Published by Chicago Tribune In my life as a rabbi, it’s quite common for me to hear Jews passionately expressing their dissatisfaction with the latest portrayal of Jews in the mass media: from the Netflix film “You People” to The New York Times coverage of Hasidic schools to Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s gleeful promotion […]
What I Wish People Knew About Orthodox Jews Read More »
Opinion
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Since my childhood in London, I have enjoyed being able to read a newspaper that is delivered to my house every morning. In England this was pushed through our letterbox and appeared on our carpeted hallway floor. In Israel it is thrown onto our driveway from the car
Israel Has Reached a Sorry State of Affairs — But Do Not Despair Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Opinion
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Israel’s Six-Day War disrupted Benjamin Netanyahu’s graduation plans at Cheltenham High School, located less than a mile from the Philadelphia neighborhood where I grew up. I recall reading that he skipped his graduation in June 1967 so he could fly to Israel and risk his life in defense of
Israel is Our Business Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USA
Two Jewish women are making big political waves. Marianne Williamson has announced she will oppose incumbent President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic presidential primaries. U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) has formally declared her candidacy to succeed Michigan’s retiring Democratic senator Debbie Stabanow in an effort by Democrats to remain in control of the U.S. Senate. [Donald H. Harrison]
B’Shalom: Marianne Williamson, Elissa Slotkin and Sara Jacobs Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Opinion, USA
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 & BroadcastBy 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