By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — In his new book, Chazara bli teshuva – paraphrased in English as “the philosophic roots of the secular-religious divide” – Micah Goodman, whose praises I never fail to sing, makes an important distinction between influence and domination. To be influenced, he writes, is to grow and to develop as
Smotrich would impose biblical law on Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – It is scary to think what could have happened on Jewish dairy farmer Max Yagur’s field in August 1969. Yet, it’s inspirational to realize what actually did happen. I’m talking about the Woodstock Music & Art Festival, which commenced Friday, August 15th with folk music, and continued to
Film depicts the joy and terror of Woodstock Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Several days of uncertainty. Netanyahu could not form a government, with his deadline approaching. He had 42 days to do it. A conflict between Lieberman and the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) seemed at the heart of the problem. Principally a matter of enforced enlistment, and punishment of Yishivot whose students did not
Many questions amid Israel’s election turmoil Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — In an effort to goad Mexico into taking more action against Central American migrants traveling through Mexico to the United States southern border, President Trump has announced that he will begin implementing tariffs on Mexican goods in the coming weeks and months. There is a long history
Jewish trivia quiz: Mexican customs Read More »
International, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Every year, the Jewish Community of San Diego comes together to celebrate Israel around Yom Ha’Atzma’ut (Israel’s Independence Day) and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day). Piggy backing on the Festival is the Friendship Walk, the annual fundraiser for the Friendship Circle. I was part of both. The Friendship Circle
San Diegans take Friendship Walk and celebrate Israel Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USABy Lawrence Krause ENCINITAS, California — It would no doubt require a leap of faith but suppose there was a political leader of Gaza who was only interested in the well-being of the residents of Gaza. He might recognize that Gaza has the potential of being a very prosperous place. The model is Singapore which
A peaceful economic recovery plan for Gaza Read More »
International, Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release) — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) released on Sunday, June 2, its first-ever concurrent surveys of the attitudes of Jews in France, Israel, and the United States, the three largest Jewish communities in the world. “Some commonalities among American, French, and Israeli Jewry, comprising the great majority of world Jewry, are
How U.S., French, Israeli Jews differ on key issues Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Dictionaries offer many meanings of the word “sinister.” They include: threatening, ominous, bad, evil, base and disastrous. Also: of or on the left side, left, which is the original meaning of the term. When Prime Minister Netanyahu and his entourage describe a political opponent as “smolani.” (שמאלני, literally: on
‘Left’ a nasty word for Netanyahu Read More »
Middle EastBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Arab nations historically feared that Israel’s presence would influence their cultures, but as of Thursday, May 30, Arab traditions influenced Israel: Our prime ally in the Middle East will exist for nearly four months without a functioning democracy. The Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, failed to form a majority ruling coalition,
Mandatory coalitions could fix Israel’s electoral system Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Oh botheration. ‘Ere we go again, as the earwig said as it fell off the rim of the jar. The midnight hour struck last night and no fairy godmother appeared to turn the pumpkin into a carriage. So we poor benighted citizens of Israel face another two-and-a-half months
Why Israelis must endure a new election Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastNEW YORK (SDJW) — The American Jewish Congress has compiled a Jewish voter’s guide to the 2020 elections, looking at the stances President Donald Trump and the 24 Democratic presidential contenders, to date, have taken on Israeli and domestic Jewish concerns. The guide also provides information on the stances of members of the United States
AJ Congress provides free voter guide for 2020 Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USASAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Jack Nahmias, regional political director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), will address the Beth Israel Men’s club and guests at 6:15 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, on the question of whether U.S. support for Israel is inevitable. His speech will follow a buffet dinner at the congregation which
AIPAC’s Nahmias addresses CBI June 15 Read More »
Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — Lately, I’ve been watching some TV shows about Israel’s intelligence and anti-terrorism efforts. This was prompted by the wild popularity of the Israeli series, Fauda, watched by both Israeli Jews and Arabs (and probably Palestinian Arabs too). The realistic, non-stop, brutal efforts of the Mista’arvim unit of the
Museums, TV shows, enhance Mossad’s reputation Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Negotiations to form the next government of Israel became a game that nobody was going to win. There’re only losers in Netanyahu’s attempt to form again a right-wing government after the April 9 elections. The favorite culprit is Avigdor Lieberman for resisting Netanyahu’s undertaking to protect his ultra-Orthodox coalition
Oy vey! Israel to go through another election Read More »
Middle East