By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — It isn’t every day I come across a theologically provocative news story headline like the New York Daily News did this morning in the terrible aftermath of the mass shooting that took place in San Bernardino, California—which claimed the lives of fourteen people, while injuring over […]
True, God can’t fix this; we must! Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The dust up between Vladimir Putin and President Erdogan of Turkey is warming at least a few Israeli hearts. It comes against the background of Erdogan’s strong tilt toward the Palestinians, especially the more radical Hamas faction. Prominent in our recent history with him is the effort of the Turkish
Some Israelis enjoy dust up between Turkey and Russia Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON — Seeming to give proof to Orwell’s observation that some ideas are so stupid they could only have been thought of by intellectuals, yet another academic association—this time the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA)—has followed the lead of the American Studies Association, the American Anthropological Association, the Asian Studies
Women’s studies group votes boycott of Israel Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi BETHESDA, Maryland — In a developing situation, at least 14 people were dead and 17 others wounded in a California shooting on the grounds of the Inland Regional Center, which serves people with developmental disabilities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. “We hope for the best for the victims of violence in San Bernardino. Our hearts
People with disabilities often victimized Read More »
USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — Sixty years ago today, on December 1, 1955, a diminutive but mighty seamstress named Rosa Parks refused to stand up and move from her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus. She was arrested for taking the position of a white rider. “I was just tired of standing,”
Rosa Parks paved the way for Martin Luther King Jr. Read More »
USABy Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — It was 1944 in the Nazi concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen and a young Dutch boy, Yoachim Yosef was nearing his 13th birthday. Among the inmates was the former Chief Rabbi of Holland who prepared the boy for his bar mitzvah. Each morning they would secretly study Torah on
Like father like son: Ilan and Assaf Ramon Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USAFBI investigating threats against North Carolina Jewish school (JNS.org) The FBI and local police are investigating threats made against a Jewish day school located in Greensboro, N.C. According to local reports, the B’nai Shalom Day School, a school affiliated with Beth David Synagogue in Greensboro, received a threatening letter on Monday that included racial epithets
American Jewish Report: Nov. 30, 2015 Read More »
USA
By Ilan Yavelberg HAIFA, Israel — For the first time, a scientific study has observed bonobos (an analogous race to chimpanzees) making sophisticated use of ancient pre-agricultural tools in a manner similar to that which has hitherto been considered the prerogative of archaic pre-human hominins and other members of the Homo genus. Among other findings, a
Bonobos make, use tools to find food, defend selves Read More »
Middle East, The World We Share, USAOne Nation Under Gods: A New American History, by Peter Manseau. Little, Brown and Company. 2015, 469pp By David Strom SAN DIEGO — At the founding of our nation over 20 percent of African slaves were Moslem. Their number dwarfed the number of Catholics or Jews living in the colonies. The third president of the
Historian traces religious diversity in the U.S. Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, USABy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — AJC (American Jewish Committee) has welcomed the announcement that Israel will establish a diplomatic office in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. An Israeli diplomat will be accredited to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a new UN agency based in Abu Dhabi. Israel is one of
AJC cites positive moves in Abu Dhabi, Argentina Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Ken Stone SAN DIEGO (SDONA)– A week ago at the San Diego Civic Theatre, Adam Sandler unveiled his fourth version of the “Hanukkah Song” in all its Jewish-name-dropping glory. The downtown show Nov. 18 also featured David Spade, Nick Swardson and Rob Schneider. The video was posted Wednesday to his “Happy Madison” YouTube channel, where
Adam Sandler debuts new Chanukah song Read More »
Ken Stone, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — These are the days of division and fear. Let there be the relief of Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is a day when heaven yields some relief from our earthly concerns, when Americans of all faiths sit at one spiritual table with many of the same trimmings and family customs. Thanksgiving
This holiday brings all U.S. religions together Read More »
USABy Jeremy Ben-Ami NEW YORK — Is it safe to wait at a light rail station in Jerusalem? What about grabbing a cup of coffee at an outdoor café in Europe? Getting on a plane? Terror is real; its goal straightforward–to instill fear. And right now, fear and insecurity are real in the United States,
Terror and fear- mongers must be defeated Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Joe Gandelman SAN DIEGO — If there is ever a movie that cries out for being seen NOW it’s filmmaker Robert Rippberger’s 7 Days in Syria. When it was completed some months ago it was a solid documentary about the Syrian Civil War that took you so inside the devastation that you could almost
Why Jews should feel compassion for Syrian refugees Read More »
Jewish History, Joe Gandelman, Middle East, USA