International

Attack on U.S. Capitol Causes Free World to Shudder

The sight of a crowd of people ascending the steps Wednesday in front of the Capitol building and forcibly entering the American House of Representatives, as happened yesterday and was beamed live all around the world, must have sent shudders down the spine of every freedom-loving individual everywhere. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, USA

US Congress certifies Biden win after Trump mob storms Capitol

LATE NEWS:  A Joint Session of the U.S. Senate and House, presided over by Vice President Mike Pence, certified the electoral college victory of Democrat Joe Biden as the next President of the United States and Kamala Harris as the next Vice President, defeating incumbent Republican President Donald Trump and  Vice President Pence. As the

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USA

Jordan says wants dialogue with Iran to ‘end tensions’

Jordan’s foreign minister called Wednesday for Arab states to be represented in future dialogue on the Iranian nuclear programme, days after Tehran moved to step up its uranium enrichment. Calling for “an end to tensions with Iran”, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Jordan “supports the launching of a dialogue with Iran on the nuclear issue

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Middle East

Israel is locking down (again): Here’s what you need to know

After a long and heated debate on Wednesday night, the government approved the regulations for the country’s latest lockdown, which begins Thursday at midnight and ends two weeks later on January 21.The following are the lockdown rules:> Gatherings: Limited to five people inside and 10 people outside, except for at approved events such as weddings

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Middle East

Democrats sweep Georgia’s runoffs, flip control of US Senate

ATLANTA — Democrats swept Georgia’s two U.S. Senate runoffs on Wednesday to flip control of the chamber, pulling off stunning victories that will shape President-elect Joe Biden’s administration and transform the state’s political landscape. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock narrowly defeated U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler after a nine-week runoff that attracted record-setting

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USA

January 6 was the worst and best of times

Because of the disruptions and criminal trespass at the Capitol by a mob of President Trump’s supporters, some may be tempted to remember January 6, 2021, as one of the worst days for American democracy.   And they would be right!  Our coverage may be found in companion articles about the demonstration that turned violent and forced postponement of the counting of the Electoral College votes by a joint session of Congress. Ironically, January 6, 2021, also was one of American democracy’s best days because it demonstrated that racism and anti-Semitism, at least in the halls of government and in the polling places of Georgia, are on the wane.  Furthermore, the value that Americans place on racial and religious diversity is on full display. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, USA

Sen. Hawley claims ‘Antifa’ vandalized his Virginia home. Not so, police and protesters say

WASHINGTON — Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley claimed on Twitter Monday night that his family faced vandalism and threats of violence during a protest outside of their northern Virginia home, but video posted by activists and a description from local police don’t match his account. The protest took place ahead of his planned objection to

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USA

Out of the Mikvah and onto a Ph.D

The mid-life journey that led me back to college began in the mikvah. I had been observing the laws of Niddah (aka “Family Purity” or Taharat haMishpacha) for about six years when this immersion initiated a series of changes that brings me to where I am today. The night of this immersion (momentous only in retrospect), I had been struggling with post-partum hip pain for about a year and a half that no amount of physical therapy or chiropractic treatments was fixing. This night, the pain was unusually bad as I limped sideways down the mikvah steps. The attendant asked with clear concern in her voice, “Do you need help?” I said, “No, it only hurts”. But stairs had never hurt that bad. [Isobel-Marie Johnston]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Ex-Israeli envoy reveals large number of Ashkenazi Jews lived in Cairo

The former Israeli ambassador to Jordan Jacob Rosen published an extensive list of Jewish surnames in Cairo that disclosed a stunning number of Ashkenazi surnames.In an interview with The Jerusalem Post ,Rosen said “Jewish refugees from Russian pogroms settled in Egypt.” Rosen, who also served as a diplomat in Egypt, said there were about 40,000

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Middle East

New House foreign affairs chief eyes resuming US aid to Palestinians

The new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Tuesday he would look to resume humanitarian aid to the Palestinians as part of a push by President-elect Joe Biden for a two-state solution. In an interview with AFP, Representative Gregory Meeks also supported the return of a diplomatic presence following outgoing President Donald Trump’s

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Middle East, USA

OpEd: Power versus Duty in American politics

To anyone paying attention the last four years, Trump’s refusal to accept that he lost the 2020 presidential election fair and square could not truly come as a surprise. That he would never concede was practically a given. What we could not know (and still do not know) with any certainty is just how far Trump will go to maintain his grip on power. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Sam Ben-Meir, USA