By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — While former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was being carried on a stretcher into court in Cairo, King Abdullah of Jordan was hosting Israeli and Palestinian representatives in Amman about the possibility of resuming peace talks after more than a year’s break. Neither side is holding out any hope, but […]
Parties talking Middle East peace don’t really want it Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — Beyond Memphis, whence he was once driven away because he thought racism was immoral, most folks did not know John T. Fisher, a Christian who actually thought the Bible was telling him something more important than his less-enlightened white cronies and club buddies. “John T.” died on December
Eulogy for the man of Memphis who cared Read More »
USA
By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — I contacted a friend recently who at one time served on the staff of the Republican Jewish Coalition and is still very involved in the Republican Party to discuss the danger of Ron Paul. Actually, I asked if he would co-author with me articles on the threats
Ron Paul victory in Iowa could imperil aid to Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — People often talk about David Ben Gurion’s encouragement of Haredi Jews to settle in Israel as his “greatest blunder.” Yet, not even he could foresee the damage the Haredi would cause in the future. Ben Gurion acknowledged the terrible mistake he made in a letter he
A Polish homeland for Israel’s haredim? Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — On the face of it, Israel is being turned into a ghetto. As soon as the wall on the Egyptian border will be completed, they’ll start building one on the Jordanian side. But whereas the traditional ghetto walls were to keep Jews out of the non-Jewish world, this time
Walls may surround it, but Israel is no ghetto Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — This past Shabbat, I spoke about the theme of risk as it pertained to Judah’s dilemma; it is only when he shows a willingness to risk his welfare for Benjamin, Judah suddenly displays the heroic trait that many of his descendants would later emulate. Heroes throughout
Beit Shemesh haredi man shows courage in open letter Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The current phase of Israel’s religious conflict is well along in its ritualized pattern. The details may differ each time the conflict heats up, but the basic story is similar. A specific incident excites the faithful and the not-so-faithful Events escalate from name calling, pushing, spitting, blocking traffic, the
Haredi-secular conflict follows familiar patterns Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO –– Everyone dreams of having a grand adventure in life. However, Robert [Bob] Gannon has had many adventures since he learned how to fly in 1992. That same year, he bought a Cherokee 6 airplane [Lucky Lady] after getting a pilot’s instrument license, and flew to Paris, France,
Solo around-the-world flyer found Israel most challenging Read More »
Middle East, Mimi PollackBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– As Israelis begin to talk about elections, two players – one new, the other recycled – are said to be about to form centrist-right parties. The new player is Yair Lapid, a TV personality and the son of the late Tommy Lapid who once had formed a party that had more
Israeli party alignment likely to change; policies to stay stagnant Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Classified Ad: Missing 69 Patriot missiles and 160 tons of explosives? If so, contact traffic police, Kotka, Finland. Iran, don’t bother. Dock workers in the port of Kotka were suspicious of ill-packed crates labeled “fireworks” on a ship bound from Germany to Shanghai. While adding to the existing cargo
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Our celebration of Chanukah this week made the news reports coming out of Israel even more disturbing and ironic. Chanukah is the festival which celebrates Jews fighting for their rights against the Greeks. In Israel, Jews are fighting for their rights against other Jews. An eight-year-old Israeli girl
Conservative Jews lead demonstrations for egalitarianism in Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– “Ultra-Orthodox (or haredi) Judaism – it can never be stressed too often – is not Judaism as it was practiced in centuries past. Traditional Judaism was fluid, diverse and accommodated itself to the practical requirements of the day. Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, by contrast, is a modern creation, born out of terror and
Confusing haredi mysogyny with other issues Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Like a bad penny, the problem will not go away. It doesn’t seem to matter what people say or do to prevent it. Beth Shemesh is a lot like a train-wreck waiting to happen; actually, it has already happened, but the extent of the damage and
The Sikrikim threaten Haredi and other Jews alike Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Lots of news. Less clarity. It’s worth thinking about the details, and whether they amount to a watershed inviting a heroic decision. Khaled Mashaal, the senior leader of Hamas, has ordered his forces to cease attacks on Israeli targets. Mashaal’s expression of non-violence has something to do
Hopeful and discouraging signs on Israel’s domestic and foreign fronts Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East