By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s been almost 40 years since I moved from the US to Israel. I still write about the country where I was born, had my formal education, and spent about one-third of my professional career. Internet friends, some of them not so friendly, attack me from both left and right, […]
Obama is learning but still is no expert on Middle East Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Government is no less complex than politics. That should be no surprise, insofar government is the creation of politicians, and is worked, modified, and stymied as politicians deal with one another to get what some of them want, and to keep what some of them want from happening. Some of
On U.S. bureaucrats and ‘evolving doctrines’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — Chautauqua is a remarkable, unique institution. Lying on the shore of 18-mile-long Lake Chautauqua between the cities of Buffalo and Erie, it is not easy to get to, but I have managed to spend a few weeks there every summer. Elsewhere in the summer months, one can
Who is responsible for Jewish settlements? Read More »
Middle EastBy Joel A. Moskowitz, MD LA JOLLA, California — Some will find fault with my thesis. Others will acknowledge the validity. The Collaboration: Hollywood’s Pact With Hitler by Ben Urwand has been reviewed positively and negatively. The essence of the book is that some Nazis wanted to suppress ‘negative’ themes which would be detrimental to
Nazism and Islamism found adherents in U.S. Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Politics is not an arena for participants or observers who insist on clear decisions. It requires judging the quality of grays, rather than the clarity of black or white, or demanding one’s concept of the good. The condition reflects the complexities of interests and perspectives. Shifting alliances are more likely
Many gray areas in domestic politics and foreign policy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Liz Halpern BOULDER, Colorado–Hi there! My name is Liz Halpern and I grew up in Boulder/ Throughout the devastation of this flood, I have seen countless people coming together to help each other out. However, one group in particular, really peaked my interest. That is Rabbi Yisroel Wilhelm and Chabad at the University of
Chabad responds in force to Colorado floods Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –It is too early to comment with any certainty about the policy of the United States, or any other country with respect to Syria’s chemical weapons or its civil war. There are likely to be twists and turns before us heavy thinkers can pass on to other topics. Nonetheless, there are
Obama’s waffling may in fact be sign of maturity Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jewish organizational support for President Obama’s temporary determination to enforce international norms and his own red line on Syrian use of chemical weapons brought out the nasty legions. DavidDuke.com and Blacklistednews.com, among others, were vociferous in their condemnation of Jewish “warmongering.” Even Jewish media outlets — TabletMagazine, The Forward
Germany is poison gas supplier to the Mideast Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The Wise Men of Chelm have an iconic and legendary status in the history of Jewish storytelling. According to traditions to have emerged from Eastern Poland, the town of Chelm had a dubious reputation for being incredibly foolish. Whenever the townspeople were confronted with any kind
Chelmites in Washington D.C.? Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–SThere has been a flurry of items coming to my in-box describing the latest under the heading of anti-Semitism. It is, alas, a very long story, going back at least to the beginning of the Common Era. For those who aren’t familiar with Jewish ways of recording the dates of the goyim,
The politics of anti-Semitism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastTemple Mount violence continues as Arab stone throwers attack Israeli police (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israeli police were attacked Wednesday morning during a patrol of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The latest attack at the holy site follows the arrest of about 30 Arabs over Rosh Hashanah weekend for riots that broke out in and
JNS news briefs: September 18, 2013 Read More »
InternationalSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — The Jewish Federation of San Diego County (Federation) has launched the Colorado Flood Relief Fund to help organizations and individuals impacted by the devastating floods in Boulder County and Northern Colorado. One-hundred percent of all donations to the Colorado Flood Relief Fund will go directly to those affected, both Jewish
Jewish Federation sets up Colorado flood fund Read More »
USAPossible Iran nuclear program concession draws skepticism from Israeli officials (JNS.org) Israeli officials reacted with skepticism to a report by the German newspaper Der Spiegel that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is considering dismantling the deep underground nuclear site of Fordo. Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin said Rouhani “is the father of the method of talking
Jewish news briefs: September 17, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — From an Israeli perspective, it won’t be possible to judge the Obama-Putin (or the Putin-Obama) deal on Syria until we see what happens with Iran’s nuclear program. (A pessimistic view is that we won’t be able to judge until we see how Israel and Iran deal with each other’s nuclear
Two views of Obama among Israelis Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East