By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Two issues are at the roiling stage, and threatening the capacity of Barack Obama to run the world by means of his political wisdom and the aides he sends forth to do his work. Ukraine and Israel-Palestine are much different in the nature and what they threaten. Israel and Palestine are on […]
Middle East, Eastern Europe challenge U.S. Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
-Compiled from news reports- OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – A gunman opened fire in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Center in this Kansas City suburb, killing a man and his teenage grandson as they sat in their car on Sunday afternoon, April 12. A short while later, in the parking lot of Village
Nation mourns victims in Overland Park attacks Read More »
USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most important feminists fighting for women’s rights in the Islamic world is a woman named Ayaan Hirsi Ali. This remarkable woman was born in Somalia where she was raised as a Muslim. She spent her youth and young adulthood in Africa and Saudi
Brandeis was wrong to cancel Ali’s honor Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –Returning from a four-week jaunt across the USA in which we visited six cities and met countless relatives and friends – both old and new – it took no time at all to get used to the pace of life in Israel. That may be due in part to
An Israeli tourist’s reflections on America Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, USA
WAHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry released the following statement following the announcement that Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns will retire later this year: “It is hard to find words adequate to express who Bill Burns is, and what he means not just to the State Department, but to American foreign
Veteran U.S. diplomat William Burns to retire Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) –The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations lauded the announcement by White House spokesman, Jay Carney, that a visa to enter the US will not be issued to the proposed Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, Hamid Abutalebi, who was involved in the 1979 takeover of the American Embassy
Conf. of Presidents lauds barring of Iranian diplomat Read More »
Middle East, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release). — In a list of intended nominations, U.S. President Barack Obama said he plans to appoint Rabbi Lee T. Bycel of Napa, California, as a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. The White House website provided the following biographical information about Rabbi Bycel: “Rabbi Lee T. Bycel is Rabbi
Obama weighs Rabbi Bycel for Holocaust Commission Read More »
USA
By Maxine Dovere/JNS.org NEW YORK — On June 1, as it has for five decades, the annual Celebrate Israel Parade (formerly the Salute to Israel Parade)—billed as the American Jewish community’s largest show of pride and support for the Jewish state—steps off along Fifth Avenue in New York City. While the parade’s theme this
Tiff over what groups belong in pro- Israel parade Read More »
Middle East, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — ‘Let all who are hungry, come and eat.’ This invitation, part of the traditional Passover seder, inspired a call for Congress to provide nutrition support for seniors at the 6th annual National Hunger Seder in the U.S. Capitol. The event, organized by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and MAZON:
Seder in Capitol calls attention to the hungry Read More »
Jewish Religion, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — When writing about Sheldon Adelson, Thomas Friedman gets some things right, and others very wrong. He’s right to see Sheldon Adelson as an overly friendly threat against Israel. Friedman calls him “Iran’s Best Friend” in a recent NTY op-ed piece. If anyone currently active threatens the image of the Jew
Two influential Americans who dispute Israel’s future Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
NEW YORK (Press Release)– Robert G. Sugarman, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, CEO, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations called on the governments of the United States and Cuba to immediately renew negotiations to gain the release of Alan Gross, an American citizen who is on a hunger strike in his Cuban prison.
Conference of Presidents urges freedom for Gross Read More »
International, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Lawrence Silverman, acting assistant secretary for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs of the U.S. State Department, testified on Wednesday, April 9, before the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Following is a transcript of his testimony, as provided by the U.S. State Department:
Lebanon endangered by Syrian incursions, refugees Read More »
Middle East, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Wednesday, April 9, welcomed a decision by Brandeis University to withdraw its invitation to Ayaan Hirsi Ali to receive an honorary degree at commencement ceremonies on May 18 and attributed the “victory over hate” to a unified community response. CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim
Brandeis withdraws honorary degree offer to writer Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Moshe Phillips and Benyamin Korn PHILADELPHIA –As debate rages over a new documentary about the “honor killings” of women by Islamic extremists around the world, former president Jimmy Carter has weighed in — and not on the side of oppressed women. The film, Honor Diaries, is being denounced by Islamist activists such as the
Carter mum in book on Palestinian ‘honor killings’ Read More »
Middle East, USA