Middle East

Israeli president tasks Lapid with trying to form new government

Published by DPA Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin has tasked the former opposition leader Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid (Future) party with forming a coalition, the presidential office said on Wednesday. The move was expected after caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to do so following inconclusive elections in March. Earlier, Rivlin held talks with […]

Israeli president tasks Lapid with trying to form new government Read More »

Middle East

Netanyahu’s deadline to form government expires, rivals eyed

Published by Reuters By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Benjamin Netanyahu’s deadline for forming a new Israeli government expired early on Wednesday, with the country’s longest-serving prime minister having failed to break more than two years of political deadlock. There was also no guarantee that, after the conservative incumbent was unable to assemble a new

Netanyahu’s deadline to form government expires, rivals eyed Read More »

Middle East

B’Tselem’s Anti-Israel Report Gets the Facts Wrong

South Africa’s apartheid laws mandated Black South Africans to use separate, often inferior facilities like public restrooms, public transport, beaches, schools, et cetera.  B’Tselem claims that a comparable system of inequality exists between Arabs and Jews, both within Israel proper and the disputed territories of the West Bank and Gaza. This is simply false. [Benjamin Zaghi]

B’Tselem’s Anti-Israel Report Gets the Facts Wrong Read More »

Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Israeli Officers Are Wrong to Ask for U.S. Intervention

Military officers in democratic countries have a difficult mission: to protect the people and to wage war at the command of their governments. It isn’t easy, and the IDF – like the United States military – has an admirable record. Occasionally however, military officers glide off into politics. A group of retired Israel officers, Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), appears to be doing that – which normally would be an issue only for Israelis and their government. But this group is asking the United States to create circumstances they believe serve their country but are not being pursued to their satisfaction by their own government. [Shoshana Bryen]

Israeli Officers Are Wrong to Ask for U.S. Intervention Read More »

Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

SDJA Senior Class Program Resumes in Israel

HOD HASHARON, Israel  (Press Release)– San Diego Jewish Academy high school seniors were among the first students traveling to Israel again to continue learning and touring the country through the Jewish National Fund-USA Alexander Muss High School in Israel program (AMHSI). The spring semester abroad in Israel is a regular part of the SDJA experience,

SDJA Senior Class Program Resumes in Israel Read More »

Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: James Carville

James Carville offered advice and criticism to the Democratic Party for their overall poor results (other than winning the presidency) in the last election (“We won the White House against a world-historical buffoon. And we came within 42,000 votes of losing.”). What “Jewish-referenced” comment did Carville offer? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

Jewish Trivia Quiz: James Carville Read More »

Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Good News from Israel (May 2, 2021)

Highlights of the May 2, 2021 edition of “Good News from Israel” include:
–Israel’s Covid infection levels are the lowest for over a year.
–An Israeli treatment uses a patient’s cells to bypass blocked arteries.
–Israeli humanitarian aid is on its way to four stricken countries.
–More Israeli vegan meat and milk products.
–Israeli technology will help expand space exploration.
–Israeli startups in Europe provide tens of thousands of local jobs.
–An Israeli basketball team has won the FIBA Europe Cup.
–Free Birthright tours to Israel resume. [Michael Ordman]

Good News from Israel (May 2, 2021) Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA

Tragedy Strikes on Joyous Day of Lag B’Omer

Sometimes when we are hit with an immense tragedy we are left speechless. The Torah tells us that after the Jewish people had inaugurated the Mishkan (Tabernacle), Aharon’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu, died tragically. At the height of the celebration tragedy struck. The Torah tells us that Aharon was silent (“VaYidom Aharon”), there was nothing for him to say. G-d Himself, and the Children of Israel led by Moshe, came to comfort Aharon in his profound distress. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

Tragedy Strikes on Joyous Day of Lag B’Omer Read More »

Jewish Religion, Middle East, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Who was Shimon Bar Yochai?

An Israeli national disaster occurred at the Lag B’Omer festival on Mount Meron in northern Israel on April 28 when 45 people were killed and 155 were injured when thousands people gathered in the tightly packed confines of a compound surrounding the grave of a Jewish holy man. The tragic incident demands answers for why a hundred thousand mainly Haredi Jews from Israel and abroad would make their way to this isolated site at this special time. [Barry Shaw]

Who was Shimon Bar Yochai? Read More »

Barry Shaw, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East