By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — When I get annoyed at something that I read in our daily newspaper (still delivered to our door), I often quickly dash off a letter to the editor on my iPhone. Often they’re even printed, but I always feel better for having expressed my thoughts in writing. Below […]
Is Diaspora criticism of Israel top-down? Read More »
Middle East, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — Palestinian refugees are a slippery population — but when 285,535 of them go missing from a small country such as Lebanon, it should raise eyebrows. UNRWA in Lebanon reports on its website that 449,957 refugees live under its protection in 12 camps, but a survey by Lebanon’s Central Administration of Statistics, together
Does U.N. bill U.S. for refugees who don’t exist? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenNEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called on FIDE, the World Chess Federation, to take a strong stand against Saudi Arabia for its refusal to allow entry to Israel’s chess team to participate in the World Chess Championship, which opened Tuesday in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia will be hosting this competition for
Saudi Arabia bars Israeli chess team from competition Read More »
International, Middle EastJourney to a Dream; A voyage of discovery from England’s industrial north to Spain’s rural interior by Craig Briggs; (c) 2012; ISBN 9781480-254930; Prices vary on Amazon By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –Author Craig Briggs describes in great detail the process whereby he and his wife decamped from the north of England to Spain in
‘Journey to a Dream’ had many detours Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International
By Ezra Friedlander WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the aftermath of the release of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, we’ve seen much jubilation. But that was followed quickly by speculation from members of our community regarding the role or lack thereof of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer in the advocacy pertaining to the President’s commutation of Rubashkin’s
Enough with the criticism of Senator Schumer Read More »
USA
HAIFA, Israel (Press Release) — A pagan amulet used by a senior clergyman at the church in Hippos (Sussita), a fresco depicting the Greek goddess Tyche on a wall by the church; and a figurine of one of the regular participants in the alcohol-soaked processions devoted to the god of wine Dionysus all tell
Artifacts of ancient Hippos on display at U of Haifa Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s hard to get away from the men at the top of the two governments most important to these fingers. They appear to be close to one another with respect to policies of mutual interest, and they are both at the focus of severe criticism, with many of their countrypeople, and
Comparing the tsuris of Bibi and Donald Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Binyamin Netanyahu’s days as prime minister of Israel may be numbered. He may, after all, not beat the long tenure of David Ben-Gurion, the founding father of the state. There’re indications that the police may be close to recommending indictment of Netanyahu on one or more charges based on the
Netanyahu faces foes inside and outside his coalition Read More »
Middle EastBy Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — I am helping in the preparation of an exhibit at the Richmond Museum of History — “Pioneer Jews to the Present: Jews of Richmond and Contra Costa County.” I am reaching out to San Diego Jewish World readers who may have memories, photographs, artifacts or stories about Richmond and
Contra Costa County Jewish history exhibit seeks help Read More »
Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USABy Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — A favorite old story of mine (okay, almost all my favorite stories are old), tells of the four Moskowitz brothers – Lowell, Norman, Hyman and Max – who develop what is the prototype of the modern automobile air conditioner. They take their idea to Henry Ford, who is very
Jewish names: Keeping their ‘witz’ about them Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Trump’s speeches, and what has happened since, remind us once again about the marginality of Jews. Some may feel comfortable, and justly, given his realism about Jerusalem the Western Wall, and non-Israeli sources of problems throughout the Middle East. But Muslims, and Europeans, are rabid, or upset about what he
How marginal we Jews really are Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Where is the embassy? It’ll be easier–or at least quicker–building it on the moon. In this congested city with narrow streets it’s been impossible to create a coherent network of bike paths. The municipality has been at it for more than a decade. What’s been built goes from marked paths
By Norman Greene LOS ANGELES — Over $200,000 was raised at the Shalom Institute’s 2017 December Gala which honored San Diegans Linda and Michael Bennett. The successful event, held at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, attracted 400 dinner guests who also celebrated Los Angeles supporters AdamWeiss and Arthur Pinchev. The Bennetts were awarded the
Shalom Institute honors the Bennetts, raises 200G Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Beth Sarafraz Reprinted from the Jewish Press, Dec. 15, 2017 issue BROOKLYN, New York — More than 30 years ago, I went to the Synagogue of Deal in New Jersey to interview Rabbi Yitzchak Dwek for a newspaper story. Rabbi Dwek ended up interviewing me: Are you Jewish? Sure. Want to come to my
Interviewee turned the tables–and a life Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA