By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — I first met Israeli-born Rabbi Aryeh Azriel in 1983, shortly before he was ordained by the Hebrew Union College. Over the years we’ve encountered each other many times at conferences and on his frequent visits to Israel. For the last quarter-of-a-century he has been the spiritual leader of Temple […]
Here are some pro-Hagel Jewish voices Read More »
USAFARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan –As Humanistic Jews, our hearts are broken as we grapple with the loss of 26 lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. For more than a decade, we have been witness to mass shootings with no relief. Across the United States, in schools, theaters, and malls, from Virginia Tech, to
Humanistic Jews to boycott retailers selling assault weapons Read More »
USAEditor’s Note: The following article is reprinted with permission from Ha’aretz. By Abraham H. Foxman It is looking more and more certain that former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel is going to be the next American Secretary of Defense. President Obama has officially announced his intention to nominate Mr. Hagel. Considering precedent, whereby very few nominated
ADL chief has mixed feelings about Hagel Read More »
USABy JNS.org On the day when President Barack Obama nominated former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel for defense secretary, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) said that despite expressing concerns about Hagel in the past, it believes Hagel will “follow the President’s lead of providing unrivaled support for Israel—on strategic cooperation, missile defense programs, and leading
Hagel on Israel—in letters Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– We’re hearing different things about Chuck Hagel, and the reasons for his appointment as Obama’s Secretary of Defense.. Clips of his comments about the power of the Jewish lobby, the Palestinians being chained down, and the damage to the standing of the US due to excessive support of Israel Comments expressing
Hagel’s apparent Israel animus only one reason for opposition Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Several of my columns commenting about the United States have produced angry responses, claiming that I do not understand, that my “opinions” are tainted, and that if I do not value the United States I should give up my citizenship. What I think these responses reveal is yet another side of the United
The intellectual right, yea obligation, of independent thought Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Thursday, Jan. 3, noted a recent poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press that shows the continuing large gap in support for Israel between Republicans and Democrats. The poll, taken in mid-December, asked, “In the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians,
Poll finds conservatives favor Israel, liberals less so Read More »
USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin NEW YORK –My eyes watered and my throat tightened as I disembarked at Newark Liberty Airport and gazed upon the renewed New York skyline and the curative, colossal sight of the One World Trade Center tower. It was certainly a joyous journey: a daughter marrying in my native Israel, a connection
Gratitude on returning to the Land of the Free Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Turning on the radio and opening my browser early in the morning of January 1 in Jerusalem, the news from the world capital, where it was still yesterday, was that the White House and Congress were close, but not yet there with legislation that would keep the American economy–and most
United States a nation of high contrasts Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy JNS.org After President Barack Obama nominated U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) for Secretary of State, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Kerry “has considerable experience and is a known supporter of the security of the State of Israel.” At the same time, Kerry has been a frequent critic of
Kerry not Israel’s most dependable ally Read More »
USANEW YORK (Press Release) — A new national survey has shown that the American public supports Israel over the Palestinians by a five-to-one ratio. According to the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press national survey, conducted during December 5-9, 2012, Americans sympathize more with Israel (50%) than with the Palestinians (10%). Support for
Pew finds most Americans support Israel over Palestinians Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I’ve tried to convince my American friends how out of step they are on firearms. Being number one in gun ownership and number one in murder does not seem to impress them. Perhaps it stimulates their pride in being different. Everyone else must be off kilter, insofar as individual freedom
An immodest proposal: A gun ghetto, perhaps Texas Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — One of the nice things about living in Japan and Taiwan over the past 20 years is that there is no gun culture, no gun violence, no guns blazing. So whenever I read about the increasing gun violence in America, I cringe. I recently read a news story
Hollywood should cut down on gun violence Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–According to the über-encyclopedia that teaches all of us everything, “defense mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play by the unconscious mind to manipulate, deny, or distort reality (through processes including, but not limited to, Repression, Identification, or Rationalization), and to maintain a socially acceptable self-image or self-schema.” Defense mechanisms abound
Columnist’s inbox the target of gun-control debate Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA