Middle East

Jihadi Islam’s campaign to erase religious history

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Congresswoman Ilhan Omar never ceases to surprise us with the countless inane claims she makes on a daily basis. In one of her more interesting canards, she claimed that “Jesus was a Palestinian.” One might imagine that she will soon claim that the Israelites were also really […]

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International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

Chicago inks pact with Peres Peace Center

  CHICAGO (Press release) — The City of Chicago and the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation entered into a memorandum of cooperation on April 15th to foster stronger collaboration, particularly with respect to technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It is the first such international partnership for the Peres Center. “Shimon Peres believed in the transformative

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Liberal Jews should focus on 4 major Israeli issues

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Hiddush is an organization that by its self-definition is “for religious freedom and equality.” I referred to an opinion poll it sponsored recently in my April 25 reflections when I argued in favor of a Likud-Blue and White unity government in Israel (without Orthodox and ultra-right parties). In the

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Elections showed Turks are fed up with Erdogan

By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The result of the recent municipal elections in Turkey represents a major shift in public sentiment toward President Erdogan, which will have major political ramifications that will bring him down in disgrace. It is true that the economic crisis and the ineptitude he exhibited in dealing with it played

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Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA

Violence, fanaticism are the curse of many religions

“We keep on being told that religion, whatever its imperfections, at least instills morality. On every side, there is conclusive evidence that the contrary is the case and that faith causes people to be more mean, more selfish, and perhaps above all, more stupid.”― Christopher Hitchens By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —

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International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

UMass urged to withdraw as anti- Israel rally sponsor

SANTA CRUZ, California (Press Release) — Eighty organizations that span the political spectrum today called on University of Massachusetts Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy to rescind all named university sponsorship of an upcoming political event that the groups are concerned will “incite animosity towards supporters of Israel, including Jewish and pro-Israel students on your campus.” They also

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International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

PJ Library helps families seeking more Jewish context

By H. Applebaum SAN DIEGO — What do parents do if they are raising a Jewish child, yet have no resources at hand?  The cause could be intermarriage, or living far from family or other Jews, or all of the above.  When Jews leave traditional Jewish enclaves, and children come along, it presents a challenge.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Israeli history/ poli sci prof lectures May 15

  SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Prof. Luba Levin-Banchik, visiting Israeli scholar in residence at San Diego State University, will address the 6 p.m. dinner buffet meeting of the Beth Israel Men’s Club which begins at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 15, at 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego. Levin-Bianchik teaches courses in history and political

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Middle East, San Diego Calendar, Science, Medicine, & Education

Bibi’s new government likely to be even more right-wing

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Bibi has declared victory, and widespread support, but that ain’t true. Actually, Likud ended up in a tie vote with Blue-White, a party created only a couple of months before the election. Bibi’s support comes also from a cluster of religious parties, and two smaller entities whose heads are hoping

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

The kvetching and the hope

By Brian Tauber SAN DIEGO –In the aftermath of a very controversial election in Israel, let us take a moment and assess the non-political situation. In neighboring Lebanon, Hezbollah has more missiles aimed at Israel (approximately 130,000) than most countries even possess. In Gaza, Hamas and their “brethren” work daily to bring the destruction of

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Middle East, USA