Israel

Math English, Hebrew Get Short Shrift in Haredi Schools

Over the years the Education Ministry has winked at partial compliance with its requirement. The schools of some Ashkenazi Haredi movements teach math, English, and Hebrew, less than described in the formal requirements, and others teach almost entirely religious matters, dedicating perhaps two hours per week to secular subjects. And all in Yiddish. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education

The Shofar’s Role Through History

They were blowing the shofar, but it wasn’t Rosh Hashanah. On Jan. 5, 2021, the sound of the ram’s horn echoed in the streets of Washington, D.C., as participants in the Jericho March circled the capitol in a re-enactment of Joshua’s siege on the ancient city. For Jewish observers, it was a puzzling scene. “Are you going to do the shevarim as well?” one reporter asked a puff-cheeked protester, referring to the rhythmic blowing pattern used in Jewish tradition. He got a blank stare in return. [JNS.org]

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International, Israel, Jewish Religion, USA

Israeli Athlete Survived the Holocaust and the Munich Olympics Massacre

ESPN and ESPN+ will premiere at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 20, The Survivor, an hour-long documentary on the murder of 11 Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympics. Reporter Jeremy Schaap interviews Shaul Ladany, a teammate of the slain athletes, who has been dubbed an “ultimate survivor.”  Along with his family, he had earlier in his life survived the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Au Revoir to France, Shalom to Israel

The first thing that hits you as the plane starts the descent towards the airport in Israel is the difference in the colors on the ground. If you have just left one of the countries of Europe, as we did, there is a noticeable difference in the shades of green that you perceive. The brilliant emerald green of the fields of rural France (or Germany or England or wherever), even in the summer of 2022 when temperatures rose to unprecedented heights and there were restrictions on water usage, remained in one’s visual memory, only to be erased (or at least put in the shade) by the greys, browns and dusty dark greens of the Holy Land. And, of course, the ever-present white of the stone buildings. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Travel and Food

Girls School Athletic Trainer Bashes Israel, Loses Job, Claims Discrimination

Natalie Abulhawa had multiple advantages going for her after she filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against a Main Line school: her own disingenuous voice, the aid and comfort of excuse-laden Arab-American spokespersons; and kid-glove treatment in a Philadelphia Inquirer story filed by an Arab-simpatico reporter. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Terror, the Queen, and the deadline for Parties to Run in Israel’s Election

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — They seem to be on an upswing, but Palestinian attacks against Israelis are a continuous phenomenon. For a summary of attacks since May 2016 and through July 2022, provided by the Israeli government, in English, you can look here. A graphic display appears below. The first graph shows the

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Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, Opinion

U.S. Says it Will Press Israel on Rules of Engagement After Al Jazeera Journalist’s Killing

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Washington will press Israel to review its policies and practices on rules of engagement after the Israel Defense Forces concluded that Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely shot by an Israeli soldier, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday. “We will continue to press Israel

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Israel

Muzzling Free Speech at Berkeley Law School

By Richard L. Cravatts (JNS) The suppression of any speech that does not conform to hegemonic ideologies is not an uncommon occurrence at today’s universities. What is now labeled “cancel culture” is dedicated to the purging of thoughts and ideas that conflict with liberal notions or the radical ravings of social justice warriors. This unfortunate

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California, Israel, Opinion, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education

Is Mt. Meron Investigation the Last Straw for Netanyahu?

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Remember the disaster at Mt. Meron? It occurred in May,2021. Forty-five individuals died in a crowd crush and the collapse of the structure. According to newspaper reports, “Planning and safety officials expressed serious concerns over the wellbeing of pilgrims at Lag B’Omer festivities at Mount Meron last year, days

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Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, Opinion

Over 500 San Diegans Attend Jewish National Fund-USA Annual Brunch

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — On Sunday, August 28, 2022, more than 500 Zionists in San Diego attended Jewish National Fund-USA’s 11th Annual Love of Israel Brunch at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines with many more online. The sold-out event featured Hollywood actress, producer, author, and activist, Noa Tishby, who was recently named the

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Israel, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Pro-BDS Berkeley Law Students Defend Attempt to Get Student Groups to Adopt Anti-Israel Bylaw

By Dmitriy Shapiro (JNS) The organization at the heart of a BDS controversy at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law responded on Monday to condemnation from the law school’s dean and Jewish organizations in a statement posted to its Instagram account. Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine (LSJP) defended its attempt to

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Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA