By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One of the principal lessons that should be taught in courses dealing with politics and public policy is the persistence of uncertainty. People who insist on telling us what will be, or what will not be, have a lot to learn. Many who claim to be predicting are telling us what […]
Uncertainty, incremental change staples of government Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USASAN DIEGO (SDONA)– Local Jewish organizations are joining a national effort to ask President Obama to allow 100,000 more Syrian refugees to settle in the United States. Jewish Family Service of San Diego and the Leichtag Foundation in Encinitas are joining HIAS, the oldest international migration and refugee resettlement agency in the U.S., to petition the government. As over
JFS, others call for U.S. to admit Syrian refugees Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s not an auspicious beginning. Or maybe it is. The year is 5776, according to the Hebrew calendar, תשע”ו as you’ll find it on Israeli documents. By tradition, the calendar began with the creation of the world, but we needn’t let doubts about that bother us. As it is beginning, the
Jewish year 5776 starts ominously Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — Although I am very proud to be Jewish, I consider myself more of a spiritual person rather than a religious one. I was born in Chicago and when my family lived there, my parents belonged to a temple, and were fairly active in the Jewish community. That all
Raising funds for Middle Eastern and African refugees Read More »
International, Middle East, Mimi Pollack, USABy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — On 9/11 we recalled the horrors of that day when mass terror struck America. In less than a week, the US Congress will vote on the important Iran nuclear deal. A few days ago, I recalled another significant date – September 7. Not many people remembered what happened on that date.
Three historic dates in September: 7, 11, 17 Read More »
Barry Shaw, Jewish History, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — On the day that Barack Obama gained enough votes supporting his deal with Iran to keep it from even coming to a vote in the Senate, the Supreme Leader of his partner nation, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proclaimed that Iran would see to it that Israel will not survive the 25
Obama’s pyrrhic victory Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Stephen M. Greenberg and Malcolm Hoenlein NEW YORK — For more than a decade, the Conference of Presidents has been addressing the dangers posed by the extremist Islamist regime in Iran. We have been at the forefront sounding alarms about Iran’s drive for regional hegemony, support for terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, gross
Appeal for unity on the day after Senate’s Iran vote Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Somebody wrote me a nasty letter recently after something I wrote about Jews and social justice. “You just wrote that because you’re a Jew,” spouted my critic. To this branding, I say, thank you! Thank you! Thank you for attributing to me the greatest possible ethnic compliment. Call me
New Year’s resolution: ‘Call me a Jew!’ Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAEU parliament backs labels for products made beyond Israel’s pre-1967 lines (BreakingIsraelNews.com/JNS.org) On Thursday, the European Union’s parliament overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution to differentiate labels on products made in Judea and Samaria, eastern Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights from those made in the rest of Israel. The labels were backed by 525 European
Jewish news briefs: September 11, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USANetanyahu to British PM: willing to negotiate with Palestinians ‘immediately’ (JNS.org) At the start of a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is prepared to “immediately” resume direct peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. “I want to say here in 10 Downing Street,
Jewish news briefs: September 10, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
-21st in a series- By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Two of my grandsons were born at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital that towers over the intersection of Mission Gorge Road and Zion Avenue. Given that the hospital’s address is 4647 Zion Avenue, I sometimes joke that these descendants were natural born “Zionists.” But no such flights
I-8 Jewish travel: The doctor who pioneered HMO’s Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The numbers are large, and projections are that the stream of refugees from the east and south will remain at flood stage. Some are predicting another historic migration, such as that which brought tribes from Asia to Europe long ago, and the great movements after World War II. Projections range to
Instead of helping refugees, nations talk and talk Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — What’s the future of this region? No one in their right mind has a convincing answer. What had been major players, or at least rich countries with lots of oil, i.e., Syria (without much oil), Iraq and Libya (with lots of it) are no more. They’ve all gone the way
Mideast turmoil defies academic description Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USAIsraeli firm sells 6 drones to Switzerland for $250 million (JNS.org) The Swiss parliament on Monday approved the purchase of six Hermes 900 drones, at a cost of $250 million, from the Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems. While the parliamentary decision passed with a 30-12 majority, the minority argued against the drone because it was used
Jewish news briefs: September 8, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USA