By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Ideology, which was the backbone of Zionism before the State of Israel was established and decades thereafter, is said to be yielding to economics. A growing number of Israelis are allegedly more concerned about how to make ends meet and how to afford to buy a home than about […]
Israel’s high cost of living drive some elsewhere Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Benyamin Netanyahu has been working at a government coalition since his party did the best in the March election It’s still not done. This reflects more than the details in current politics. It tells a story about Jewish history. Here we are, 3,000 years or more after we came into
Why Netanyahu struggles to form a government Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The California state senator who heads the first-in-the-nation Jewish legislative caucus says it’s time for Jews in the U.S. Congress to form a caucus too, and adds that U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the Florida congresswoman who chairs the national Democratic party, agrees with him “100 percent.” State Sen.
California legislator: Congress needs a Jewish caucus Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A number of individuals from my home town of Fall River have traveled to Ponta Delgada in the Azores to commemorate the refurbishing of a synagogue that they had financed. They also met with the one Jew still living in the islands. The story is long and interesting, and ironic from both
The Jews and Portuguese of Fall River Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish History, USABy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — Armenia is marking 100 years to the mass killings of Armenian people by the Ottoman Turks in commemorative ceremonies held across the country including its capital, Yerevan on Friday, April 24. Attended by world leaders including representatives from Israel, the central Yerevan ceremony paid tribute to the estimated 1.5
Israeli MKs attend Armenian genocide rite Read More »
International, Middle EastOn Independence Day, Gaza rocket launched at Israel for first time in 2015 (JNS.org) For the first time in 2015, and on the same day Israel celebrated its 67th Independence Day, a code-red rocket siren sounded Thursday in the southern Israeli town of Sderot and other communities on the border with Gaza. While there
Jewish news briefs: April 24, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Joshua Halickman TEL AVIV — Michael Greenberg grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles in what would be described as the American Dream. His father Avery had moved for the sun of California from the cold and dreary winters of Montreal back in the early 1970’s. Along with his wife Sharon, Michael and his
American- Israeli honed his soccer skills in Israel Read More »
Middle East, Sports & CompetitionsObama refuses to meet Netanyahu until after Iran nuclear deal deadline (JNS.org) President Barack Obama reportedly said he will not meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until after the June 30 deadline for a final nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Citing anonymous sources familiar with a meeting between Obama and Jewish leaders
Jewish news briefs: April 23, 2015 Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (Westchester/Rockland), the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Israeli Independence Day: “Today, I join the Israeli people in celebrating 67 years of independence and more than six decades of steadfast support by the United States. “Israel remains unquestionably our strongest
Rep. Lowey: Stand with Israel in int’l fora Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Toby Klein Greenwald A Sabbath morning, late curled in a recliner reading a book about past lives around me more books, paintings stuffed animals and magazines the room I call a womb. Husband on the patio with coffee cup, ten feet away through the open door reading Talmud And in the silence of the
A poem for Yom Haatzmaut 2015 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein GreenwaldBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Being critical of Israeli government policies seems essential to those who fear that complacency with the status quo may bring the country to ruin. However, at no time must this obscure the fact that Israel’s very existence is a miracle and that those of us privileged to live here are
The daily miracle that is Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It isn’t the Caribbean image of paradise made popular by Harry Belafonte, but the Israeli reality of being out of step with its surroundings. And the surroundings extend much farther than its Muslim neighbors. They also include pretty much the whole world as represented by the United Nations, as well
Perceptions of U.S. readers far from Israeli realities Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-California) has opposed a House bill that would undermine the ability of a key consumer protection agency to protect American consumers. The bill (H.R. 1195) would limit future funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). “If we learned anything from the financial crisis is that there
Rep. Davis rallies for consumer protection Read More »
USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, says the U.S. will no longer automatically exercise its veto in the UN Security Council to protect Israel. In testimony before the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, Power specifically declined to rule out support for resolutions on Palestinian
Does Israel’s security ‘matter’ to Obama? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA