By Jennie Starr SAN DIEGO — I am an Israeli-American, raised in the US, but I didn’t learn to speak Hebrew until I was an adult. Speaking Hebrew strengthened my connection to Israel, family, Israelis and even Jewish life. It helped me relate, made me more passionate about Israel’s vitality, and increased my sense of
The importance of teaching children Hebrew Read More »
Middle East, USAP.M. Netanyahu distorts Holocaust history By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Binyamin Netanyahu, the son of a respected historian, should know better than to distort history for his political purposes. Addressing the Zionist Congress currently in session in Jerusalem he said that Hitler didn’t want to exterminate the Jews, only to expel them from
Never again: Holocaust news for October 21, 2015 Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastIsrael’s first computerized sign language lexicon goes online (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel’s first online sign language lexicon launches Wednesday. In the lexicon—which is the fruit of two years of work by the Institute for the Advancement of Deaf Persons in Israel (IADPI)—users enter a word in Hebrew, English, Arabic, or Russian, and immediately, a
Middle East Roundup: October 21, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The alleged division of Jerusalem.has brought forth a prolonged singing of our national anthem, oy gevalt. In order to deal with the recent wave of violence coming from the most restive of the Arab neighborhoods, exit roads have been staffed with police who search those leaving. Large concrete blocks have
Some divisions in Jerusalem are economic Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — West Bank Palestinians are — and are known to be — the most privileged refugees in the world. They are not running; they do not have to. Unlike Syrians, no one is dropping barrel bombs on them, starving them, or refusing them entry — as Jordan does with Palestinians
New ‘peace talks’ in Middle East now pointless Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenIsraeli transportation minister floats ‘Jerusalem guard’ plan to secure city (JNS.org) A proposal to create a “Jerusalem guard”—a special police force comprising several thousand officers permanently deployed in Israel’s capital—is being considered by the Israeli Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, according to Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz. Katz said Monday that he presented the plan to the cabinet and
Middle East Roundup: October 20, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastIsraelis on yacht rescue drowning Mideast refugees (JNS.org) On Sunday, a yacht from an Israeli civilian navigation school conducting training near the Turkish coast encountered and rescued 11 Syrian and Iraqi migrants whose boat had capsized, in addition to a 6-month-old baby who did not survive. The group of Israelis from the Ashdod-based Poseidon school
Middle East Roundup: October 19, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The New York Times should do better than Jodi Rudoren. Her screed, presented as a lead article, deals with the suffering of Palestinians in East Jerusalem. It meets the elemental demands of balance by virtue of noting the violence directed by Palestinians at Israeli Jews, but its tilt is heavily
The anti-Israel bias of the New York Times Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Israelis usually distinguish between security and politics. Even political foes will support those in power when it comes to defending the country and its citizens. If they disagree, it may be because they believe that the measures aren’t harsh enough. Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of Yisrael Beiteinu now in opposition, has
Political settlement needed to end terror Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Things are looking pretty bad for Israel. The Palestinians embarked on another wave of historical fabrication (the Jews never had a prominent role in Jerusalem), demands for monopoly of holy places (Temple Mount), incitement showing no relation to reality (the Jews are intent in taking the holy place from them),
Jerusalem intifada prompts same old rhetoric Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — There is carnage in the streets of Jerusalem and throughout Israel. The Arabs who call themselves Palestinians, primarily ones who are “millennials,” are responding to the relentless incitement of “President” Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority: a lifetime of brainwashing in schools, on TV, in the mosques and
The real reason Arabs are killing Jews Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerIsrael to cut off Palestinian Authority payments to imprisoned terrorists (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The Israeli Diplomatic-Security Cabinet decided Thursday to actively counter Palestinian Authority policies through which terrorists imprisoned in Israel are eligible for monthly wages. In 2012, Ramallah’s payments to terrorists exceeded $19 million. The ministers have instructed Israeli intelligence agencies to gather
Middle East Roundup: October 16, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We have been in a condition of responding defensively to an increase in violence, similar to how Israel has acted several times when pressed. During those times its officials go through long meetings when they listen to security professionals and ponder the alternatives. They are also building credit with overseas
So far Israel is passive in face of Jerusalem intifada Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO (SDJW) — The House of Israel in Balboa Park will stage a candlelight vigil 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, to sunrise Sunday, Oct. 18, in support of the victims of violence in Israel. Organizers say there will be no speeches, only a silent demonstration to demonstrate support for the victims. It’s “a vigil
S.D. vigil against violence in Israel planned Oct 17-18 Read More »
Middle East, San Diego Calendar