By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — As of this writing, the betting is that Obama will decide to strike Syria, as punishment for its use of chemical weapons. One can admire the President’s deliberate consideration of what appear to be all the bad options, even while ridiculing him for the bombast which he proclaimed against chemical […]
If U.S. retalliates, war may spread to Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — The sounds of Tibetan monks chanting, an Iranian playing the santoor, western African style music, Rastafarian and reggae beats, as well as some Israeli rock, among other musical genres could recently be heard pulsating from Jerusalem’s Tower of David in the Old City. The international and local rhythms made up
Jerusalem’s Sacred Music Festival unites faiths Read More »
Middle East
Israeli police come under attack during anti-terror raid, three Palestinian rioters killed (JNS.org) Israeli border police on a raid to apprehend a terror suspect in the Palestinian refugee camp Qalandia near Ramallah were attacked by more than 1,500 Palestinian rioters, resulting in deadly clashes that left three Palestinians dead. The Israeli Border Police were in
JNS news briefs: August 26, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Nancy K. Kaufman There’s a funny thing about anniversaries — just as we look back with nostalgia on the way things were, too, do we inevitably reflect on how things have changed in the intervening years. So it is as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Voting rights: Is the U.S. going backwards? Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An internet friend writes that settlements are at the heart of Israel’s sins, and its problems with world public opinion. My friend has been careful to distinguish the different places labeled settlements, but he also falls into the practice of lumping them all into one problem. In this, he accepts
Obama contributes to BDS with his talk of ‘settlements’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen and Stephen Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — It is hard to look at the photographs. American newspapers are showing largely sanitized versions, so you’re safe. But Twitter feeds and UK newspapers such as the Daily Mail don’t hesitate to show the full horror. Hundreds of beautiful children, all dead, most of them wrapped
U.S., Allies should destroy Syria’s air force Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, Stephen D. BryenFour rockets from Lebanon fired into Israel (JNS.org) The relatively quiet Israeli-Lebanese border became a renewed source of tension on Thursday as four rockets from Lebanon were fired into Israel. One was intercepted the Iron Dome missile defense system, and two landed in the western Galilee region, causing property damage but no injuries, Israel Hayom
JNS news briefs: August 23, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The latest pictures from the Syrian civil war are especially ugly. More than a thousand civilians in the outskirts of the capital dead from what appears to be poison gas. Uncivilized? More so than the bombardment of civilians that has been going on for a couple of years, with total
Drawing lessons from Obama’s empty words about Syria Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO– In a poll of likely Republican primary voters in Louisiana, 29 percent blamed President Obama for the poor federal response to Hurricane Katrina; whereas 28 % blamed Bush even though Bush was the president back in 2005 and Obama was only a senator. As Winston Churchill once said, “The best
Humoring the Headlines: August 22, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, USA
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Most rabbinical students attribute omnipresence and omniscience as qualities befitting a Creator. Only God is called, The Knower of Thoughts, and The Searcher of the human heart. Rabbinical wisdom has long taught, “Always keep in mind these three things, and you will never come to the brink
God, not government, should know our every thought Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Al-Jazeera is “breaking in with something we think is unique, and are confident, with our guts and some research, that the American people are looking for,” according to its America’s president Kate O’Brian. If she is claiming “guts” and “research” are among the qualities sought by American viewers, she may
‘Al Jazeera’ is a Qatari ‘Pravda’ Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBashar al-Assad gasses civilians in Syrian civil war, Israeli officials say (JNS.org) Israeli officials corroborated the Syrian opposition’s claim that President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on civilians in a Wednesday attack in eastern neighborhoods of Damascus that killed more than 1,300 people. The Assad regime “has already used chemical weapons several times” during the
JNS news briefs: August 22, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Michael Berk SAN DIEGO — The lurid allegations of politicians acting badly overcame the usual summer lull in news this season. Mayor Bob Filner and Anthony Weiner spent much of the summer trying to survive politically. But what about spiritual survival? What does their common faith, Judaism, teach about sin, atonement and forgiveness?
Time for Filner, Weiner and us to do teshuvah Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USABy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — A 10-member delegation of dairy farmers from the Punjab region of India recently visited Israel to participate in a training program about modern dairy farming techniques. The unique program was especially designed for the group by the Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation (CINDACO) of Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and
Punjabi farmers tour Israel’s agricultural projects Read More »
Middle East