By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An hour or two before sending out my last column, Education Minister Bennett and Justice Minister Shaked announced that they were leaving the government. The withdrawal of their party, Jewish Home, would leave Bibi with less than a majority of the Knesset. A few minutes after sending the column, Bennett and […]
Netanyahyu coalition teeters but does not fall Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
The Jewish American Paradox: Embracing Choice in a Changing World by Robert H. Mnookin; © 2018; Public Affairs, Hachette Book Group; ISBN 9781610-397513; 228 pages plus 80 pages of notes, acknowledgments and index; $28 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Author Robert Mnookin, a Harvard Law professor, argues that Jewish peoplehood should have permeable boundaries.
Redefining who can become a Jew Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – By now, many people have noticed that on sale at the U.S. Post Office is this year’s Hanukkah stamp, which features a papercut version of the 9-branched menorah (one arm being the shamash) set within an ancient oil jug, such as the one that might have contained the
Israel and U.S. share Hanukkah stamp design Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAAmerican immigrants to Israel celebrate Thanksgiving Hundreds of Olim gathered in different parts of Israel Thursday night for traditional Thanksgiving dinners, hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh. Events were held at the NBN Tel Aviv Hub, Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, as well as Haifa and Beer Sheva as part of the KKL – NBN Go Beyond
Editor’s E-Mail Box: November 23, 2018 (2 items) Read More »
Middle East, USALawfare Project informs Airbnb it may face a lawsuit for delisting Israeli West Bank properties On Monday, home-rental company Airbnb announced that it was removing Israeli West Bank property listings. The decision follows years of pressure from the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, which tirelessly advocates for boycotts and other unlawful discriminatory business
Editor’s E-Mail Box: November 21, 2018 (2 items) Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It cannot be said often enough: one of the many good things about Israel is its robust law enforcement system. Nobody is above the law here. Those convicted in years past include a former prime minister, a former president and several cabinet members. And Prime Minister Netanyahu himself is
Deri, once convicted, again being probed by police Read More »
Middle East
Joint Hindu- Jewish celebration held for respective festivals of lights It was standing-room only for 425 Hindus and Jews who made a bit of history celebrating both Diwali and Chanukah at the Hindu-Jewish Festival of Lights at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook, IL on November 18. The event not only celebrated the two holidays, which occur
Editor’s E-Mail Box: November 20, 2018 (3 items) Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The machinations of some of the leading politicians in Israel are sufficiently transparent to make it possible to draw one’s own conclusions irrespective of what they tell us. Thus, for example, Avigdor Lieberman’s decision to resign as minister of defense and withdraw his party from the coalition was probably
Why is there no new election in Israel? Read More »
Middle EastIsraeli law group demands Facebook remove Hamas account Israeli NGO Shurat HaDin has placed Facebook and its Israeli branch under formal legal notice for allowing Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV to maintain Facebook and Instagram accounts. In a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook Israel general manager Adi Soffer-Teeri, Shurat HaDin claims that Facebook’s continual support
Editor’s E-Mail Box: November 19, 2018 (4 items) Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — More than a week ago, the police recommended indictments of a half-dozen prominent Israelis. The issue concerned the purchase of submarines and other warships from Thyssen Krupp, a German firm in the port of Kiel. Involved in the police recommendation were a cousin and attorney of The Prime Minister, a former
Gaza, not corruption, prompts challenge to Netanyahu Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastKentucky governor receives StandWithUs plauditsStandWithUs has commended Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin for signing into law an executive order barring state agencies from doing business with companies which boycott Israel. The new executive order prohibits state agencies from entering into contracts with companies that boycott Israel and other countries with which the U.S. has free trade agreements. During the
Editor’s E-Mail Box: November 18, 2018 (2 items) Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy David Ogul SAN DIEGO — It’s all about equality. That was the message from Cheryl Temkin, an executive member of the Speakers Bureau for the Jerusalem-based Women of the Wall, who was the featured speaker Nov. 16 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego following Kabbalat Shabbat services. Just months after Israeli paratroopers liberated Jerusalem’s
Women of the Wall envoy details struggle for equality Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego CountyBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — That’s the worst sentence to write: “Hamas wins.” The people of the Gaza Strip lose. The people of Israel lose. The State of Israel remains to be seen, but for now, it loses, as well. To deal in realities, Hamas has won, and the implications carry forward. The resignation
Here’s how Hamas wins Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — No sooner did Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to agree on a ceasefire with Hamas become public – allegedly it was made out of fear that a full-scale war with the inevitable casualties would cost him many votes in the next general election – when Avigdor Lieberman (Evet to his family
Lieberman departure sets off Coalition contest Read More »
Middle East