By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Israel’s cabinet is embroiled over the proposed nationality bill that would raise the Jewish, democratic ethos, mentioned in Israel’s Declaration of Independence, into a Basic Law, which is Israel’s version of a constitution. Not only are many Israelis, and especially Arabs, fearful that their status will be downgraded, others
The importance of Israel being ‘Jewish’ Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerTEL AVIV (Press Release) — “Memetics,” or the study of memes, is a very popular discipline among cultural researchers now, particularly as it concerns new media like viral videos. But no one seems to know what a meme really is. Originally coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, the “meme” transfers cultural information much the way that
How do we transmit culture? Read More »
International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Tzvi Zucker JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — In 2014, cruise ship traffic to Israel decreased by almost two-thirds in comparison with the year before. A cruise ship that docked in Ashdod during Operation Protective Edge was hit by shrapnel from a rocket. The AIDA Diva, a cruise ship with a capacity of 2,050 passengers and run
Fewer cruise ships calling in Israel Read More »
Middle East, Travel and FoodISTANBUL, Turkey (WJC)– A provincial governor of Turkey whose anger at Israel led him to call for turning a synagogue into a museum, has apologized to the country’s chief rabbi – though he claimed he was misunderstood. Dursun Şahin, governor of the northwestern Edirne province, offered an “apology” that expressed “profound sadness” that his words
Turkish governor apologizes to chief rabbi Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Overlapping events in Jerusalem and Ferguson, Missouri make it timely to consider one of the most sensitive of policy issues in both Israel and the United States, with emerging similarities in European countries that are no longer homogeneous ethnically. Even the label “managing minorities” will be viewed by some as disparaging, arrogant,
How Israel, U.S. ‘manage’ minority problems Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Michael Ordman HAIFA, Israel — When the regular news is full of distressing events, such as the recent terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, I try to focus my weekly positive news feature on the many life-affirming stories from Israel that barely get any attention in the international media. Israeli scientists at Tel Aviv University stumbled
Positively Israel ~ November 26, 2014 Read More »
Michael Ordman, Middle EastIsrael demands NATO response to new Hamas headquarters in Turkey (JNS.org) Israel has demanded that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) take action against one of its members, Turkey, after learning that the country allowed the Gaza-based Palestinian terror group Hamas to set up operational headquarters in Istanbul. Senior political sources in Jerusalem said Hamas
JNS news briefs: November 26, 2014 Read More »
International, Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– A record crowd of over 1,100 people attended the Zionist Organization of America’s (ZOA) 116th Louis B. Brandeis Award National Dinner on Sunday, November 23 at the New York City’s elegant Grand Hyatt Hotel. Major ZOA donors provided tables for 261 student activists from various universities around the country. Rising Republican star and
Zionism unites Dershowitz, Cruz Read More »
Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (Press Release)–The Hadassah Medical Organization Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Erez Meltzer, 59, as Chairperson of the Board. He was selected from among top-tier candidates presented by Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, to the Government of Israel representatives and was approved by the Ministries of Health and Finance. Meltzer
Erez Meltzer to chair Hadassah Medical’s board Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Tzvi Zucker JERUSALEM — Lost in the uproar over the proposed Nationality Bill has been the historic recognition of Arameans as a separate nationality in Israel. Israel is the first country in the world to recognize the Arameans. Israel’s historic recognition has empowered and emboldened Arameans to seek better treatment in other countries
Arameans to seek recognition outside israel Read More »
International, Middle EastIsrael protests Jordanian support of synagogue terrorists’ families (JNS.org) The Israeli Embassy in Amman on Monday issued a letter of protest to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry in reaction to Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour’s letter of support to the families of the two Palestinian terrorists behind the Nov. 18 synagogue massacre in Jerusa-lem. The terrorists
JNS news briefs: November 25, 2014 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Currently Israeli politicians are wrapping themselves around a high intensity bit of meaninglessness, which is also dangerous, about the country’s self definition of being a Jewish state. The issue was settled 60 years ago when the founders left dangling in the Declaration of Independence the wonderful sounding ideals of being
‘Jewish state’ bill likely to go nowhere Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)— Peter Beinart, a former editor of the New Republic and currentlyh a columnist for Haaretz, will discuss his insights into recent developments in Israel and the region, the Israel-Diaspora relationship and the changing dynamics around Israel on college campuses at 7 p.m. Monday, December 15th at at Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Center Drive,
Columnist Beinart to discuss Israel here Dec. 15 Read More »
Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USABy Anav Silverman BEER-SHEVA, Israel– According to a Ben Gurion University of the Negev research group, American football players for the first time have been found to have brain damage from mild “unreported” concussions. Published in the current issue of the American Medical Association’s JAMA Neurology, the Ben Gurion study could improve decision making about when an athlete
BGU: 2 kinds of football- caused brain trauma Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions