By Israel Kasnett (July 14, 2021 / JNS) Jordan’s King Abdullah II has often described his country as being wedged between a “rock and a hard place,” referring to war-torn Iraq and the Israeli-controlled areas west of the Jordan River. And that may certainly have been true for many years, but now that the United […]
Are Israel and Jordan ready to turn over a new leaf? Read More »
Middle East
(July 14, 2021 / JNS) The U.N. General Assembly acknowledged a link between terrorism antisemitism in its recently passed Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) for the first time—a move that has been applauded by pro-Israel and Jewish organizations. The GCTS, which lays out the world body’s strategy for combating terrorism, is required to be reviewed and
UN recognizes antisemitism as cause of terrorism for first time Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
Israel’s first and only whisky distillery was established in 2015 by a group of ex high-tech Whisky fans. The main investor is Gal Kalkstein, currently the CEO. They rented an old building, formerly the famous “Eilat” bread bakery. Among the leaders are Tal Hotiner, also known as “The Grape Man,” who is an experienced alcohol expert, bar owner, alcohol blogger, and sales and export director; Dana Baran, marketing director; Tomer Goren, a master distiller with experience in Scotland; and the late Dr James Swan- consultant, one of the world leading experts for warm climate distilling, who used to work with Chivas Regal, Jim Beam and other well-known distilleries. The staff includes more than 20 employees, and the visitor center hosts some 10,000 visitors a year, including workshops and lectures. The name comes from the “Land of Milk and Honey” and the logo is a combination of a dairy cow and honeybee. [Yoni Peres]
Whisky From the Land of Milk and Honey Read More »
Business & Finance, Middle East, Travel and Food, Yoni Peres
AMCHA Initiative Director Tammi Rossman-Benjamin testified on Tuesday before the California Senate Education Committee against AB 101, a bill mandating an ethnic studies high school graduation requirement that allows school districts to adopt any ethnic studies curriculum. [AMCHA Initiative]
AMCHA Initiative Opposes Ethnic Studies Bill (AB 101) Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Published by Reuters TEL AVIV (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates opened its embassy in Israel on Wednesday, with Israel’s president attending the inaugural ceremony. The embassy is situated in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange building and its opening followed the inauguration of Israel’s embassy in the UAE last month. (Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing
UAE opens embassy in Tel Aviv Read More »
Middle East
Published by Al-Araby American political activist and public intellectual Cornel West published his written resignation from Harvard University on Tuesday over a tenure dispute and what he said was the institution’s rejection of his political views on Palestine. In his resignation letter which he published on Twitter, dated 30 June, West criticised Harvard’s alleged hostility
Cornel West quits Harvard over tenure dispute, Palestine Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
In Courtroom Trials in Jewish History, attorney and Jewish-community activist Esther Zaretsky offers an eclectic collection of stories about Jews who, in a broad sense, have had their day in court, courts representing justice at its worst, verdicts driven by antisemitism and anti-Israeli hatred. The title is somewhat of a misnomer, as there are no depositions or testimonies; no exhibits or closing arguments. Rather, Zaretsky provides the backstory leading up to the trial, the verdict, emphasizing how the “courts fail to affirm society’s most precious values of justice, equality, morality, and the preservation of human rights,” and its aftermath—we get to hear the rest of the story. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
Antisemitism and the Courts Probed in New Book Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
Seeing the region through the lens of the “Palestinian-Israeli peace process,” President Joe Biden and the U.S. State Department are backing the Palestinian Authority under oppressive octogenarian Mahmoud Abbas—in the 17th year of his four year term as president—as America’s partner. [Shoshana Bryen]
Biden Administration Ignores P.A.’s Abuses, Backs Abbas Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
Virgin Atlantic, Branson’s commercial airline company, began flying from London to Tel Aviv in 2019. What steps did Branson take to promote the success of the Virgin flights to and from Israel? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Richard Branson Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Some members of the Likud party, those who say they want to head the party “after Bibi steps down,” are showing signs of insurrection. In the June 20 Jerusalem Post, veteran political columnist Gil Hoffman wrote, “In public, Likud MK and former health minister and head of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, has kept fairly quiet regarding his decision to run in the next Likud Party primary. In private, however, he has told other high ranking Likud members that he intends on winning [the next Likud primary] and didn’t spare any harsh words for his party leader and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ….” [Steve Kramer]
Netanyahu’s Support Waning Among Likud Colleagues Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
For years, Avigdor Lieberman has been calling for a limitation of what the Haredim have demanded, and received. He’s called for a liberalization of marriage laws, allowing the joining of those not Jewish according to Orthodox Rabbis, with those who are Jews. Or the union of two people who can’t satisfy the demands of the Orthodox, who insist on those born of a mother who can prove that she was born of a Jewish mother [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
‘Russians’ vs. the Haredim in Israel’s Latest Political Battle Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East
What is the message conveyed by the representation of plants in religious text? What do the images that these references bring to our minds tell us about a people and a society? These are questions posed by award-winning artist and author Gloria Abella Ballen, whose book Garden of Eden: Plants of the Hebrew Bible was the subject of a recent webinar sponsored by the American Sephardic Federation. [Ellen Hernandez]
The Importance of Plants in Religious Art Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
More than 3,000 people from across the country gathered near the U.S. Capitol on Sunday to stand in solidarity against the rising tide of antisemitism across the U.S. No Fear: A Rally in Solidarity with the Jewish People was organized by more than 100 Jewish and interfaith organizations from across the political and religious spectrum, under the leadership of Elisha Wiesel, business executive and son of Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. [NoFearRally news release]
Bipartisan Rally Denounces Antisemitism Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
Published by Reuters By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel said on Sunday it will begin offering a third dose of Pfizer Inc’s vaccine to adults with weak immune systems but it was still weighing whether to make the booster available to the general public. The rapid spread of the Delta variant has sent vaccination rates
Israel offers third shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to adults at risk Read More »
Middle East