Pope renews appeal for Mideast Christians (JNS.org) Pope Francis renewed his call for the international community to do more to stop the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East and Africa during his address to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Friday. “I must renew
Middle East Roundup: September 25, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Some of us grew up in an era (now vacuum-sealed by the vitriolic American political culture) when you could disagree with a president on this or that issue but still honor his character and disposition. I like President Obama. His articulate and reflective persona, his intelligence and wryness,
Why this rabbi admires President Obama Read More »
Middle East, USABy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Bassam Eid is a Palestinian human rights activist. He created Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group that focuses on human rights abuses by and corruption in the Palestinian Authority. No other ‘human rights’ organizations focus on citizen abuses at the hands of Palestinian leadership both in Ramallah and Gaza. He
Palestinian NGO head opposes BDS Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle EastYom Kippur provides no respite from Iranian rhetoric against Israel (JNS.org) Wednesday’s observance of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, provided no respite in the routine rhetoric against Israel from Iranian leaders. “We will certainly destroy Israel,” said Maj. Gen. Ataollah Salehi, commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army, this week during a parade
Middle East Roundup: September 24, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A meeting of potentially great importance occurred between Vladimir Putin and Benyamin Netanyahu, together with the head of the IDF, the chief of military intelligence, and their Russian counterparts. It came on the news of Russia providing substantial military assistance to the forces of Bashar al Assad, and the concern that Israeli
Russia, Israel maneuver in Syrian civil war Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Let There Be Water by Seth M. Siegel; St. Martin’s Press; © 2015; ISBN: 978-1-250-07395; 337 pages including appendices, notes, bibliography and index, $27.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Most of Israel has an arid climate, and there is a paucity of water in the rivers that flow from the mountains in the
‘Let There Be Water’ relates how Israel got it Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Under the auspices of The Zionist Council in Israel – Anglo Division, Michal and I and friends joined a group headed for Jerusalem for the Selichot prayers at the Kotel – the Western Wall. These are traditional penitential poems and prayers which are said in the period leading up
An Israeli takes a tour of Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerYom Kippur War vets: IDF is better prepared now (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Forty-two years after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, only a handful of officers who served then remain in the Israel Defense Forces. Several of them gathered on the anniversary of the war to speak about their difficult experiences decades ago. Legendary
Middle East Roundup: September 22, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — According to Jewish tradition, the period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the opportunity for soul searching and a new beginning, i.e., Atonement. The Almighty is said to decide each person’s fate for the coming year on Rosh Hashana, and to sign the final decision on Yom Kippur. The
Diversity, unity both said to be strengths of Judaism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) – Among the traditional knitted and velvet kippas of those praying at the men’s section of the Western Wall last night, one particular group stood out with their Harley-Davidson leather vests and black bandanas. An Israeli group of Harley-Davidson riders made their annual trip to Jerusalem, as part of the
Harley – Davidson riders roar up to Kotel Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Mahmoud Abbas, the man who was elected to a 4 year term as president of the Palestinian Authority in 2005 liked it so much he decided to stay on, unelected, for another six years, thereby displaying Palestinian-style democracy. Recently, this ancient occupier of the presidential seat in Ramallah announced
When Abbas goes to the U.N. Read More »
Barry Shaw, International, Middle EastNetanyahu to Putin: goal is ‘no misunderstanding between our forces’ at border (JNS.org) Amid Israeli concern about Russia’s recent military buildup in neighboring Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. Netanyahu told Putin in public remarks that he was visiting Russia “to clarify our policies, and to
Middle East Roundup: September 21, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — A body of rabbis in Israel calling themselves the Sanhedrin recently tried Pope Francis in absentia, for “crimes leading to the mortal endangerment of Israel and the Jewish nation.” What specifically did they claim was his crime, leading them to write that “these actions, to our great dismay, are consistent
Jewish trivia: Sanhedrin and the Pope Read More »
International, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Temple Mount (to Muslims Noble Sanctuary or Haram al Sharif) has returned to world headlines for God may know how many times, according to Jews, since the time of Solomon. Whatever happened there, and happens now, is a matter of intense concern. It is not a stretch to conclude that it
Temple Mount crux of Arab – Israeli dispute Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East