Compiled by Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The rumors and “not for attribution” comments are far outdistancing what U.S. officials have put on the record concerning President Barack Obama’s alleged anger with Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for agreeing to speak before a Joint Session of Congress, now planned March 3. So let’s go […]
Netanyahu, Obama: Who said what and when Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, officials from the U.S. Consulate in East Jerusalem attended a Palestinian protest over Israel’s removal of olive trees illegally planted in the West Bank. Coordinated with the Palestinian Authority [PA] but not Israel, the Consulate personnel ended up clashing with Israelis living nearby. It was, perhaps, the
U.S. equips Palestinian army on West Bank Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — As soon as Purim draws nigh, my wife Judy begins to anguish about Pesach. Although Passover is one of her favorite holidays, it is quite labor intensive. Judy not only needs to change the dishes and prepare for the seder, she also has to rid the house of
The wicked symbolism of chametz Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Time for the old joke again. In the early days of Israel, when the country was in dire economic straits, it was suggested that the Jewish state should declare war against the United States. The Americans would win, of course, and thus be obliged to provide for Israel. That
Netanyahu risks U.S. relations in bid to keep power Read More »
Middle East, USAMossad distances itself from report that it opposes new Iran sanctions (JNS.org) Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency distanced itself from a report that it opposes new American sanctions against Iran. Bloomberg News reported Thursday that Mossad Director Tamir Pardo told U.S. representatives visiting Israel this week that applying sanctions on Iran now, when negotiations on the
Jewish news briefs: January 23, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — The Hebrew word “beyachad” (together) typifies the Israeli approach to innovating a better world. Israel and the US continue to move closer together economically. The Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation recently approved $8.3 million in new funding for 11 projects where US and Israeli companies are
Positively Israel ~ January 23, 2015 Read More »
Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — I was born in America and I love America. But living overseas for over 20 years has shown me that America does not always get it right, in terms of international PR. I watched President Barack Obama’s “State of the Union” address on TV CNN International here in
House Chamber should display horizontal flag Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Two items that seem much different have in common a capacity to teach us something about politics. Politics, and the government associated with it is a messy business, even while essential to civilization. It ain’t easy to serve numerous and contrasting purposes at the same time, and a common result is
U.S., Israel leaders engage in tit for tat behavior Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO─ Dovish political parties opposed to Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies have violated diplomatic protocol by inviting President Obama to address the Knesset. Just kidding! Inviting the leader of another country to interfere in the elections and foreign relations of one’s own could never happen─ at least not in Israel. * Worried that
Humoring the headlines: January 22, 2015 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireCompiled by Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Jewish members of Congress are fighting vigorously in the latest abortion battle between Republicans and Democrats. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) explained the controversy this way: “House Republicans planned to vote on the ‘Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,’ this week, which proposed a 20-week abortion ban. However, Republican
Abortion, Israel & Iran issues stir Congress Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Rabbi Yitzchok Chinn of McKees Port, Pensylvania, when he was a guest speaker at a Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva Convention, where he told the following story: Rabbi Chinn knew an older Jewish man who said to him, “I hate Shabbos!” The Rabbi
Something fishy about hating Shabbos Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Norman Greene SAN DIEGO — If you are up for solving mysteries and maybe uncovering a few new ones, you can learn a great deal by visiting an old Jewish cemetery in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. For years. My late father would become very melancholy four or five days before the yahrzeits of his
Surprises, mysteries at Brooklyn cemetery Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, Travel and FoodBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson GUERET, France — Life is full of strange coincidences. I first encountered the story of Charlotte Salomon about twenty years ago, when an exhibition of her work, a series of paintings with captions describing her life and entitled ‘Life? Or Theatre?’ was held at the Royal Academy in London. It made a
‘Charlotte’ tells story of perished German Jewish girl Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History