By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There are times when there are too many Jews in the Jewish country. Or maybe just too many rabbis. Currently we are approaching the culmination of a messy election to the Chief Rabbinate that reveals–along with a couple of other issues simultaneously bothering us–that Judaism would profit from a clean
Chief rabbinate politics as nasty as those in the Knesset Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Supporting sanctions against Iran is understood to be a position designed to moderate Iranian behavior regarding the acquisition of nuclear capability. It is the position of people and countries that do not want to contemplate military action by either the United States or Israel. It is the position of
Iran uses European courts in its war on the West Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The amorphous agreement of Israeli and Palestinian leaders to begin talking has pushed other items–that might otherwise be grabbing all the headlines–to the margins of national attention. One is the impending election of two Chief Rabbis (Ashkenazi and Sephardi), after a campaign with nastiness that makes Knesset elections seem like the most
Any deal from Mideast talks likely to be partial Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — Every four years, the Maccabiah Games, the world’s third largest sporting competition following the Olympics and FIFA, are held in Israel. Also called the Jewish Olympics, the games date back to 1932, when they were first held in the then British Mandate of Palestine with 390 Jewish athletes competing from
Jews from far-flung countries to compete in Maccabiah Games Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Anyone wanting a full description of what John Kerry has achieved, praise or condemnation for one of the parties, must look somewhere else. I am currently impressed with the variety of reports, couched as coming from one or another unnamed participant in Israeli or Palestinian governmental forums, with the additional reservation that
Palestinians, Israelis signal confusion over Kerry talks Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastAMMAN, Jordan (Press Release)– Following is a statement by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday, July 19, announcing the likelihood of renewed negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority: Good evening, everybody, thank you very much for your patience. I apologize for the delay. I’m just going to make a statement, and I’m
Kerry: New Israeli-Palestinian talks in the works Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There has been a bad couple of days for Israelis living in settlements beyond the 1967 borders, including those of us in the new neighborhoods of Jerusalem. The European Union formally announced a ban on the funding of Israeli entities beyond those borders. While the actual impact is not clear,
EU’s West Bank funding embargo roils peace maneuvering Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Recent events suggest the hypothesis that Israel is no longer at the top of Muslims’ agenda for revenge or liquidation. It has been replaced by other Muslims. The thought is tentative, and not appropriate to guide Israeli policy with respect to its own security agenda, or to justify overseas Jewish
Muslim internecine warfare takes pressure off Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — The IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai wished Muslim citizens in Israel and across the world a Ramadan kareem, or blessed Ramadan, in a video message posted on the IDF YouTube account. The Israeli general spoke in Arabic with English subtitles throughout the video. “I would like to wish Israel’s
IDF wishes ‘Ramadan kareem’ to Muslims Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Two issues from the extremes of Judaism are disturbing the peace of Israel, and raising yet again the hoary queries about what is Judaism, and who are the Jews. One of the current issues is the hot button issue of drafting the Haredim. Another is the much quieter issue
Who is a Jew controversy still roils Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Egyptian Army Commander and Defense Minister Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was faced in Cairo with what experts say was the largest human gathering in history — somewhere between 17 and 30 million people — demanding a chance to redo the 2011 revolution. A “mulligan,” so to speak. The military responded
Getting a ‘do-over’ in Egypt Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
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