By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most colorful figures of the 18th century, who almost single-handedly raised the morale of the Jewish people, was a man named R. Yisrael ben Eliezer, a.k.a., the famous “Baal Shem Tov,” (literally, the “Master of the Good Name.”) When one looks back in
The Baal Shem Tov would be horrified Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–My resolution not to write so often lasted only a few hours, until I found myself enraged by a television report about Heredi extremists in Beit Shemesh. We’ve known about the Beit Shemesh community for some time. Religious friends from the US and a secular Israeli colleague initially settled there, then
Beit Shemesh incident shows intolerance extends to little girls Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –This time I travelled to Israel in the company of Daniel Kahneman, the 2002 Nobel Prize winner in economics. Not in the flesh, of course, but with his bestseller, Thinking, Fast and Slow. The book has much to teach on many subjects. Inter alia Kahneman seems to be implicitly supporting
Why doing nothing appeals to both Palestinians and Israelis Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — This is a complex world with many players and numerous conflicts. So what else is new? In this holiday season when wise commentators summarize what happened, what is happening, and what will happen, it is appropriate to remind ourselves of the obvious, trivial, and continuing realities. We members
We often forget that Israel-Palestine battle only one of numerous conflicts in the world Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur ASIRA AL-QIBLIYA, Palestinian Authority — I’ve heard many Jews who live inWest Banksettlements tell journalists that, despite the toxic politics, they’ve good relations with their Palestinian neighbors. But that’s not what I heard last Wednesday in Asira Al-Qibliya, a Palestinian town of some 2,500 people south of Nablus and close to
Palestinian town bullied by Jewish settlers Read More »
Middle EastBy Yaacov Lapin WASHINGTON, D.C. (JINSA) — The Egyptian military’s weakening grip on power is the last obstacle standing in the way of an alliance between a Cairo under Islamist rule and the Hamas regime in Gaza. Two out of three phases in Egypt’s parliamentary elections are now complete, and the results are unequivocal. A
Egypt-Gaza alliance against Israel likely as Islamists gain in elections Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Tanya Rosenblit, the 28-year old producer of Israel’s Channel One English news, has by now had more than the proverbial 15 minutes of fame. Boarding a bus one day last week from Ashdod to Jerusalemand dressed “modestly” even by Orthodox standards, she refused to yield to ultra-Orthodox (haredi) demands to sit
Bus incident symbolizes growing anger at haredi sexism Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –A recent installment of television news began with the outpouring of unrestrained wailing in response to the death of the “dear leader” of North Korea, a replay of the mournful voice, choked with tears announcing his death on North Korean television, and then commentary by a South Korean journalist and an
When praise for a leader goes over the top Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. — Admiral James G. Stavridis was presented by the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs with the Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award on November 7th Admiral Stavridis is the NATO Supreme Allied Commander and Commander of U.S. European Command. His remarks on that occasion have just been released: To JINSA, thank you
Top NATO commander tells what he thinks of when he thinks of Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — This city is hosting a Jewish Film Festival this week. One of the movies shown on Sunday night was a documentary about Mordechai Richler. At one point he was mentioned together with Saul Bellow and Philip Roth as writers who helped us to emancipate ourselves from the ghetto mentality
Israelis self-criticism is beneficial, even when enemies are listening Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Tanya Rosenblit may become Israel’s Rosa Parks. Her refusal to go to the back of the bus produced a story on the front page of Ha’aretz, as well as supportive comments by Prime Minister Netanyahu in the meeting of the Government, by Opposition Head Tzipi Livni, and by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi
Tanya, like Rosa, refused to go to the back of the bus Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The best way to enjoy Israel– and there’s, indeed, very much to enjoy – is (if it were possible) not to read newspapers or watch TV, because the media are likely to spoil both our favourable image of the country and our sense of security and well-being here. As
Netanyahu treats Jewish and Palestinian terrorists differently Read More »
Middle EastBy Gabriel M. Scheinmann WASHINGTON, D.C. (JINSA) — On October 21, President Obama announced the impending end of U.S. military operations in Iraq, ordering the complete withdrawal of American forces by the end of 2011. Unable or unwilling to strike a deal to secure a long-term military presence, the President confidently declared that “Iraqis have
U.S. withdrawal from Iraq could provide Israel bombers a better route to Iran Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Several items lead me once again to write about the two countries where I have spent my life. Already some of my readers are readying their fingers to accuse me of turning against my homeland, or ignorance about the place that I left half a lifetime ago. To be sure,
A woeful tale of two countries Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East