By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I am a political scientist biased in favor of politics. I see it as the essence of civilization. One of the hallmarks is the line attributed to Winston Churchill, that jaw jaw is better than war war. Verbal dispute is better than violence. And a corollary is that dispute followed
Politicians may bluster, but bureaucrats decide Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The U.S. State Department issued the following statement on Sunday: “The United States welcomes the safe evacuation of more than 400 members of the Syrian Civil Defense, otherwise known as the White Helmets, and their families from southwest Syria. We are glad that these brave volunteers, who have saved thousands
Israel, Jordan team to save ‘White Helmet’ refugees Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
Anger over arrest of Conservative rabbi for officiating at a non-Orthodox wedding On the very morning of the day he was to drive to Jerusalem to participate at the President’s residence on a panel on Jewish diversity and unity, Conservative Rabbi Dov “Dubi” Haiyun was awakened by police in Haifa to be questioned about officiating
Editor’s E-Mail Box: July 20, 2018 (5 items) Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — There’s no date for the next general election in Israel but the prime minister is already campaigning at full speed. Three most current instances come to mind, 1. He has promoted legislation, just passed, that will prove that he and his party are the only authentic custodians of the Zionist
Netanyahu campaigns for reelection by going hard right Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East
Ben-Gurion University develops new anti-malware methodology Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Malware Lab researchers have developed a new method to detect unknown, malicious emails that is more accurate than the most popular antivirus software products. Email messages are widely used by attackers to deliver dangerous content to a victim, such as attachments or links to malicious websites. “Existing email analysis solutions only analyze specific email elements using rule-based methods, and don’t analyze other important parts,” says Dr. Nir
Editor’s E-Mail Box: July 19, 2018 (3 items) Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The 250,000 Syrians heading toward the borders of Jordan and Israel are a small part of what’s been happening in the Middle East for several decades. It isn’t the equivalent of the population movements that occurred as the result of WW II and the end of colonialism that came along
Syrian fighting near Golan worrisome, but not overly Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USADoing His Will (Osah Kirtzono) by Esti Weinstein, published in Hebrew by Kinneret, Zmora-Bitan, Dvir, 2016. By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM –The poor woman who wrote this book (and eventually committed suicide) was born into a specific sect, tantamount to a cult, of ultra-Orthodox Judaism known as the Gur Hassidim As a child and teenager the author
Suicide’s memoir indicts the Gur sect of Hassidim Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israel and the Iroquois Nation came together this week — In Israel — at the Lacrosse World Championship. The Iroquois Nation team was subjected to enormous pressure to boycott, but they steadfastly refused to be swayed. The Iroquois, who invented Lacrosse in about 1100 CE, know a thing or two
IDF participates in numerous multi- lateral exercises Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
American Jewish Committee disappointed in Israel’s new ‘Nation-State’ Law The American Jewish Committee (AJC) describes itself as “deeply disappointed” that the Israeli Knesset, with the active support of Prime Minister Netanyahu, adopted Wednesday the controversial nation-state bill. The measure passed the 120-member Knesset by a vote of 62 to 55, with two abstaining. It will
Editor’s E-Mail Box: July 18, 2018 (5 items) Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
COPS seeks environmental groups’ denunciation of Gaza eco-terrorism Arthur Stark, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued the following statement on Tuesday: “Throughout the past 100 days Hamas launched countless flammable materials and explosives via kites, balloons, and other devices into Israeli territory. Hamas
Editor’s E-Mail Box: July 17, 2018 (4 items) Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — Michal and I went up to Jerusalem the other day. The weather was perfect, incredibly bright and sunny, hot but breezy, with the promise of a cool night – so typical of Jerusalem’s summer time. We left our apartment here in Kfar Sava after lunch, the better
Youth visiting Israel experience and believe Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve KramerBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Very recently, I was honored with a phone call from a native American tribal leader who was on a visit to Israel. He told me of his passionate support for Israel. He rightly saw the Jews as the indigenous people of the land, something that appealed to his own
Israel should reach out to indigenous peoples Read More »
Barry Shaw, International, Middle East, USA
Visiting HaKotel on Tisha B’Av Many Jews visit the Kotel (Western Wall) on Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning and remembrance for the destruction of both the First and Second Temples and other tragedies in Jewish History. How many Jews? Newspapers report that thousands, even tens of thousands stand before the Kotel on Tisha B’Av.
Editor’s E-Mail Box: July 16, 2018 (2 items) Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We’re currently in a tizzy of political maneuvering. It comes against the mounting evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the Prime Minister and the likelihood of an eventual indictment, as well as an uptick in tensions both south and north. Bibi’s been in office as long as any previous PM, and
With the law probing Bibi, other politicos maneuver Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East