that can provoke great drama. It began with a tragic accident. A heavy truck swerved on a rain slicked road north of Jerusalem, slammed into a bus carrying a group of four- to eight-year
Even traffic accidents grist for Palestinians’ anti-Israel hate mill Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–It is a struggle to decide who, if anyone, has a claim to U.S. foreign aid dollars. It is, after all, money earned by American taxpayers and sent to people who didn’t earn it, at least not in the traditional sense. Should it be used to encourage countries to
U.S money goes to its enemies in Palestinian Authority, Egypt Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA
JERUSALEM (Press Release)– The oldest couple ever to make aliyah landed in Israel on Tuesday from Baltimore. Welcome to Israel, Phillip and Dorothy Grossman, ages 95 and 93. They are part of a Nefesh B’Nefesh group with more than 40 other new immigrants from North America. The Grossmans immediately headed for their new home in Jerusalem.
New olim are ages 95 and 93, married 71 years Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Former Staff Director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Kenneth L. Marcus, announced the launch of independent Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. www.brandeiscenter.com Marcus, director of the new center, is founding the Washington-based organization to combat campus anti-Semitism through civil rights litigation, legal research, and public
Civil rights attorney forms group to help Jews on campuses Read More »
USA
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — In his short lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. collected a cadre of loyal and fervent friends and colleagues. The majority of them, including Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, Andrew Young, John Lewis, and Jesse Jackson, have been African Americans. A notable exception to this list of King’s inner
‘J. Edgar’ movie brings overdue attention to Stanley Levison Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The confluence of Barack Obama ‘s problem with contraception and Mitt Romney’s candidacy reminds me of that often expressed sentiment that the United States is a “religion soaked” country. It leads western democracies–including Israel–for people who express a belief in God and pray on a regular basis. The existence of
Romney and Obama both struggle with religious issues Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Most rabbinical students attribute omnipresence and omniscience as qualities befitting a Creator. Only God is called, “The Knower of Thoughts,” and “The Searcher of the human heart.” Rabbinical wisdom has long taught, “Always keep in mind these three things, and you will never come to the
Protecting the right to privacy has biblical precedents Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) expressed deep concern Tuesday over indications that the Obama administration is asking Israel to risk its security and survival to advance U.S. policy toward Iran, without providing assurances that the U.S. will protect Israel if the Iranian nuclear threat materializes. RJC Executive Director Matthew Brooks said:
RJC accuses President Obama of jeopardizing Israel’s security Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (SDJW)–U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday condemned the terrorist attacks on Israeli diplomats. During a news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Clinton said: “I want to say a word about the bombing of an Israeli diplomatic vehicle in India, the attempted attack on Israeli Embassy personnel in Georgia. Terrorism
Hillary Clinton condemns attacks on Israeli diplomats Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– Richard Stone, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, released the following statement about Monday’s terrorist attacks: The attacks today on the Israeli diplomatic missions in Georgia and India as well as the recent planned attacks in Thailand, Turkey and