By Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel —Too many American Jews are ignorant about what’s really going on in Israel. They think they are better equipped to determine Israel’s fate than Israelis are. I know where that comes from: “fake news” about Israel from the mass media. The majority of U.S. liberal Jews truly believe that […]
OpEd: America’s major media is biased against Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
By Moshe Dann JERUSALEM — Although Jews have been retelling the story of the Exodus from Egypt at the Pesach Seder for millennia, the Haggadah as we know it was compiled during the Gaonic period (8th-9th century CE) in Babylon, with additional songs written by Jews probably during the Middle Ages. Based on Torah, Mishna
Who compiled the Haggadah, and why? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Had the leaders of Israel’s political parties with seats in the next Knesset been committed to the good of the country and all its citizens – rather than their own interests and the advancement of their party – they’d recommend to the president a government led by the two
Blue and White coalition with Likud would be best Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel–Now that the actual elections (though not the coalition-building process) are behind us we can stop and think about what we have all just been through here in Israel, and what awaits us in the near future. Apparently this election campaign was the nastiest in living memory, which isn’t saying
Habit voting aided Netanyahu despite all Read More »
Middle EastShared support for Israel brings people together By Yonatan Spitz LOS ANGELES — In Israel and even now as a shaliach (Israeli emissary) in the U.S., I’ve often felt that the pro-Israel Jews of the Diaspora receive unfair criticism for supporting the Jewish state. At times, it seems impossible to get through a discussion about
AIPAC fosters Jewish unity Read More »
Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, will lead the U.S. interagency delegation to Jerusalem April 16 for the annual meeting of the U.S.-Israel Joint Counterterrorism Group, the State Department’s longest running strategic counterterrorism dialogue. The United States and Israel will discuss the shared terrorist threats facing our two
U.S., Israel strategize to counter terrorism Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The election is over, but we’re still a way from the new government. Official results look like a Likud victory, but it’s close, and the winning side is loaded with small parties that will be difficult to meld into a government. So far we’re hearing of competing demands for the
Election over, now jockeying begins Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Doron Krakow NEW YORK — It’s a long flight. The return from Israel to New York or to points beyond is at least 11 hours if you fly direct. That’s a long time to sit. Some sleep, but others like me tend to do so fitfully more often than not. It’s quiet, beyond the
The many faces of Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Yossi Alpher TEL AVIV — Lately, my own research and writing efforts have taken me back to the events of Passover 2002. On March 27, Erev Pesach, a Hamas suicide bomber attacked several hundred people gathered for a Seder at the Park Hotel, near the beach in Netanya in central Israel. He killed 30
The day the Oslo peace process ended Read More »
Middle East
LOS ANGELES (Press Release) — StandWithUs congratulates students at UC Santa Barbara and at Cornell Univrsity for defeating discriminatory divestment resolutions on April 11. The Associated Students of UC Santa Barbara (ASUCSB) rejected the legislation with a vote of 10 in favor, 14 against, and 0 abstaining. At Cornell, the Student Assembly rejected the legislation
UC Santa Barbara, Cornell reject BDS efforts Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Genia Kutner Florida Jewish Journal DELRAY BEACH, Florida — During the war I was lucky to survive with my parents and brother; another died from pneumonia. He was 2 years old. I was 11. My brother was 13. When the Nazi’s neared our town – Pinsk in Poland – in 1941, we fled towards
Holocaust survivor recalls miracle of Israel’s founding Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USABy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — I’ve known Sylvia for so long that I don’t remember how we met. We’ve done a few shows together and always greeted each other warmly whenever our paths crossed. So I was shocked and rather hurt by the following exchange. I had posted an article on Facebook about
And I thought we were friends Read More »
Eric George Tauber, International, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The result of the Israeli election has demonstrated that the Israeli public’s movement to the right is now consolidated, and that its prospective reversal to the center and left-of-center is becoming increasingly unlikely. This outcome should give serious pause to every Jew and friend of Israel, as the consequences
Good-bye Israeli democracy, two-state solution Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — In view of the high birthrate and the closeness of its communities, we shouldn’t be surprised that the Orthodox sector did better in the Israeli elections than before. I hope that the following “report” isn’t true, but it reflects Jewish humor that makes you laugh with one eye and
Random thoughts following Israel’s election Read More »
Middle East