Those who regard The Jerusalem Post as Holy Writ – and I know such people – may have been startled by the concluding sentences in last week’s column by the paper’s editor: “Israel is in an unprecedented crisis, and this government is not functioning, It is time for it to go home.” [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Pray for the future of Israel Read More »
Middle East
It seems rather ironic to hear in the press these days that the name of Balfour is used to represent two contradictory phenomena in the context of modern Israel, depending on one’s point of view. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Netanyahu family, demonstrators profane ‘Balfour’ name Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East
On a day that the world mourns the 2001 terror attack that felled the World Trade Center in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and took the lives of passengers aboard four hijacked airliners, there was some hopeful news as well. Peace in the Middle East is becoming contagious. Encouraged by the United States government, Bahrain and Israel have announced that they — like Israel and the United Arab Emirates previously — will sign a peace pact. [Donald H. Harrison]
Israel-Bahrain peacemaking draws applause Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
Laurie Baron, Ph.D, has rounded up internet programs from Sunday, Sept. 13 through Thursday, Sept. 17 of direct Jewish interest.
Streaming Jewish Programs (Sept. 13-17) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
In a column for The New York Times, Diana Buttu claims that the United Arab Emirates betrayed the Palestinians. She has it backwards. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Rebutting Palestinian backlash to Israel-UAE pact Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East
The recent agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, brokered by the US, to normalize economic relations between the two countries fell short of the needed reconciliation process that would lead to full recognition of Kosovo’s independence by Serbia. Some elements of the economic normalization agreement are positive, including operationalizing the peace highway and the rail link between Pristina and Merdare, sharing Gazivode/Ujmani Lake and exploring its use as a reliable water and energy supply, and receiving financial support from the US International Development Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) for the above. These and other projects will create job opportunities for several thousand Kosovars and alleviate some of the economic hardship in the country. [Alon ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Serbia-Kosovo Agreement Falls Far Short Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA
Nitzavim/ Va-Yelekh (Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30) — From this double parasha, I chose three passages for comparison, from the internet, with ancient Israel’s neighbors. These were difficult passages on which to inquire of the internet, since they are literary figures of speech more than concepts of action. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Biblical and ancient ‘chemistry’ and spirituality Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East
My last column, about Israel’s perils of September, brought forth several comments about similarities elsewhere. No surprise, except for a friend’s note about the correspondence between disease and populism, often distorted with wild claims as to who was really responsible, and about cures for the illness. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
COVID-19 impacts health, politics in U.S., Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
Boarding a comfortable but fast boat that would circumnavigate the South Pacific island of Niue, Noa and Esther were pleased with their earlier meeting with the country’s premier, who had promised his government’s cooperation as they explored the possibility of installing a desalination plant on the island. However, he warned them that due to the atoll’s geography, rising as it did straight up from the Pacific Ocean, there were very few spaces for beaches or natural harbors. So, he said, finding a suitable location for a desalination plant might be very difficult indeed. [Donald H. Harrison]
Fiction: Jewish perspectives on Niue Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Fiction, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem honors non-Jews who chose to save Jews, even at the risk of their own lives. Yad Vashem does not honor, document or recognize Jews who saved other Jews during the Holocaust, even at the risk of their own lives. Honoring Jews who saved Jews was and is not part of its mandate. Were not their life-risking efforts worthy of memorialization? There is no memorial to Jews who saved Jews and others, in Israel, or anywhere. [Jerry Klinger]
We need a memorial for Jews who saved Jews and others Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, USAWith less than two months to go until election, Democratic candidates in technically non-partisan local races are touting endorsements from big-name Democrats. For example, Assemblyman Todd Gloria, who is running for mayor of San Diego against City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, is sending out a short video showing U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president, endorsing him. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]
San Diego races attract big-name endorsers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USALaurie Baron, Ph.D, rounds up streaming programs of Jewish interest for scholars and lay people, from Sunday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Sept. 11
Streaming Jewish Programs (Sept. 6-11) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USAKi Tavo (Deuteronomy 26-29:8) –From this parasha, I have chosen four passages concerning first fruits, tithing, divine treasures, and iron use for comparison, from the internet, with ancient Israel’s neighbors. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Ancient practices: first fruits, tithing, divine treasures, iron use Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle EastThe fact that the UAE conditioned its recognition of Israel on freezing any further annexation is considerably important. It offers the Palestinians the opportunity to move forward and enter into unconditional negotiations now, while there will be no further annexation of Palestinian land. Even though Prime Minister Netanyahu said the halt on further annexation is temporary, once the Palestinians agree to negotiate in good faith, they will make it impossible for any Israeli government to annex any territory without risking normalization of relations with other Arab states. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Palestinians should quickly negotiate with Israelis Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East