By Eitan Arom/JNS.org NEW YORK — Conservative Judaism has always had something akin to middle-child syndrome: squeezed on both sides by the Orthodox and Reform movements. But lately, its identity crisis has become acute. This week, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ)—an umbrella body that represents Conservative congregations across North America—is set to receive […]
The remaking of Cons. Judaism Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK– An AJC leadership delegation has concluded visits to Lithuania and Estonia. The seven-member group, led by AJC Chief Executive Officer David Harris and including lay and staff leaders, had meetings with Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, and Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius. The delegation also met with U.S.
AJC meets with leaders in Lithuania, Estonia Read More »
International, USAMarseille Jewish leader: avoid wearing kippah due to terror threats (JNS.org) The head of the Jewish community in the southern French city of Marseille has urged local Jews to avoid wearing a kippah in public, a day after an attack on a Jewish teacher by an Islamic State-inspired Muslim. “Not wearing the kippah can save
European & U.S. Jewish news: January 13, 2016 Read More »
International, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (SDJW)–Following is the text of President Obama’s final State of the Union message as released by the White House. It was delivered on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, before a Joint Session of Congress: By President Barack Obama Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: Tonight marks the eighth year
President Obama’s final State of the Union address Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — In one of the episodes of the TV drama, Homeland, a CIA operative reports to a meeting of senior officers about his experience in Syria. The discussion proceeds something like this. There are too many militias to count, and more than a few considered important. The US has no strategy guiding
Can radical Islam be defeated or moderated? Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Obama administration appears surprised by the sudden eruption of Saudi-Iranian hostility after the Saudi government executed Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and the Iranians responded by organizing/sponsoring/approving an attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran. Both sides have walked the rhetoric back just a bit in the last day
U.S. fails to understand Iran – Saudi rivalry Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) on Sunday, Jan. 10, condemned the desecration of the Catholic cemetery in Beit Jamal (near Beit Shemesh), Israel. In another action, the AJC welcomed the rejection by the American Historical Association of an anti-Israel resolution. Concerning the desecration of the cemetery, in which dozens of
AJC condemns cemetery vandalism; hails AHA vote Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s hard to find a more emotional issue roiling our American friends than guns and what’s associated with them. Who can have one or lots of them, what the Constitution guarantees, how much damage they produce, and what benefits they offer. A close cousin to gun control are issues of
Gun control in Israel and the U.S. Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Rabbi Jeffrey Lipschultz ROCK ISLAND, Illinois — One of the tough rituals I have done for the last twelve years is to go to Phoenix to visit my brother’s grave every January 3rd, the day he died in his tragic accident. This year, right before heading to the airport on January 3rd, I stopped by again
Speaking for your brother Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – U.S. Representatives Nita Lowey (NY-17), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Eliot Engel (NY-16), Albio Sires (NJ-8), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Susan Davis (CA-53), and Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) on Wednesday, Jan. 6, sent a letter to President Barack Obama calling for immediate punitive sanctions in response to Iran’s recent violation of international law
House members seek new Iran sanctions Read More »
Middle East, USABy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — A heinous attack in the heart of Tel Aviv has resulted in two fatalities and at least seven people wounded, several in critical condition. “Given the descriptions so far of what happened, this has all the appearances of a terrorist assault,” said American Jewish Committee (AJC) Executive Director David
Tel Aviv assault appears to be terrorism — AJC Read More »
Middle East, USA
–37th in a series — Exit 11: Lake Murray/ 70th Street Exit, San Diego/ La Mesa, California ~ D.Z. Akin’s Deli By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Thanks to a chopped liver recipe and some bold flirting, San Diego has in D.Z. Akin’s one of the county’s most popular Jewish delis. Created in 1980 by Zvika
I-8 Jewish Travel: D.Z. Akin’s, a long way from Abu Kabir Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
The Jewish Farming Settlement of Clarion, Utah: The Possible, Impossible dream (Editor’s Note: The following historical article is reprinted with permission from the Winter 2016 edition of Western States Jewish Quarterly.) By Jerry Klinger CLARION, Utah — European anti-Semitism had not improved by the latter half of the 19th century. If anything it became more vicious. “What
‘There’s a Jewish story every where’: Clarion, Utah Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Travel and Food, USASAN DIEGO (Press Release)–Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego’s oldest and largest Jewish congregation, participated in a “Lanterns for Peace” project designed to join Religious School students with Israeli and Palestinian communities in an act of peace and solidarity. Approximately 400 students in the Lee and Frank Goldberg Family Religious School created lanterns with messages of
Israel, Gaza, S.D. teens float lanterns for peace Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County, USA