Middle East

Israel’s Progressive Jews now equal Haredim’s numbers

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–“Hiddush – For Religious Freedom and Equality” is an organization headed by Rabbi Uri Regev, the former president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and, before that, the head of Reform Judaism’s Israel Religious Action Centre. Hiddush regularly surveys the religious preferences of the country’s Jews. The latest poll indicates

Israel’s Progressive Jews now equal Haredim’s numbers Read More »

Jewish Religion, Middle East

Declining birthrate, refugee influx may change Europe

By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — In the United States, the question of illegal immigrants, or whatever the politically correct term is this month, is near the top of the list for aspirants to be the Republican or Democratic candidate for president. Though the topic generates headlines, it isn’t an existential issue for Americans,

Declining birthrate, refugee influx may change Europe Read More »

International, Middle East, Steve Kramer

Muslim extremists prompt Temple Mount unrest

By Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Anyone reading the foreign press about the rioting taking place on the Temple Mount might imagine that Jews were running amok in Jerusalem. Nothing could be further from the truth. The violence derives from the provocative actions of paid volunteers of Islamist extremist groups such as Murabitun and Murabatat who, for

Muslim extremists prompt Temple Mount unrest Read More »

Barry Shaw, Middle East

A new schism in Israeli Orthodoxy

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–There’s more to religious divisions in Israel than those between Orthodoxy and Liberal (Conservative and Reform) Judaism. There’re also many opposing forces within Orthodoxy: Ashkenazim and Sephardim; Hasidim and their opponents; Zionists and anti-Zionists. Yet they’re together in the Knesset and currently all in the government. In recent years, however, yet

A new schism in Israeli Orthodoxy Read More »

Jewish Religion, Middle East

Middle East Roundup: September 18, 2015

  Declassified CIA report: Israeli offensive in Six-Day War surprised U.S. (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A newly declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report sheds new light on how the U.S. intelligence community viewed the outbreak of the 1967 Six-Day War, suggesting American officials were surprised by the clashes. “Hostilities began early this morning,” reads the

Middle East Roundup: September 18, 2015 Read More »

International, Middle East, USA

Arab – Jewish holy-day battles have many precedents

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An American cousin sent me a link to the PBS documentary, 1913: Seeds of Conflict, and asked if it was a fair and accurate presentation. I clicked, and received a message, “We’re sorry, but this video is not available in your region due to right restrictions.” The Internet being what it

Arab – Jewish holy-day battles have many precedents Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Middle East Roundup: September 16, 2015

Netanyahu vows to stem terror wave after fatal Rosh Hashanah attack (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday night to discuss ways to stem the recent surge of rock-throwing and firebombing attacks in Israel’s capital, including the killing of 64-year-old Jerusalem resident Alexander Levlovich in

Middle East Roundup: September 16, 2015 Read More »

International, Middle East, USA

JFS, others call for U.S. to admit Syrian refugees

SAN DIEGO (SDONA)– Local Jewish organizations are joining a national effort to ask President Obama to allow 100,000 more Syrian refugees to settle in the United States. Jewish Family Service of San Diego and the Leichtag Foundation in Encinitas are joining HIAS, the oldest international migration and refugee resettlement agency in the U.S., to petition the government. As over

JFS, others call for U.S. to admit Syrian refugees Read More »

Middle East, San Diego County, USA