International

Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla; violence leaves 10 dead, 4 wounded

By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–Four Israeli soldiers were wounded in this morning’s operation against the Gaza flotilla and ten activists reportedly were killed in the violent confrontation. Exactly the kind of escalation many of us predicted after the Rachel Corrie tragedy in 2003, when the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) sent Corrie into a military zone […]

Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla; violence leaves 10 dead, 4 wounded Read More »

Middle East

Used to isolation in world opinion, where does Israel put its trust?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–It is sad, even pathetic, but not surprising that the UN meeting of parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons concluded their month long conference by calling for the monitoring of Israel’s nuclear program without mentioning that of Iran.  The United States participated in the consensus, but senior officials

Used to isolation in world opinion, where does Israel put its trust? Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Female rabbis assume leadership of Rabbinical Assembly

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–On Thursday evening I returned from attending the International Rabbinical Assembly Convention. For the first time in its history, this year’s RA Convention was held at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. JTS is the premiere academic institution of the Conservative Movement and many  JTS scholars, as well

Female rabbis assume leadership of Rabbinical Assembly Read More »

Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Bereavement unites Palestinian and Israeli parents

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –As a result of a chance encounter at Lod airport at the beginning of the year I met Robi Damelin, spokesperson for the Parents Circle – Bereaved Families Forum, the group uniting Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families in an effort to attain peace, reconciliation and tolerance. Robi was struggling

Bereavement unites Palestinian and Israeli parents Read More »

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

A special dinner for America's wounded veterans

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.–Long time readers know, and have generously supported, Fran O’Brien’s dinners for soldiers, primarily amputees, recovering from their wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital. The dinners, which take place outside of the hospital, began in 2004 and offer recovering soldiers a chance to socialize, eat a

A special dinner for America's wounded veterans Read More »

Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Irena Sendler wins posthumous ADL award for hiding Jewish children during Shoah

WARSAW,  Poland  (Press Release)–Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker who smuggled about 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw ghetto during the Holocaust, was honored posthumously by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for her heroism in risking her life to save others. The ADL Courage to Care Award, which honors rescuers of Jews during the

Irena Sendler wins posthumous ADL award for hiding Jewish children during Shoah Read More »

Middle East

Illegal immigration is a problem throughout the world

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Immigration is again a hot button in the United States, with attractions for demagogues of right and left. The President has ordered 1,200 National Guard personnel sent to border areas of the Southwest, in response to other politicians demanding that something be done. The targets of this effort are illegal drug shipments

Illegal immigration is a problem throughout the world Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Rabbi criticizes Lieberman's support for repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

MONSEY, N.Y. (Press Release)–Orthodox Jews will be among religious leaders and pro-family activists converging on Washington DC on Thursday to protest the latest efforts to hastily repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in the House of Representatives. Chief among their concerns are the ways that changes in the armed services rules would seriously compromise religious liberty

Rabbi criticizes Lieberman's support for repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Read More »

USA

North Korea threatens to reactivate war with South Korea

By Shoshana Bryen Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–It was North Korea that torpedoed a South Korean submarine-an internationally recognized act of war that killed 46 South Korean sailors. It wasn’t an accident. As follow-on, North Korea announced that any act of retaliation by the South would be considered a provocation. When the South Korean

North Korea threatens to reactivate war with South Korea Read More »

Shoshana Bryen, USA

International Bar Association calls for halt to attacks on Richard Goldstone

LONDON (Press Releases)–The President and Executive Director of the International Bar Association (IBA), Fernando Peláez-Pier and Mark Ellis, respectively, are concerned by the sustained professional and personal criticism of the eminent jurist Richard Goldstone, following publication of the report by the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. Since the report was placed in

International Bar Association calls for halt to attacks on Richard Goldstone Read More »

Middle East

University of Haifa to honor Ruth Dayan for work with immigrants, Bedouins

HAIFA (Press Release)–The University of Haifa will award the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa, to Mrs. Ruth Dayan during the University’s 38th Meeting of the Board of Governors, which will take place on June 1-3. The honorary doctorate will be conferred upon Mrs. Dayan in recognition of her longstanding contribution to Israel’s economic,

University of Haifa to honor Ruth Dayan for work with immigrants, Bedouins Read More »

Middle East