By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — The struggle for equal rights for Jews began with the writings of the philosopher and educator Moses Mendelssohn. In his book Jerusalem (1783) he described his version of Jewish life: one must be a Jew who observes the commandments and an enlightened German; Jews are a cultural, religious, but […]
Felix Mendelssohn’s Dream Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Israel seems mired in a context of reform proposals, which would increase the power of politicians over the judiciary. One proposal would increase the power of the government in naming judges; another would provide the ruling party the power to override decisions of the Supreme Court. A third proposal
More Noise Than Action in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion
By Stephen M. Flatow (JNS) The Biden administration says that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) are terrorists. The European Union, Japan, Canada, Australia and many other countries say the same. It’s not a Republican vs. Democrat issue. It’s not a conservative vs. liberal controversy. It’s something on which all reasonable people agree. So why
Biden Calls Them Terrorists, Why Won’t the Media? Read More »
International, Israel, Opinion, USA
County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher plans to run in 2024 for the seat of state Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, the year she will be ineligible to run again because of term limits. Fletcher will be in the middle of his second term as a county supervisor at that time, so, depending on the outcome of the state Senate election, we may face a special election for his seat. [Donald H. Harrison]
B’Shalom: Special Elections Here and Elsewhere Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Opinion, San Diego County, USA
By Jonathan S. Tobin (JNS) There are many issues worth having an argument over; then again, some are better left alone. For example, a debate about whether or not the actress who is hired to play Golda Meir in a movie is Jewish is not worth a moment of anyone’s time. By contrast, the discussion
Golda Meir Would Agree with Netanyahu on This One Read More »
International, Israel, Opinion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Decades ago, I most likely walked past the site of a Los Angeles synagogue near where Guy Taieb, 73, was wounded in a drive-by shooting last Thursday, an incident likely motivated by antisemitism. Long before Taieb moved to Los Angeles, I spent an afternoon visiting Santa Monica, and then
Los Angeles Synagogue Shootings: The Personal and the Perilous Read More »
Bruce Ticker, California, Opinion, USABy Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — The ideology of antisemitism is not dying, it is changing forms somewhat, but the imagination of the ideologues does not go far enough. It uses the experience accumulated by the technologists of the witch trials. Blaming the Jews of the Diaspora for the creation and policies of the state
The New Life of the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion: The Rudolf Slansky Trial Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion
An Israeli-American of close acquaintance, upon hearing that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter had entered hospice, commented that he “never liked that guy, he was an antisemite.” He noted that Carter helped propagate the lie that Israel is an apartheid state, even though Arabs have entered the highest levels of government and industry alongside their Jewish neighbors in Israel. Nevertheless, as we look back over his career, I think that we should be more charitable toward Carter, not forgetting his invaluable contributions as a mediator at Camp David, bringing about the peace between Israel and Egypt. [Donald H. Harrison]
B’Shalom: Jimmy Carter, Rose Schindler, U.S. Senate Aspirants, Gregory Peck Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, USABy Eric George Tauber CINCINNATI, Ohio — When I read the news that former President Jimmy Carter had gone into hospice, I began reflecting on his life and career. While I greatly admire his post-executive humanitarian work, Carter’s relationship with Israel and the American Jewish community is a bit more complicated. Hungry for Honesty In
Reflections on Jimmy Carter Read More »
Eric George Tauber, International, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For the seventh consecutive week, as Sabbath ended, hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested what the government is proposing on judicial reform. Seeing it as politicians taking over the judicial process by increasing their control over nominations to the Supreme Court, and limiting the Court from overturning Knesset enactments.
Protests Continue in Israel. What’s Next? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Israel has not achieved a clear cut victory over its existential antagonist, the Palestinian Arabs. That’s right, NO EXISTENTIAL VICTORY yet. In fact, the last clear battlefield victory against the Palestinian Arabs was more than twenty years ago. Why existential? Because our enemy wants to erase the Jewish
Victory, Not Stalemate Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve KramerBy Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — Karl Marx grew a beard that emphasized his resemblance to Zeus from an ancient statue from the fourth century B.C., a scaled-down copy of which he kept in his office. Marx, an ardent atheist, thought he was God. In spite of his divine ambitions, Marx was a supporter of
Karl Marx: The Philosophy of Liberation From Jewishness Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Opinion
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Now that the review, revision, even reversion, of basic principles in the judiciary has come to the fore of Israel’s political life it would seem to be appropriate to extend the approach to other spheres which till now have held sway and been considered sacrosanct. The time
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Some critics might label two questions on a statewide test as intellectual dishonesty in our fourth largest state that is home to the most sizable Jewish population in America. Except that there was nothing intellectual about these questions. The correct multiple-choice answer to one question assumes that the Holocaust
Questions on New York State Exam Revise Israeli History Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA