By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — How important is Judaism for the Jews? We’ve long confused social science by being both an ethnic group (or tribe) and a religion. Among us are members of the tribe who deny religion, and converts to the religion who may have to wait a generation or two before being fully accepted […]
Ethnicity? Religion? Judaism is that — and more Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It’s possible that, for the first time in many years, there’s a credible alternative to Binyamin Netanyahu. No, it’s not Isaac Herzog, the leader of the Opposition. Though he did well in the last elections and is, by all accounts, a competent and decent man, he lacks that special quality
Kahlon well- positioned to succeed Netanyahu Read More »
Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Israel just celebrated its 67th birthday, according to the Hebrew calendar. What’s the prognosis for our nation and its people? By one announcement, Israelis are thriving. That report is the World Happiness Report, a measure of happiness published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Which countries are
Israel high on world happiness list Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Much fuss has been made about the Israeli decision to block Blade Nzinmande, the South African minister for higher education, from visiting Bir Zeit University. It must be noted that this Communist Party leader supported the suspension of academic cooperation between Johannesburg University and Ben Gurion University, so this education
BDS campaign smudges South Africa’s rainbow Read More »
Barry Shaw, International, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – During consideration of National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Susan Davis voted to let the Department of Defense (DOD) move forward in expanding financial protections for our men and women in uniform. Language in the NDAA would have blocked the DOD from extending those
Davis says vote will protect vets from loan sharks Read More »
San Diego County, USA
With this column we introduce Joe Spier, who loves to research and write about Jewish history. Based in Calgary, he is a frequent winter vacationer in San Diego. We thank Ernie Addleson for putting us in touch with him. By Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — The story of the modern exodus of “Beta Israel” the
Alaska Airlines and the Jews of Yemen Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USABy Abraham H. Foxman NEW YORK — As someone who has been critical about the sometimes overheated reaction to what is taking place regarding Jews on campus, I also believe it is vital to monitor the situation closely and to be able to reevaluate as things may change. I still believe that the vast
ADL chief: BDS fosters campus anti- Semitism Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It’s difficult to prove that the demonstration in Jerusalem last night was inspired by what has been happening in Baltimore in recent days, but it had too many similarities for us not to make the connection. A large number of Israelis of Ethiopian origin demonstrated in the centre of
Racism in Israel also on occasion boils over Read More »
Middle East, USAIsraeli unemployment rate remains at historic low (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel’s unemployment rate for March was 5.3 percent, remaining at a historic low for the second consecutive month, the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said Thursday. A CBS survey held among 21,900 Israeli adults said that during the first fiscal quarter of this
Jewish news briefs: May 1, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Every once in a while I feel a need to revisit what I wrote years ago, describing the US as a developing country. Read that as a place with elements of the Third World. Inspirations came from my youth in Fall River where the average adult hadn’t finished 9th grade, and
Baltimore riots highlight America’s flaws Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – For reporters and photographers covering groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings, such events can tend to blur together in that there often is little to differentiate one from the other. For the participants however, these events can be important milestones marking the beginning of new chapters in their corporate lives
Port, HTA cut ribbon at bayside info center Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM–Having sent their children to the safety of Israel, Chani and Chezki Lifshitz, the Chabad emissaries based in Kathmandu, have stayed behind to continue spearheading recovery efforts in the wake of the massive earthquake that hit the Nepal on April 25. Rabbi Chezki Lifshitz travelled by helicopter on Wednesday, helping to rescue 25 stranded Israelis, who
Kindness stretches from Israel to Nepal and back Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power testified to Congress that Israel couldn’t rely on the United States to veto anti-Israel resolutions in the U.N. Security Council, but she tried to soften the blow by saying, “We have a record of standing when it matters with Israel.”
Has U.S. abandoned Marshall Islands as an ally? Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USAKulanu and United Torah Judaism join Netanyahu’s governing coalition (JNS.org) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of the Likud party, signed the Kulanu and United Torah Judaism parties into his governing coalition. Likud’s remains in negotiations with three other potential coalition partners—Habayit Hayehudi, Shas, and Yisrael Beiteinu—a week before its deadline to establish a
Jewish news briefs: April 30, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USA