By David Brin ENCINITAS, California –Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is truly on a roll. Feeling his oats, he has been laying down a hardcore line. And if this one week is any sample, we are in for one heckuva ride. He started by impugning President Ombama’s religious faith as “phony theology.” This is red […]
The stunning sincerity of Rick ‘Nehemiah’ Santorum Read More »
USAJERUSALEM (WJC)–The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that a law that exempts Jewish religious students from the mandatory military service is unconstitutional and can therefore not be extended after it expires next August. With six justices in favor and three against, the controversial law, called ‘Deferral of Service for Yeshiva Students for whom Torah is
High court strikes down yeshiva students’ military exemption Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The current uncertainty is profound, but presents opportunities as well as threats. Most of the attention is on Iran, widely assumed to be moving toward nuclear weapons, against the background of its leaders’ obsession with the destruction of Israel, raising the possibility of an Israel attack meant to avoid
Interpreters of Iran-Israel nuclear confrontation in many analytical camps Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Yaakov Lappin WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senior officials from the Obama administration have begun descending on Israel once again to ensure that Jerusalem holds off on an attack on Iran. That, at least, is the message the White House is seeking to generate. “The national security advisor [Tom Donilon] and the American intelligence head [James
Calls to Israel to delay attacking Iran a ‘good cop’ p-r ploy? Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–When the founders of modern Zionism hoped that having a country of their own would make Jews like all other nations, they didn’t think that the Jews would adopt any of the despicable traits of the anti-Semites among whom they lived in dispersion. The aim of Zionism was not only to
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — President John F. Kennedy rarely spoke publicly about his personal faith, though he brilliantly and effectively defused the issue of his being the first viable Catholic nominee for the White House. It was an ignominious issue in 1960 (hard to fathom nowadays) and he mitigated it head-on at
Quick takes on recent U.S. Presidents Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –The more the pundits write and talk aboutIran, the less do we seem to know what’s really going on. Perhaps this is because the experts are as ignorant as the public, just more articulate. Here’re a few of the many possible scenarios I’ve gleaned of late: 1. A strike onIran’s
Is Iran trying to goad Israel into an attack? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An internet friend sent me a video screed from an Atlanta television station that presents, in the most inflammable language, the old saw about too much foreign aid while Americans suffer. Even worse, some of that aid goes to refurbish mosques in unfriendly Cairo and elsewhere. The images tweaked
Giving foreign helps rather than hurts the U.S. economy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –Not being one of them, I find it often quite uncomfortable to walk in ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods inIsrael, e.g., Meah Shearim in Jerusalem, especially in the company of women. And when I read the notices and the graffiti on the walls, I become depressed by their often hysterical anti-Israel tone. It’s
Is El Al security particularly hostile to Arab passengers? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Not a typical weekend, but not all that unusual. This is a tense place, with frequent events that can provoke great drama. It began with a tragic accident. A heavy truck swerved on a rain slicked road north of Jerusalem, slammed into a bus carrying a group of four- to eight-year
Even traffic accidents grist for Palestinians’ anti-Israel hate mill Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–It is a struggle to decide who, if anyone, has a claim to U.S. foreign aid dollars. It is, after all, money earned by American taxpayers and sent to people who didn’t earn it, at least not in the traditional sense. Should it be used to encourage countries to
U.S money goes to its enemies in Palestinian Authority, Egypt Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA
JERUSALEM (Press Release)– The oldest couple ever to make aliyah landed in Israel on Tuesday from Baltimore. Welcome to Israel, Phillip and Dorothy Grossman, ages 95 and 93. They are part of a Nefesh B’Nefesh group with more than 40 other new immigrants from North America. The Grossmans immediately headed for their new home in Jerusalem.
New olim are ages 95 and 93, married 71 years Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Former Staff Director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Kenneth L. Marcus, announced the launch of independent Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. www.brandeiscenter.com Marcus, director of the new center, is founding the Washington-based organization to combat campus anti-Semitism through civil rights litigation, legal research, and public
Civil rights attorney forms group to help Jews on campuses Read More »
USA
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — In his short lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. collected a cadre of loyal and fervent friends and colleagues. The majority of them, including Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, Andrew Young, John Lewis, and Jesse Jackson, have been African Americans. A notable exception to this list of King’s inner
‘J. Edgar’ movie brings overdue attention to Stanley Levison Read More »
USA