International

‘Babi Yar’ poet Yevtushenko dies

  TULSA, Oklahoma (WJC) — Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, whose 1961 poem about the Nazi massacre at Babi Yar near Kiev helped to expose rampant anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union, died Saturday at 84. Yevtushenko passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He had been a faculty member at the University of Tulsa since the mid-1990s.Some 34,000 Jews were […]

‘Babi Yar’ poet Yevtushenko dies Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials

Middle East Roundup: April 3, 2017

With Passover in mind, Jerusalem security bolstered after attacks (JNS.org) Following two Palestinian stabbing attacks in Jerusalem’s Old City within a week, a senior officer from the Israel Police has warned of a possible increase in terror attacks during the upcoming Passover holiday. Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Jerusalem during Passover,

Middle East Roundup: April 3, 2017 Read More »

Middle East

Students asked to debate Final Solution from Nazis’ perspective

A New York teacher has come under fire for giving an assignment asking students to debate the final solution from the Nazis’ point of view, The Algemeiner reported. In the assignment, titled “Top Secret: Memorandum for Senior Nazi Party Members,” students were asked to recreate the debate that took place at the infamous Wannsee Conference,

Students asked to debate Final Solution from Nazis’ perspective Read More »

Jewish History, USA

American presidents typically lack foreign knowledge

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s no surprise that Americans vote their interests. Most likely, citizens of all countries with a meaningful right to vote are parochial, i.e., most concerned about what’s close to them. For many, national political matters are less important that what they get from local authorities– whether their streets and parks are

American presidents typically lack foreign knowledge Read More »

International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

US-Israel talks on settlement building suspended — report

Negotiations said put on ice after Netanyahu, Greenblatt fail to agree on formula; comes days after Israel announces self-imposed restrictions By Times of Israel staff Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trump’s special representative for international negotiations, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, March 13, 2017. (Matty Stern/US Embassy

US-Israel talks on settlement building suspended — report Read More »

Middle East, USA

Liberman suggests Hamas behind killing of top terrorist

Defense minister says ‘Hamas is known for its internal assassinations — let them look there’ By Sue Surkes Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman at the inauguration ceremony for a new Elbit defense electronics factory in the southern Israeli town of Arad. April 02, 2017. Photo by Ariel Hermoni/Ministry of Defense Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Sunday

Liberman suggests Hamas behind killing of top terrorist Read More »

Middle East

Trump says US will act unilaterally on N Korea if China fails to help

London (dpa) – The United States is prepared to act unilaterally to tackle the North Korean nuclear threat if China fails to help, President Donald Trump warned in an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are to meet for the first time in Florida on April 6-7,

Trump says US will act unilaterally on N Korea if China fails to help Read More »

International, USA

Israeli scientists design robot to squeeze through small intestine

Ben-Gurion University researchers predict the snake-like, ingestible device will revolutionize colonoscopy tests By Times of Israel staff A depiction of the SAW (single actuator wave-like robot) designed by Israeli scientists at Ben Gurion University. (Screen capture/YouTube) A tiny ingestible robot designed by Israeli scientists may one day have the capacity to slither its way through

Israeli scientists design robot to squeeze through small intestine Read More »

Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Improv maestro Gary Austin, founder of the Groundlings, dies at 75

LOS ANGELES — Gary Austin, who founded the Los Angeles improv company the Groundlings — a troupe that launched the careers of Paul Reubens, Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow and Melissa McCarthy — died Saturday in Los Angeles at age 75 after battling cancer. The Groundlings shared the news of Austin’s death at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Improv maestro Gary Austin, founder of the Groundlings, dies at 75 Read More »

Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Gorsuch headed for confirmation this week, but only after partisan battle, Senate leaders say

WASHINGTON — The Senate’s Republican and Democratic leaders have set the stage for Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to be confirmed to the Supreme Court this week, but only after a partisan battle that likely will lead to changing the Senate’s rules. On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote to send the Gorsuch

Gorsuch headed for confirmation this week, but only after partisan battle, Senate leaders say Read More »

USA

500-year-old ‘Prague Haggadah’ found

Just prior to Pesach (Passover), the National Library of Israel revealed that it had acquired the velum Prague Haggadah two months ago, when the library purchased the famed Valmadonna Collection of Judaica. The Haggadah was printed in Prague in 1556. A previous Haggadah was printed in 1526, but no copy survived. Several elements of the

500-year-old ‘Prague Haggadah’ found Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

French Guiana rejects France’s €1 billion offer, demands ‘special status’

A protest group that has led two weeks of general strikes in French Guiana has dismissed France’s offer of €1 billion to tackle persistent social problems as “unsatisfactory” and is instead demanding a “new status” for the overseas territory. Interior Minister Matthias Fekl and France’s minister of overseas departments, Ericka Bareigts, announced a renewed commitment

French Guiana rejects France’s €1 billion offer, demands ‘special status’ Read More »

International