By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel seems to know how to keep out people it deems to be unwelcome intruders. But it’s helpless in protecting itself against the weather. The extreme heat that’s still with us and the accompanying sandstorm that’s now mercifully on the way out have taken center stage even in the
Israel has many problems as Jewish year turns Read More »
Middle EastBy Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — Although I am very proud to be Jewish, I consider myself more of a spiritual person rather than a religious one. I was born in Chicago and when my family lived there, my parents belonged to a temple, and were fairly active in the Jewish community. That all
Raising funds for Middle Eastern and African refugees Read More »
International, Middle East, Mimi Pollack, USABy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — On 9/11 we recalled the horrors of that day when mass terror struck America. In less than a week, the US Congress will vote on the important Iran nuclear deal. A few days ago, I recalled another significant date – September 7. Not many people remembered what happened on that date.
Three historic dates in September: 7, 11, 17 Read More »
Barry Shaw, Jewish History, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — On the day that Barack Obama gained enough votes supporting his deal with Iran to keep it from even coming to a vote in the Senate, the Supreme Leader of his partner nation, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proclaimed that Iran would see to it that Israel will not survive the 25
Obama’s pyrrhic victory Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Stephen M. Greenberg and Malcolm Hoenlein NEW YORK — For more than a decade, the Conference of Presidents has been addressing the dangers posed by the extremist Islamist regime in Iran. We have been at the forefront sounding alarms about Iran’s drive for regional hegemony, support for terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, gross
Appeal for unity on the day after Senate’s Iran vote Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Somebody wrote me a nasty letter recently after something I wrote about Jews and social justice. “You just wrote that because you’re a Jew,” spouted my critic. To this branding, I say, thank you! Thank you! Thank you for attributing to me the greatest possible ethnic compliment. Call me
New Year’s resolution: ‘Call me a Jew!’ Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAEU parliament backs labels for products made beyond Israel’s pre-1967 lines (BreakingIsraelNews.com/JNS.org) On Thursday, the European Union’s parliament overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution to differentiate labels on products made in Judea and Samaria, eastern Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights from those made in the rest of Israel. The labels were backed by 525 European
Jewish news briefs: September 11, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ben Cohen/JNS.org WASHINGTON, D.C. (JNS.org)– On Sept. 17, the Regents of the 10-school University of California (UC) system will discuss a statement of principles against intolerance. Alarmed by a rash of anti-Semitic incidents on UC campuses, a large number of Jewish scholars and activists have urged that the Regents adopt, in the context of their
U.C. to debate anti- Semitism’s definition Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit)–This year, the call of the shofar will be made accessible to thousands of Israelis, many of whom have never previously heard the blast of the shofar traditionally sounded on Rosh Hashanah in the synagogue. After 15 years of expanding Yom Kippur programs to 295 locations across the country, Tzohar, the
Secular Israelis to hear the sound of the shofar Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastNetanyahu to British PM: willing to negotiate with Palestinians ‘immediately’ (JNS.org) At the start of a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is prepared to “immediately” resume direct peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. “I want to say here in 10 Downing Street,
Jewish news briefs: September 10, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The numbers are large, and projections are that the stream of refugees from the east and south will remain at flood stage. Some are predicting another historic migration, such as that which brought tribes from Asia to Europe long ago, and the great movements after World War II. Projections range to
Instead of helping refugees, nations talk and talk Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USAA Healthy and Good News Year By Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — Today I present to you my predictions for Israel’s medical achievements that will take place in the forthcoming new Jewish Year of 5776. They are reliable predictions, as they mirror actual events that occurred in 5775. I have only sufficient space here to
Positively Israel ~ September 9, 2015 Read More »
Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationPoll: 52% of eastern Jerusalem Arabs prefer Israeli citizenship (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Half of eastern Jerusalem’s Arab residents—52 percent—would prefer to be Israeli citizens, while only 45 percent of them would prefer to be citizens of a future Palestinian state, a recent survey by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy found. A similar
Jewish news briefs: September 9, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — What’s the future of this region? No one in their right mind has a convincing answer. What had been major players, or at least rich countries with lots of oil, i.e., Syria (without much oil), Iraq and Libya (with lots of it) are no more. They’ve all gone the way
Mideast turmoil defies academic description Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA