Middle East

Friday nights with the grand children

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — “What is your favorite sound?” was one of the questions that the legendary French interviewer and literary figure, Bernard Pivo, used to ask his interviewees. The answers were usually interesting but not very original. “The sounds of nature,” “A champagne cork popping,” “The harmonious cacophony of the orchestra tuning […]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Travel and Food

United Hatzalah certifies 34 women to serve Haredim

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Thirty four Haredi Women graduated a United Hatzalah EMT course on Thursday, joining the Women’s Unit of the organization. The newly trained EMTs will be tasked with providing emergency medical care as first responders to women in the Haredi communities of Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Director of United Hatzalah’s Women’s

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

U.S. should make NATO- like pledge to Israel

This is the second part of an article examining the volatile Iran-Israel relationship.  To see Part I, please click here. By Alon Ben-Meir   NEW YORK — The recent violation of Israel’s air space by an Iranian drone and Israel’s retaliation against Syrian and Iranian targets prompted many observers to suggest that the growing regional

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Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA

Is Israel isolated?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Our friends are worried. Young American Jews are in danger of disappearing via intermarriages at rates of 50 percent or more. Many are ill informed and disinterested in Israel. Key figures in AIPAC have come out in support of a Palestinian State, against sentiments in the Israeli government. Many Democrats,

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Iran, Israel have good reasons to avoid war

By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The recent violation of Israel’s air space by an Iranian drone and Israel’s retaliation against Syrian and Iranian targets prompted many observers to suggest that the growing regional tension resulting from such incidents may precipitate a war between Israel and Iran/Hezbollah, and perhaps inadvertently with Syria as well. I

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Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East

No Israel elections afterall!

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — I learnt today (Tuesday, March 13) that, to make sure that I don’t misinform you, I should only comment on events in Israel long after they happen. What seemed quite plausible, perhaps even certain, this afternoon turned out to be false and irrelevant only hours later. After Prime Minister Netanyahu’s

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Middle East

Netanyahu may want new election

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — When, not if, the current government of Israel breaks up, the formal cause of it will the stance of Avigdor Lieberman, the defense minister and leader of the Yisrael Beitinu party. As the protector, in his ministerial capacity, of universal conscription, which the ultra-Orthodox seek to challenge by introducing legislation

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Middle East

United Hatzalah issues safety tips for Pesach

JERUSALEM (Press Release)– As Passover cleaning has already begun in many houses across Israel, United Hatzalah is taking the opportunity to send out a public service announcement with health and safety tips regarding the holiday covering everything from cleaning to hiking. As in previous years, due to the high volume of emergency calls received by

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Israeli doctors save lives of Syrian mother, child

HAIFA, Israel (Press Release) –After two weeks hospitalization in Rambam’s maternity ward, a young woman returned home March 7, somewhere in embattled Syria, determined and happy.  Two weeks ago, doctors had offered a grim choice – to die at her son’s imminent birth, or to let her son die. After examining the ultrasound results of

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Why does Trump even bother about a Mideast peace?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We’re reading snippets, unconfirmed, of what is said to be the Trump Administration’s proposal for an Israel-Palestinian peace accord. Israelis can’t bet less than 10 agorot on the deal, the equivalent of 3 US cents. One and five agorot coins are no longer in circulation. Americans, living with sillier traditions, and

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International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Info fair March 18 for potential new Israel immigrants

  NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah organization is hosting a fair for prospective Southern California immigrants to Israel from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, at Shalhevet High School, 910 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. The annual North American aliyah fairs (www.nbn.org.il/mega) were created by Nefesh B’Nefesh to enable

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Middle East, USA