By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO –He was often called “Rooster” by his college chums, due to a stubborn cowlick and a kind of “in-your-face” attitude. He has unquestionably suffered grievously in his lifetime, having lost a child even as he and his wife Karen have raised another youngster that struggles with Edwards syndrome (Trisomy […]
Santorum’s sectarianism negates principles of the nation’s founders Read More »
USABy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid the din of debate over a possible Israeli strike on Iran, perhaps it is unsurprising that Israeli Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor’s press conference on February 20 attracted so little international attention. But in a world that claims to view an Israeli-Palestinian deal as a top priority, it should
Continued Egypt-Israel peace precondition for new treaties in Mideast Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — I learnt the term that heads this page last Tuesday at a meeting in the Knesset. It was coined as a variant of the Hebrew for “money laundering” (halbanat hon) to read halbanat khok. The occasion was a meeting hosted by Zahava Galon, the leader of Meretz, to which
Efforts to preserve Migron called ‘law laundering’ Read More »
Middle East
Rasputin and the Jews: A Reversal of History by Delin Colón; ISBN 978-1-4610-2775-1 ©2010, $15.00, p. 110, including bibliography By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — The controversies over the deeds and exploits of Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin, an illiterate faith healer and prophet from nineteenth century backwater Russia, continue to swirl around his legacy nearly
Was Rasputin actually a friend of the Jews? Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, InternationalBy Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO –In the snowy village of Chardon, Ohio yesterday, a teenage gunman from another school entered the cafeteria of Chardon High School and opened fire—wordlessly—into the bodies of several other students. At the time of this writing, there are three confirmed deaths. The wounds, of both flesh and spirit, the
Saturation television coverage of school shootings intensifies fear Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–To mark the latest heated exchanges about Jerusalem between the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and the Prime Minister of Israel Binyamin Netanyahu, I decided to make my first trip on the city’s new light railway (streetcar). It took me to the Arab villages – now Jerusalem suburbs –
Jerusalem railway strengthens Israel’s ‘united city’ claims Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansksy JERUSALEM –The leap of Barack Obama from the academic and political provinces to the White House, and now Rick Santoram knocking at his door highlights a significant weakness of American democracy. Democratic it is, but too much so when individuals with no experience in foreign policy can think of themselves in
Would world be better off if U.S. had parliamentary system? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSAELM — The latest nonsense to come out of the summit of American government is that there is “no hard evidence that Iran has decided to build a nuclear bomb.” By some reports, American analysts are talking about “absolute certainty” as a standard for concluding that Iran is intent on nuclear weapons.
U.S. need for ‘hard evidence’ on Iran is political nonsense Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Rabbi Michael Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Last Halloween, two atheists decided to poke some adolescent fun at the expense of Catholicism and Islam. One person dressed up as “Zombie Pope” and the other dressed up as “Zombie Mohammed.” Their behavior was outrageous. This is what happened afterwards. A Muslim man named Talaag Elbayomy
Free speech vs. religious sensibility at issue in Pennsylvania case Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israel, the United States, and Europe share grave concern over the Iranian theocracy’s politics and its serial use of violence in pursuit of its goals. The Islamic Republic formally declared war on the west and is the major state sponsor, funder, and trainer of terrorism, including plotting terror in
Israel, U.S. must find common ground on Iran’s nuclear threat Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Shimon Peres is one of the greatest presidents Israel has ever had. Even the Israeli public that so mistrusted him in his long career as a politician has come to appreciate the dignity he bestows on the many ceremonial events he attends and the good image of Israel he projects abroad.
What is Shimon Peres’ real view about Iran? Read More »
Middle East
By David Bedein JERUSALEM — Flashback to 1976. I was then escorted with a delegation of social work professionals to visit UNRWA facilities in Gaza. There, Dr. Eli Lasch,then the head of the Israel Civil Administration’s Gaza health department, explained that his life’s mission was to eradicate infant mortality in the teeming UNRWA Gaza facilities
UNRWA sacrifices life, truth, to anti-Israel political goals Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –The notes I receive from overseas emphasize the threats to Israel from Iran and its friends, and the threat to the peace of the region and elsewhere if Israel preempts and seeks to destroy Iran’s nuclear capacity. Here, in contrast, political energies are concentrating on the implications of a Supreme Court
IDF unenthusiastic about drafting Haredim Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –Unfortunately, it’s not as exciting as it’s being presented in the media.Israel’s Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision may have made an historic ruling when it refused to allow the extension of the law that exempts ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jews from military service. However, in order not to
Netanyahu likely to circumvent court ruling on military exemptions for haredim Read More »
Middle East