By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — When the nine days of the Jewish month of Ab arrives, our joy diminishes accordingly.[1] Unlike other times of the year, this period in particular beckons us to give thought to the reasons why the Second Jewish Commonwealth of the 1st century ended in disaster for the […]
Tisha B’Av and the attack on a Haredi soldier Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — This column is about smoke and mirrors. In other words, it’s an effort to understand what may really be happening in the fog of Israeli politics. It’s not something that I usually do. I generally scoff at stories of conspiracy, hidden meanings, the secret Torah within the Torah, gematria or
Long lead time for drafting Haredim arouses suspicions Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Chaos in Syria and now in Egypt, with instability in Lebanon increasing as Hezbollah is deeply involved in Syria. Hamas in Gaza is most likely planning its response to the problems of its patron in Egypt. Jordan’s king may be even more worried than usual about threats to his regime,
Egyptian coup another example of Muddled East politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — One of the readers of the AJR Journal (Association of Jewish Refugees), published in London, to which I contribute a monthly column entitled ‘Letter from Israel,’ wrote an irate letter to the editor complaining about what I write. They wrote: “Why doesn’t Mrs. Shefer-Vanson write about the real
Jerusalem and Northwest London Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
By Jeremy Ben-Ami WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts aimed at jumpstarting diplomacy to reach a two-state solution are running into a buzzsaw of negativity. I’m not surprised when the negativity comes from opponents of a two-state solution. They don’t see ending the conflict as either an existential necessity for Israel or
With skeptics like these, Kerry doesn’t need enemies Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — How much territory does Israel need to be secure in the absence of peace with its Palestinian neighbors? Is that different from how much security Israel is entitled to under that circumstance? Who decides? And why is an American general trying to find out? These are not trick questions
Israel self-defense, not U.S. guarantees, key to security Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A political analyst should never say never. Things change. Politicians generally mask their intentions, and occasionally surprise constituents with their flexibility. Remember Nixon’s opening to China. John Kerry may be hoping for something like that from Benyamin Netanyahu, and maybe even from Mahmoud Abbas. It may happen, but unlikely is a legitimate
Kerry’s peace mission? Never say never Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida –The two men sat side by side with clenched jaws as they faced the press after a two-hour emotional meeting. They were the presidents of the two greatest superpowers, the United States and Russia. What to do about the two-year-old civil war in Syria that has divided the
Two men met in Ireland Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — It is tempting to watch American foreign policy and Russian foreign policy and assign all the naiveté and sloppy thinking to one and all the clever, chess-playing skills to the other. But that would be wrong. Neither side is very clever and Russia’s hand — and that of the
Russia seriously stumbles in Syria Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky We’ve been traveling between relatives in the land that has been home to several generations of wandering Sharkanskys. Family members and others we are encountering look on Israel with a combination of admiration and disappointment. Some of those disappointed want it to be more aggressive in solving its problems, while some want
Israel is like a European democracy, only Jewish Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Miracles awaken our capacity to experience wonderment and awe. They speak to the deepest recesses of our soul without words—but through beauty. In the liturgy, Jewish tradition frequently invokes the imagery of the Red Sea, when Moses and his mighty staff made the waters part into
Not from outside, but from inside, are Jews threatened Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Jeremy Ben-Ami WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State John Kerry is headed back to the Middle East this week – his fifth trip in four months – to jumpstart diplomacy to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The secretary apparently intends to tell both Israelis and the Palestinians that it’s time to decide if they are
Ben-Ami: Time for U.S. Jews to build a peace constituency Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Taliban carefully scripted the kerfluffle to embarrass the United States. Its not like we didn’t know they were in Qatar. For eighteen months, Doha has been the scene of sometimes secret, sometimes leaked U.S. talks with the Taliban — and without the Afghan government. But this week, Taliban
Why wait for Afghan withdrawal if it’s coming anyway? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Sean Savage/JNS.org The Irish and Jewish people share a common history of both suffering cruel persecution and achieving national redemption against immeasurable odds. But today, Ireland is one of Europe’s fiercest critics of Israel. The Irish government and prominent Irish NGOs frequently condemn Israel for its treatment of Palestinians, and they are pushing
Irish paradox: Israel trade and BDS strengthening Read More »
Middle East