By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –It is customary to invest little in a serious reading of politicians’ speeches at long standing national holidays, like the 4th of July or Thanksgiving in the United States, Independence Day or Rosh Hashana in Israel. What about presidential statements at occasions where the feelings of those who have suffered are […]
Ideological war pits U.S. against more than Al Qaeda Read More »
USANEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has condemned the planned 9/11 Koran burning event organized by Pastor Terry Jones and his Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida. ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “We condemn this proposed Koran burning. The ZOA has not and will not support or condone burning religious
ZOA: Koran-burning 'offensive, wrong and counter-productive' Read More »
USANEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has condemned plans for a Koran burning in Gainesville, Florida and a rally in lower Manhattan featuring anti-Muslim speakers timed to coincide with the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “The Dove World Outreach Center’s threat to burn thousands of copies of the Koran is
ADL condemns proposed Koran-burning Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Let me welcome Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida to join Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of SHAS, and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the promoter of Cordoba House to the Pantheon of religious leaders whose commotions have ranged beyond local and national borders.
On clergy who step from pulpits into headlines Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– The White House released the following Rosh Hashanah message from President Barack Obama: “As Jews in America and around the world celebrate the first of the High Holy Days I want to extend my warmest wishes for the New Year. L’shana Tova Tikatevu – may you be inscribed and sealed in
President Obama stresses a 'time for peace' in Rosh Hashanah message Read More »
USABy Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California–I just updated my will and trust and, with heavy heart, cut out what was a significant bequest to my alma mater, Brooklyn College. What caused the disinheritance is that all incoming freshmen and transfer students are given a copy of a book to read, and no other, to create their
Why I just disinherited my alma mater Read More »
Middle East, USATEHERAN (WJC)–Iran has said it was prepared to sell weapons to the Lebanon should the government in Beirut seek help to equip its military. On Tuesday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah had proposed to the unity government of Prime Minister Hariri to formally seek military assistance from Tehran, the Iranian news agency IRNA reported. In Teheran,
Iran offers to sell Lebanon arms in wake of U.S. freeze Read More »
Middle East, USATEHERAN (WJC)–President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has unveiled Iran’s first bomber drone and said it would serve as a “messenger of death” to Iran’s enemies. The ‘Karrar’ unmanned fighter plane can carry two 115-kilo bombs, or one precision bomb twice that weight. The drone reportedly has a range of 1,000 km, not enough to reach Israel. On
Ahmadinejad calls Iran's new drone 'a messenger of death' Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– More than any other national leader, Barack Obama has a global constituency. The world does not vote in American elections, but his capacity to fulfill his obligations depends on the cooperation of other national leaders, and the opinions of publics that have at least a minimum of influence on them. Balancing
Commentary: The ambiguous Mr. Obama Read More »
Middle East, USAEDISON, New Jersey. (Press Release)–Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg, pulpit rabbi at Congregation Beth El here, is tired of counting swastikas and hearing antisemitic cat calls when he heads home from synagogue. It happened to him again on Friday night August 20th on Route 27, where Jew-baiting by local teens has become trendy over the last year.
Rabbi seeks help from other clergy in stopping hate Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, USAWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Chairman Marc R. Stanley, Immediate Past Chair Michael M. Adler and Vice-Chair Stephen Bittel on Sunday jointly issued the following statement: U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek has a stellar record of support for Israel, and it is wrong for anyone — of either political party — to
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–While the big news of the day is the impending start of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, to open with a blessing by Barack Obama, the news that has held Israel in its grip for two weeks is a document purported to influence the selection of the next commander of the IDF. The document became
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –The announcement has been made that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Abu Mazen will come to Washington for “face to face negotiations.” It is worth remembering that precisely 10 years ago President Clinton invited then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat to a summit at Camp David. Mr. Barak was bringing
Peace talks 10 years ago led to an Intifada Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Following is a transcript of the news conference at which Secretary of STate Hillary Clinton and George Mitchell outlined the agreement between Palestinians and Israelis to directly negotiate for peace. The news conference was moderated by Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley: MR. CROWLEY: Good morning and welcome to the Department of
Mubarak, King Abdullah invited to help launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks Read More »
Middle East, USA