We’re in the midst of a 21 day period, coming after neither of two party leaders could form a government, when any Knesset Member who can get 61 votes is enabled to form a government. Can anyone do it? [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
Knesset parties in free-for-all maneuvering Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
An Open Letter to Administrators at McGill, York, and U Toronto: As you are certainly aware, in recent weeks a series of troubling incidents has occurred on your respective campuses. While the events in question were distinct, they all shared a common impulse by groups on your campuses who believe that they, and they alone, are able to set standards for free speech—in these particular cases, involving the debate about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and how Jewish students and other Israel supporters are treated as part of the university community. [Richard L. Cravatts, PhD]
Administrators: Assert control of your universities Read More »
International, Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Neither the British government nor the leaders of Germany and France wish to join Netanyahu’s bid to stay in power. That’s how I see the news that has just reached us in Israel. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
European leaders give cold shoulder to Netanyahu Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
rom December 5-8 at The Diplomat Resort & Hotel in South Florida, the 2019 Israeli-American Council (IAC) National Summit will bring together nearly 4,000 attendees from around the world for critical dialogue and inspiring sessions as part of an event that shapes the Jewish communal conversation. [Press Release]
A ‘living bridge’ between U.S. and Israel Read More »
Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
[BDS advocates] have persuaded the European Union to introduce a labeling policy on Jewish produced products and services from Judea and Samaria in Israel, frequently called “the West Bank,” and in diplomatic circles the “disputed territories.” In a unique policy, the EU is insisting that Israeli products emanating from Jewish towns, villages, and industrial areas in these areas can no longer be labeled “Made in Israel” but must be designated some other description. [Barry Shaw]
EU’s Blatant Anti-Semitism Read More »
Barry Shaw, International, Jewish History, Middle East
The idea of the barren woman caught my attention, as it occurs numerous times in the Tanakh. I checked the internet for how the issue was handled by others in former times. There is much on the topic, actually universally throughout history, and often in an unkind way toward the woman who doesn’t conceive. Commonly she was considered to have sinned. In the Fertile Crescent, because of its fertile land, there was a large focus also on the fertility of animals and women. A near complete absence of true scientific knowledge prevailed. Pregnancy was attributed to a gift from the gods, and its absence a punishment by gods. [By Irv Jacobs,MD]
Religious misconceptions about women’s infertility Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
Three congregations and the Jewish Federation of San Diego County are preparing for the visit of an Israel Defense Force reserve unit whose members have been through the stress of battle and now need rest and relaxation to help them cope with symptoms of PTSD. [Donald H. Harrison]
IDF reservists to undergo therapy in San Diego Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & EducationMany, perhaps most, Israelis seem to think that it’s time for Netanyahu to resign. He doesn’t appear to think so, but it’s not clear that he’ll be able to stay in office. Unless a government is formed in the next few days, Israel will go to elections again. As they seem to abhor the idea of having to go to the polls for a third time within the year, they’ll blame Netanyahu for it and his Likud party may do badly, despite the fans afflicted by the Stockholm syndrome. Let’s hope that parliamentary colleagues will move heaven and earth to avoid elections and join the Blue and White party in forming a unity government. But will they succeed? [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Israelis’ Stockholm syndrome Read More »
Middle EastJewish Family Service is in the process of contracting for its fourth “Safe Parking” area for homeless persons who live in their motor vehicles. Three such areas are located in the City of San Diego – on Balboa Avenue, Aero Drive, and near the SDCCU stadium. The fourth, if given final approval Dec. 18 by the Encinitas City Council, will be located at the Leichtag Commons on Saxony Road. [Donald H. Harrison]
JFS plans 4th ‘Safe Parking’ facility for homeless Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, USAScholars are asking if the various checks and balances of the US are strong enough to deal with a President who seems to be breaking a lot of the rules. We’ll see if his disregard for realities, truth, and the revelation of his tax returns, along with all the other charges continue to attract enough of the poorly educated Whites to give him another four years. Here in Israel the process is more clearly legal than political, but certainly with its political elements. [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
Trouble at the top in U.S., Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIn a country where multiculturalism has a reverent following and criticism of protected minorities has essentially been criminalized as “hate speech,” it is more than ironic that on some Canadian campuses radical students have taken it upon themselves to target one group, Jewish students, with a hatred that is nominally forbidden for any others. And with a recent incident that took place on November 20th, York University, in particular, has now revealed a troubling pattern of tolerating physical and emotional assaults by pro-Palestinian radicals against Jewish students and others who dare to demonstrate any support for Israel or question the tactics of Islamists in their efforts to destroy the Jewish state. [Richard L. Cravatts, PhD]
Jew hatred dressed in academic clothing Read More »
International, Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & EducationCongressman Scott Peters (D-San Diego) was the only member of the county’s congressional delegation to sign on to a letter drafted by Rep. Andy Levin (D-Michigan) that rebuked the State Department for its recent decision to reverse American policy that had opposed Israeli settlements in the West Bank, an area also known as Judea and Samaria. [Donald H. Harrison]
Peters joins critics of State Dept’s Israel policy Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
“I’m not in favor of torture,” Dershowitz writes, “but if you’re going to have it, it should damn well have court approval.” His claim is that if we are, in fact, going to torture then it ought to be done in accordance with law: for tolerating torture while pronouncing it illegal is hypocritical. In other words, democratic liberalism ought to own up to its own activities, according to Dershowitz. If torture is, indeed, a reality then it should be done with accountability. There are, however, significant problems with the reasoning behind torture-warrants [Sam Ben-Meir, PhD]
Dueling movies and the case against torture Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Middle East, Sam Ben-Meir, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAFrom time to time, we’ll be checking the websites, Facebook pages, and news releases of local Jewish candidates to see what they are emphasizing to voters. As they are competing in contests for federal, state, county, and city offices, it is natural that they address different kinds of issues. [Donald H. Harrison]
What local Jewish candidates are telling voters Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, The World We Share