Middle East

Second Ancient Synagogue Found at Migdal, Israel

A 2000-year-old synagogue from the Second Temple period was recently discovered in Migdal, a large Jewish settlement from this period. Migdal served as the main base for Yosef Ben Matityahu (Flavius Josephus) in his war against the Romans in the Galilee during the Great Revolt. This is the first time that two synagogues have been found in a single settlement from the Second Temple period, the time when Jesus of Nazareth was active. [University of Haifa]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Memoir: The Soviet Man’s American Dream

My grandmother brought up her sons, my father and his brother, in the spirit of loyalty to Communism. She herself could not have been a Bolshevik, for in her youth she had been tainted by her membership in the Menshevik Party. She did not hide her biography and taught her children to be honest and frank with their motherland and the Bolshevik party. In the upbringing of my uncle, her eldest son, my grandmother had tremendous success. [Alex Gordon]

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Debunking the Jewish Faculty Network

The Jewish Faculty Network (JFN), is comprised of some 140 Canadian academics who last March published a statement in which they decried the IRHA definition, suggesting at that time that, “as Jews,” they wished to “add our voices to a growing international movement of Jewish scholars to insist that university policies to combat antisemitism are not used to stifle legitimate criticisms of the Israeli state, or the right to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.” [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

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Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Trump in foul-mouthed tirade on old ally Netanyahu: report

Published by AFP Washington (AFP) – Former US president Donald Trump spat an expletive about his old ally, Israel’s ex-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for congratulating Joe Biden on his victory in last year’s election, according to a new book. Trump lashed out in an interview for a book on US-Israel relations during his presidency, author

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Middle East

Israeli foreign minister in Egypt for talks on Gaza, diplomatic ties

Published by DPA Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid arrived in Egypt on Thursday to discuss boosting ties between the two countries with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, as well as reviewing a months-long ceasefire in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, officials said. Egypt, which became the first Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, in 1979,

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Middle East

Exclusive-As diplomacy stutters, U.S., Israel to discuss military drills for Iran scenario -U.S. official

Published by Reuters By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and Israeli defense chiefs are expected on Thursday to discuss possible military exercises that would prepare for a worst-case scenario to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail and if their nations’ leaders request it, a senior U.S. official told Reuters. The scheduled U.S. talks

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Middle East

ADL: Anti-Israel Groups on College Campuses Harassing Jewish Students

During the 2020-21 academic year, a vocal segment of the anti-Israel groups and activists on campus continued to engage in rhetoric that often demeaned or ostracized many pro-Israel Jewish students. At times, antisemitic tropes were invoked. This became a flashpoint during the conflict between Israel and Hamas in May 2021, according to ADL’s (Anti-Defamation League) annual assessment of anti-Israel actions on campus. {Anti-Defamation League]

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Omar Should Point at Herself When She Denounces Hostile Rhetoric

Says U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, “Words can cause violence.” The Minneapolis Democrat was referring to the words of Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, who represents much of western and southern Colorado. Omar could have been referring to her own words – words like “the evil doings of Israel,” “the apartheid Israeli regime” and “all about the Benjamins” in reference to pro-Israel lobbying. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

StandWithUs Gala Attracts 400+ Israel Supporters

The show was sold out and had a waiting list.  More than 400 Israel supporters of all ages, faiths and political persuasions joined StandWithUs as it celebrated its 20th year anniversary at its annual “Festival of Lights” gala, on Sunday,  December 5. Held at the spacious Wilshire Ebell Social Club and Theater, guests showed proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests, were able to eat outside or inside, and wore masks inside the theater.  The 2020 gala was held virtually to international audiences of tens of thousands.  The 2021 event was also live-streamed, reaching thousands more during and after the show.  [StandWithUs]

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Middle East, USA

The Evolution of Machaneh Yehudah

How does a sleepy community become a hot residential destination? Sometimes the addition of a new train station can turn a town into an “up and coming” bedroom community of a thriving metropolis. Frequently the creation of a new business hub or a new mall lures residents to the city. Interestingly, sometimes the rejuvenation of an iconic landmark can help energize a community – as we have witnessed in Nachlaot, which houses the historic Shuk Machaneh Yehudah. (Gedaliah Borvick)

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Gedaliah Borvick, Middle East

Israeli stabbed in Jerusalem, Palestinian assailant shot dead

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) -A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli outside Jerusalem’s walled Old City on Saturday before he was shot and killed by security forces at the scene, police said. A video released by Israeli police appears to show a man crossing a street and then turning around and several times stabbing or attempting

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Middle East

OpEd: Middle East Studies Association’s Betrayal of Academic Freedom

Unsurprisingly for an organization whose membership has been perennially hostile to Israel, members of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) voted at their recent annual meeting to advance a resolution endorsing an academic boycott of Israeli academics to a full membership vote in 2022. [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

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Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA