VATICAN CITY (WJC) — Pope Francis has reiterated his position to open the secret Vatican archives covering the period of World War II to allow researchers to assess the role played by Pope Pius XII during the Holocaust. In an extensive interview with the Israeli newspaper ‘Yediot Ahronot’, Francis said there was “an agreement between […]
Pope Francis willing to open Pius XII archives Read More »
Jewish HistoryBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO– Of course, those who really need this article probably won’t read it. That’s the way arrogance works. It makes you feel that you are better than the next person, that you certainly don’t need to change, and besides, no one is really smart enough to teach you anything.
Arrogant? Here’s how to become humble Read More »
Michael MantellHAIFA, Israel (Press Release) — They say there is no joy like the joy at another’s misfortune, but at what age do we already know how to feel and express it? Until now, researchers believed that children didn’t develop such a sophisticated emotion until the age of seven, but a new study conducted at the University
Tykes take pleasure in others’ misfortunes Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — Over 200 hair salons across Israel took part in the annual nationwide drive to collect hair for the Zichron Menachem Cancer Support in Israel in partnership with Pantene Products Israel. From Kfar Tapuach to Herzliyah and from Arad to Haifa, women and girls donated their hair locks at
Israelis donate masses of hair to cancer patients Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Israel’s cabinet is embroiled over the proposed nationality bill that would raise the Jewish, democratic ethos, mentioned in Israel’s Declaration of Independence, into a Basic Law, which is Israel’s version of a constitution. Not only are many Israelis, and especially Arabs, fearful that their status will be downgraded, others
The importance of Israel being ‘Jewish’ Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerTEL AVIV (Press Release) — “Memetics,” or the study of memes, is a very popular discipline among cultural researchers now, particularly as it concerns new media like viral videos. But no one seems to know what a meme really is. Originally coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, the “meme” transfers cultural information much the way that
How do we transmit culture? Read More »
International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Tzvi Zucker JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — In 2014, cruise ship traffic to Israel decreased by almost two-thirds in comparison with the year before. A cruise ship that docked in Ashdod during Operation Protective Edge was hit by shrapnel from a rocket. The AIDA Diva, a cruise ship with a capacity of 2,050 passengers and run
Fewer cruise ships calling in Israel Read More »
Middle East, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO– A man once came to Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky (1913-1979), the rosh yeshiva (dean) of Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, regarding a boy in the yeshiva who had been proposed as a match for his daughter. He asked the rosh yeshiva how many hours a day the boy learned; was he
Questions the father of the bride- to- be should ask Read More »
Jewish ReligionISTANBUL, Turkey (WJC)– A provincial governor of Turkey whose anger at Israel led him to call for turning a synagogue into a museum, has apologized to the country’s chief rabbi – though he claimed he was misunderstood. Dursun Şahin, governor of the northwestern Edirne province, offered an “apology” that expressed “profound sadness” that his words
Turkish governor apologizes to chief rabbi Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Eddie Shapiro grew up in Manhattan where his parents took him to Broadway musicals from the time he was five years old. While other boys were memorizing sports scores, he went to the library to devour playbills, learning the names of the writers, directors, producers and star performers
Women of theater subject of fun evening Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Overlapping events in Jerusalem and Ferguson, Missouri make it timely to consider one of the most sensitive of policy issues in both Israel and the United States, with emerging similarities in European countries that are no longer homogeneous ethnically. Even the label “managing minorities” will be viewed by some as disparaging, arrogant,
How Israel, U.S. ‘manage’ minority problems Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Cynthia Citron SANTA MONICA–If you wanted to write a play to honor your father, it might be a bit inappropriate to portray him as a scoundrel. But that’s what Henry Jaglom has done in his new play Train to Zakopane, now having its World Premiere at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in
Seducing a hater on ‘Train to Zakopane’ Read More »
Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Thanksgiving is a day when Americans of all faiths sit at one spiritual table with many of the same trimmings and family customs. Thanksgiving liberates us from specific theological claims and allows us to contemplate the common creed of gratitude. It’s the only pure festival and nobody is fighting
Giving thanks for Thanksgiv’g Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) leaders and supporters from the San Diego area joined the FIDF National Leadership Mission to Israel earlier this month to show their appreciation for the brave men and women of the IDF. VIP events included meetings with Israel’s newly elected President, Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin, and
San Diego unit joins FIDF tour of Israel Read More »
Travel and Food