By Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Billionaire and philanthropist, Ronald Lauder, a regular and massive contributor to Jewish and Israeli charities, made the most bewildering statement in the New York Times: “…the Jewish democratic state faces two grave threats that I believe could endanger its very existence…The first threat is the possible demise of the two-state
OpEd: Why Ronald Lauder is wrong about Israel Read More »
Middle East
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of stories researched during Don and Nancy Harrison’s 50th Wedding Anniversary cruise from Sydney, Australia, to San Diego. Previous installments of the series, which runs every Thursday, may be found by tapping the number of the installment: 1, 2. By Donald H. Harrison SYDNEY,
Australian rabbi grew up in secular Los Angeles home Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USAJERUSALEM — Is this another occasion to sit shiva for the idea of a Palestinian state? Or yet another indication that the idea is well within the realm of dreamland, not to die, but not to achieve anything real? Several events qualify for the label of strategic, in the sense that they signal abject failure
Will there ever be a nation of Palestine? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
SANTA CRUZ, California (Press Release)– Within hours of San Francisco State University (SFSU) President Leslie Wong’s public apology to Jewish students and affirmation that “Zionists are welcome on our campus,” an SFSU professor shot back with a hateful and discriminatory message targeting Jewish and Zionist students. The message was posted on an official site of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and
By Alon Ben-Meir and Arbana Xharra NEW YORK — Less than a month ago, in advance of the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, the Turkish daily Yeni Şafak, which is considered one of the mouthpieces of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), published an
Turkish plans to conquer Israel, Europe Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — “What is your favorite sound?” was one of the questions that the legendary French interviewer and literary figure, Bernard Pivo, used to ask his interviewees. The answers were usually interesting but not very original. “The sounds of nature,” “A champagne cork popping,” “The harmonious cacophony of the orchestra tuning
Friday nights with the grand children Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Travel and FoodWith Liberty and Justice: The Fifty-Day Journey from Egypt to Sinai by Senator Joe Lieberman with Rabbi Ari D. Kahn, Maggid Books and OU Press, New Milford, CT, © 2018, ISBN 978-1-59264-501-5, p. 165, $24.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – An ancient midrash explains that just after the Israelites left Egypt, Moses told
Lieberman writes book about U.S., Jewish basic laws Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The story is an old one, repeated several times in history, literature, film, and Israel’s reality. Most famous is the story of Judas Iscariot, and the use of the label “Judas” for a person turning against a figure to whom the turncoat had been loyal.. The term is used not
Former allies turning on Netanyahu Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Thirty four Haredi Women graduated a United Hatzalah EMT course on Thursday, joining the Women’s Unit of the organization. The newly trained EMTs will be tasked with providing emergency medical care as first responders to women in the Haredi communities of Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Director of United Hatzalah’s Women’s
United Hatzalah certifies 34 women to serve Haredim Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– Understandably, readers of my comments about current events in Israel are at times, perhaps often, irritated or worse by the underlying pessimism of my reflections. Hard statistics seem to refute it: for the fifth successive year Israel has retained its eleventh happy place among 156 countries in the ranking of the
Love Israel, but critique some of its policies Read More »
Middle EastThis is the second part of an article examining the volatile Iran-Israel relationship. To see Part I, please click here. By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The recent violation of Israel’s air space by an Iranian drone and Israel’s retaliation against Syrian and Iranian targets prompted many observers to suggest that the growing regional
U.S. should make NATO- like pledge to Israel Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories based on editor Donald Harrison’s 50th anniversary cruise with his wife Nancy from Sydney, Australia, back to San Diego, and the people they met and places they visited along the way. By Donald H. Harrison SYDNEY, Australia – Dedicated as the Maccabean
Museum examines war bravery, Holocaust brutality Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Our friends are worried. Young American Jews are in danger of disappearing via intermarriages at rates of 50 percent or more. Many are ill informed and disinterested in Israel. Key figures in AIPAC have come out in support of a Palestinian State, against sentiments in the Israeli government. Many Democrats,
Is Israel isolated? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USASACRAMENTO, California – The California Legislative Jewish Caucus on Wednesday, March 14, introduced AJR-35 condemning a new law in Poland subjecting individuals who cite the participation of Poles in Nazi crimes to imprisonment for up to three years, despite the historical record of this collaboration. “The Law on the Institute of National Remembrance is an attempt
Jewish solons condemn Holocaust law in Poland Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA