Reform Judaism umbrella poised to back transgender rights ORLANDO, Florida (JNS.org) The umbrella body of Reform Judaism in the U.S. is set to pass a resolution to recognize the rights of transgender individuals. The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) will vote on the “Resolution on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People” at its […]
American Jewish Report: November 5, 2015 Read More »
USA
By Julie Schlosser SEATTLE, Washington — Like most Jewish people, each year at the High Holidays, I pause to look inward. It’s such a powerful window to stop, reflect and refocus. About six years ago, I remember sitting uncomfortably during Rosh Hashanah services. I was restless. I had a good job as a journalist at
The charming side of Jewish giving Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — While there is seldom a let-up in calls from the State Department, White House, or the New York Times that Israel must do more to solve the problem of the Palestinians, there is much less noise about the mess just over the US border with Mexico. There is considerable argument
Mexico, Palestine provide challenges for U.S., Israel Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Toby Klein Greenwald EFRAT, Israel — A bi-partisan group of congressmen recently (the week of Oct. 11-18) had the opportunity to go places and meet people that are not usually on the agenda of American diplomats or politicians who come to Israel. Scott Garrett R-NJ, Jim Jordan R-OH, Raoul Labrador R-ID, Alan Lowenthal D-CA, and
What five U.S. Congress members saw in Israel Read More »
Middle East, Toby Klein Greenwald, USABy Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON — In what is yet more evidence that universities have become, at least where campus free speech is concerned, “islands of repression in a sea of freedom,” as Chester E. Finn Jr., a former Assistant Secretary of Education has described them, the Wesleyan University community has been undergoing collective
Free speech at Wesleyan for those with ‘proper’ ideas Read More »
Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Rabbi Reuven H. Taff SACRAMENTO, California — On Sunday morning October 18th I went to Church. I know, a bit unusual for a rabbi to attend church services on a Sunday. But since my wife Judy and I were visiting my youngest son Ari who relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, I was drawn to
Rabbi prays at stricken South Carolina church Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — It’s been a couple of weeks now since my new life, alone, began here. This transitional town, situated between the glistening ocean waves and Marine fatigues of Camp Pendleton, is hardly associated with metro San Diego’s more effete communities such as La Jolla, Del Mar, or Rancho Santa
Simplicity and kindness mark his starting over Read More »
San Diego County, USABy Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON — Perhaps when literary critic C.S. Lewis despaired of “omnipotent moral busybodies . . . who torment us for our own good,” he was speaking about those well-meaning, but naïve college students who “torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” Lewis’s observation
SJP wants ‘free speech’ for itself, not for others Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — The National Retail Federation’s research is telling us “more than 157 million Americans will celebrate Halloween this year, with eight in 10 millennials saying they are already planning something fun with their friends. Total spending in 2015 will top $6.9 billion, with the average American celebrating planning
No, it’s not Purim; it’s Halloween Read More »
Michael Mantell, USA
Dear Santa, Love, Rachel Rosenstein by Amanda Peet and Andrea Troyer, illustrated by Christine Davenier, Doubleday, © 2015, 32 pages of text; ISBN 978-0-553-51061-4; $17.99/ By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – It’s coming b-a-a-a-ck. The December dilemma. That’s when American Jewish kids want to be like the other kids and celebrate Christmas. In this
Children’s story prepares them for December dilemma Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, USA
By Jennie Starr SAN DIEGO — I am an Israeli-American, raised in the US, but I didn’t learn to speak Hebrew until I was an adult. Speaking Hebrew strengthened my connection to Israel, family, Israelis and even Jewish life. It helped me relate, made me more passionate about Israel’s vitality, and increased my sense of
The importance of teaching children Hebrew Read More »
Middle East, USABy Isaac Yetiv , Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — The Democrat debate was a dull and boring staged performance with the main character, Hillary Clinton, and a few stage props, a statue here, a potted plant there. This was not a “debate;” this was a plebiscite, designed and orchestrated by the DNC leaders to achieve three
Democrats didn’t debate; they crowned Hillary Read More »
USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin NEW YORK–The familiar din came through the window of my short-term rental on East 73rd—grinding cement-mixer truck gears, roaring buses, the cacophony of car horns, the piercing BEEP-BEEP-BEEP of some other behemoth vehicle going in reverse. But I’m trying to go forward spiritually, emotionally, and the noise and pavement and general
Finding solace and meaning in New York City Read More »
USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJC) — The Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution “regarding the safety and security of Jewish communities in Europe.” This follows a hearing of World Jewish Congress leaders in March 2015. The resolution, pointing to data from the FBI and Jewish Community Security Service in
Never Again: Holocaust news for October 14, 2015 Read More »
International, USA