International

A Feeling of Progress in Israel

The national budget passed its first parliamentary reading without undue fuss and bother. It includes increases in the allocations for the health and education ministries, enabling the services provided to certain segments of the population to be extended. Admittedly, there are still many areas in which the services provided to the less fortunate could and should be improved, especially housing and welfare, but this still signifies a positive change, both in attitude and in action. In foreign policy, too, relations with other countries seem to be going in the right direction, with invitations extended to our Foreign Minister by the Arab Emirates as well as Morocco, Egypt and the U.S.A [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

A Feeling of Progress in Israel Read More »

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

OpEd: Two Jewish Issues the Biden Administration Must Clear Up

The Biden administration’s actions beg two disturbing Jewish-themed questions: Why would a president lie about such an insignificant detail as visiting a Pittsburgh synagogue? How can a U.S. Foreign Service officer be effective at his job when he demeans Jews and homosexuals? [Bruce S. Ticker]

OpEd: Two Jewish Issues the Biden Administration Must Clear Up Read More »

Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA

California Ethnic Studies Legislation Passes

Today, the Legislature voted to advance Assembly Bill (AB) 101, legislation that would make ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement in the State of California. This legislation enjoys broad support in the Legislature and is a top priority for our allies in the Latino, Black, Asian Pacific Islander (API), and Native American Legislative Caucuses. It is our sincere hope that this course will provide an opportunity for young Californians to deepen their understanding of our society’s complex history when it comes to issues of race and diversity, and we would like to recognize Assemblymember Jose Medina for his persistent leadership on this important issue.” [California Legislative Jewish Caucus press release]

California Ethnic Studies Legislation Passes Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

OpEd: U.S. Should Put Caps on Income

Is it not extraordinary that in a country that claims to be as enlightened and advanced as ours that the combined wealth of three individuals – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and investor Warren Buffett – should exceed the total wealth of the bottom half of Americans? One has to return to the days of the pharaohs of Egypt to find a parallel to the extreme wealth inequality that we see in in America today. Such stark inequality, and the ever-growing concentration of wealth in the hands of a tiny few will only intensify if we continue as we have for the past 40 years. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

OpEd: U.S. Should Put Caps on Income Read More »

Business & Finance, Sam Ben-Meir, USA

Palestinian prisoners escape from maximum security Israeli jail

Published by DPA Six convicted Palestinian prisoners escaped from an Israeli prison late on Sunday. The Israeli military, along with the country’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency and police, are now searching for the escapees, the military tweeted on Monday. The prisoners escaped through a tunnel from the Gilboa maximum security prison in the north

Palestinian prisoners escape from maximum security Israeli jail Read More »

Middle East

Biography Tells of Jewish Family’s Holocaust Survival in the Forest

Meticulous research documents the lives of the Rabinowitz family in small town Poland; their suffering after the Nazis invaded; their miraculous escape to the forest, where they survived in hiding for several years; their post-war relocation to Italy, while awaiting permission to immigrate to Palestine; their decision to move instead to the United States; their lives in Connecticut; and the marriage of daughter Ruth to a future rabbi, from whom author Rebecca Frankel received her Jewish education. [Donald H. Harrison]

Biography Tells of Jewish Family’s Holocaust Survival in the Forest Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, USA

Surveying Israeli Developments on the Cusp of the New Year

The country proceeds, also more or less well. Lots of arguments and demonstrations. Major hospitals were on a Sabbath schedule, turning away some patients, claiming that the Finance Ministry hadn’t come through with the money promised. Now that seems to have been solved, with yet another promise from the Finance Ministry. And we’re waiting on the passage of a national budget. We’ve not had one for some three years, and this government will expire if one is not passed in a month or so. With a Knesset majority of one vote, it is dependent on full cooperation. That empowers each Knesset Member to have considerable leverage, to get what he/she wants, or to vote no, abstain, or be conveniently absent from the voting. So far, the Knesset has passed a budget with one vote. Now it’s waiting for two more votes. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

Surveying Israeli Developments on the Cusp of the New Year Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Palestinianism and the New Antisemitism

A recent survey conducted by Alums for Campus Fairness, “A Growing Threat: Antisemitism on College Campuses,” asked some 500 Jewish-affiliated college students and recent alumni what their perceptions were regarding campus antisemitism. The findings of the survey were troubling, given that: “Nearly 100% of respondents said antisemitism is/was a problem on their campus,” “95% of respondents identified antisemitism as a problem on U.S. college campuses, with three out of four describing it as a ‘very serious problem,’” almost “half of current students say antisemitism is getting worse on their campus,” and “69% of students and grads say they have avoided certain places, events, or situations at school because they are Jewish.” [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

Palestinianism and the New Antisemitism Read More »

Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA