USA

Questions on New York State Exam Revise Israeli History

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

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Bruce Ticker, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Let’s Not Be Afraid to Use the Word ‘Terrorist’

Dear editor: It shouldn’t be controversial to use the word “terrorists” when referring to terrorists. A February 6 Reuters news article that was republished in San Diego Jewish World used the terms “militants,” “gunmen,” and “armed individuals” to characterize the Palestinian Arab terrorists who carried out recent attacks, such as the massacre of seven worshippers

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Israel, Opinion, USA

Sunday Soundoff: State of the Union, Africa Relations, Antisemitism Forum

The rowdy way that Republicans in the House Chamber greeted portions of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union message on Tuesday, Feb. 7, was a terrible example for our country, which yearns for bipartisanship and progress rather than division and rancor. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Opinion, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, USA

Federation Raising Funds for Earthquake Survivors in Turkey and Syria

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — We are heartbroken by the news of the two devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria. Right now, the death toll is over 20,000 and over 1 million have lost their homes. While an overwhelming number of buildings, homes and businesses have been destroyed, rescuers work around the clock to

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Middle East, USA

A Military Strike Would Not Guarantee a Nuclear-Free Iran

Published by Chicago Tribune Washington has signaled that when it comes to Iran, diplomacy is out, and hostility is in. The U.S. began conducting joint air exercises with Israel on Jan. 23, employing more than 100 aircraft including strategic bombers and advanced F-35 fighter jets. This comes after President Joe Biden stated, “We’re going to

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Opinion, USA

Lashon Hara in the Political Arena: The Consequences of Ilhan Omar’s Antisemitic Remarks

By Leah Golembesky In today’s society, words hold immense power, and it is important to understand the consequences of what we say. This is particularly true for elected officials, who hold a platform that can reach millions and shape public discourse. The actions and words of these individuals can have far-reaching impacts and therefore, they

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Israel, Opinion, USA

Omar’s Removal is a Frightful Omen for Israel-Bashers

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — As the competing votes tracked upward on the Congressional scoreboard last Thursday, my memory summoned up a moment more than two decades ago when I spotted an anti-Israel sketch posted on a bulletin board. It featured a message that compared Israel to the civil rights struggles in the South.

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USA

Light and Obliquity: Edward Hopper at the Whitney Museum

By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Clement Greenberg once observed that Edward Hopper was a “bad painter. But if he were a better painter, he would, most likely, not be so superior an artist.” “Edward Hopper’s New York,” a major retrospective currently on view at the Whitney Museum, confirms this judgment. There is occasionally a

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir, USA

Digitization of the Papers of Chaim Grade, Inna Hecker Grade Now Publicly Available

NEW YORK (Press Release) – The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the National Library of Israel (NLI) are delighted to announce the completion of the digitization of the Papers of Chaim Grade and Inna Hecker Grade. Making this collection available online will enrich the lives of lovers of Jewish and Yiddish literature throughout the

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, USA

Many Jews Receive Mentions in Brief History of 17 US Presidents

Ronald Gruner, who spent his working career as a CEO of three different tech companies (Alliant Computer; Shareholder.com; and Sky.Analytics), is a lay historian deeply interested in economic policy and outcomes.  His book, analyzing the presidencies of the 17 U.S. Presidents from Warren G. Harding to Donald J. Trump, focuses largely on issues like unemployment, interest rates, and inflation.  But along the way he also makes mention of significant geopolitical events that occurred during those presidencies. I will leave it to economists to determine the value of Gruner’s economic analyses.  They are beyond my depth.  What I did take notice of was how often our fellow Jews, and issues of direct relevance to the Jewish community, cropped up in the book.  [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Substantial Opposition and Continued Uncertainties in Israel

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Israel’s government has an edge in the Knesset, but it’s only four seats. And there is substantial opposition to what its extreme members are proposing to do with the judiciary. One option is for a Knesset majority able to override the Supreme Court’s opposition to a Knesset law or

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Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion, USA

Israel: A Democracy

By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — There’s way too much hysteria from the left wing over proposed legislation in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. Where do world leaders like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and French President Emmanuel Macron get the chutzpah to lecture Israel’s elected representatives? It’s bad enough that the leaders of Israel’s

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Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA