Israeli-Canadian architect wins prestigious award for Singapore hotel (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has awarded the Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie with its 2015 Gold Medal for his international work in planning structures in public and cultural spaces. The AIA Gold Medal is considered the most prestigious award in the field […]
JNS news briefs: December 19, 2014 Read More »
Middle East, USA
JERUSALEM (Press Release)– As the first graduates of the Taglit Fellows program begin staffing Winter 2014/2015 trips and look to positively affect the Jewish journeys of their trip participants, the Taglit-Birthright Israel organization is preparing to host its second cohort of 100 Taglit Fellows at a training seminar in late January due to the already
Taglit ready for second cohort of Fellows Read More »
Middle East, USASANTA CRUZ, California (Press Release) – Twenty-two groups wrote to nine University of California (UC) Chancellors on Thursday, Dec. 18,, demanding they publicly state their commitment to upholding UC policies which prohibit academic student employees (ASEs) from using their instructional positions to promote a boycott of Israel. The UC Regents Policy on Course Content prohibits ASEs
22 pro- Israel groups seek UC assurances Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — A graduate of Yemin Orde Youth Village, in Israel, was honored with lighting a special menorah at the annual White House Hanukkah celebration in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Ataklit Tesfaye, 23, an Ethiopian-Israeli who immigrated to Israel in 2008, recited the Hanukkah prayers alongside President Barack Obama and First Lady
Ethiopian Israeli lights White House menorah Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAIsrael’s Lieberman to boycott Swedish counterpart’s visit over Palestinian state recognition (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is refusing to meet with Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstroem during her upcoming visit to Israel next month, in response to Sweden’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state. In October, Sweden became the first major
JNS News Briefs: December 18, 2014 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It’s impossible to draw many conclusions from opinion polls about the next government of Israel as they’re being published three months before the elections. However, one question put to would-be voters in this week’s Ha’aretz poll seems to be saying something significant. Responding to the question, “Who in your
Polls indicate Israelis doing some soul searching Read More »
Middle EastTEL AVIV (Press Release) — Premature ovarian failure, also known as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), affects 1% of all women worldwide. In most cases, the exact cause of the condition, which is often associated with infertility, is difficult to determine. A new Tel Aviv University study throws a spotlight on a previously-unidentified cause of POI: a
Gene mutation may cause infertility Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationHAIFA, Israel (Press Release)–Having trouble sleeping? Then you are nearly one-and-a-half times more likely to eventually suffer from back pain, according to a new study conducted by the University of Haifa. “After controlling for a range of variables, including socioeconomic status and lifestyle issues, we came to the conclusion that insomnia is a marker for
Insomnia may be a harbinger of back pain Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationJERUSALEM (Press Release)– Aliyah (immigration) to Israel from North America increased 7 percent in 2014 over the previous year, with 3,762 Olim from the U.S. and Canada, compared to 3,504 Olim in 2013, according to Nefesh B’Nefesh. A 6 percent growth in Aliyah from the United Kingdom was recorded during the same period, according to the
North American aliyah to Israel grew in 2014 Read More »
Middle East, USAJewish contractor Alan Gross freed in American-Cuban prisoner swap (JNS.org) Jewish-American aid worker Alan Gross has been released from Cuban prison after five years, major media outlets reported Wednesday morning, citing United States officials. The U.S. secured Gross’s freedom in exchange for the release of three Cubans imprisoned in America. Gross, a subcontractor for
JNS News Briefs: December 17, 2014 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Uncertainty is the human condition. Perhaps a bit more for the Jews than most others, but we’ve managed, most of the time, despite our worries. It ain’t all that bad. If we are uncertain, so are others, and we are not the weakest or the lowest in the pile. Governments
Living with uncertainty can be habit forming Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– It seems to me that the main argument of the Israeli Left is that international law and Jewish values offer the best protection for the country. Opposing this stance, the Israeli Right argues that military security and the survival of the Jewish people must be the primary guides of the
How Israel’s right and left frame Palestinian issue Read More »
Middle EastHezbollah arrests Israeli Mossad spy that infiltrated its ranks (JNS.org) The Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah said an official in its external branch has been arrested for spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. The Mossad agent was part of Hezbollah Unit 910, which carries out operations against specific Israeli targets, and allegedly prevented such attacks, the
JNS news briefs: December 16, 2014 Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Chris Jennewein SAN DIEGO (Times of San Diego) — A leading scholar of modern Israel said the Jewish state’s future depends on the creation of a separate Palestinian homeland in the West Bank. “Every time Israel makes it harder to build a viable Palestinian state, we make Hezbollah and Hamas stronger,” said Peter
Beinart says Israel needs 2-State solution Read More »
Chris Jennewein, Middle East