Yom Kippur provides no respite from Iranian rhetoric against Israel (JNS.org) Wednesday’s observance of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, provided no respite in the routine rhetoric against Israel from Iranian leaders. “We will certainly destroy Israel,” said Maj. Gen. Ataollah Salehi, commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army, this week during a parade
Middle East Roundup: September 24, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
–23rd in a series– Exit 9, Waring Road, San Diego ~ Benjamin Branch Library By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – At this point I still can’t tell whether the tale of the reclusive bibliophile who only came to the public’s attention after he died, very much alone, is a “Jewish story” or not.
I-8 Jewish travel: The reclusive bibliophile Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A meeting of potentially great importance occurred between Vladimir Putin and Benyamin Netanyahu, together with the head of the IDF, the chief of military intelligence, and their Russian counterparts. It came on the news of Russia providing substantial military assistance to the forces of Bashar al Assad, and the concern that Israeli
Russia, Israel maneuver in Syrian civil war Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Let There Be Water by Seth M. Siegel; St. Martin’s Press; © 2015; ISBN: 978-1-250-07395; 337 pages including appendices, notes, bibliography and index, $27.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Most of Israel has an arid climate, and there is a paucity of water in the rivers that flow from the mountains in the
‘Let There Be Water’ relates how Israel got it Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Under the auspices of The Zionist Council in Israel – Anglo Division, Michal and I and friends joined a group headed for Jerusalem for the Selichot prayers at the Kotel – the Western Wall. These are traditional penitential poems and prayers which are said in the period leading up
An Israeli takes a tour of Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
NEW YORK (JNS.org) –Dr. Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon and Republican presidential candidate, was blasted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for his remark that he “would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.” “Dr. Ben Carson’s statement that a Muslim American should not serve as president is deeply offensive, un-American,
ADL denounces Carson stance on Muslims Read More »
USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org HOUSTON, Texas — In a scheduling conflict of Abrahamic proportions, a Houston-based think tank is hosting George Mitchell—former U.S. senator from Maine and the Obama administration’s former envoy for Middle East peace—on both Jewish and Muslim holy days. “The Negotiator: Senator George Mitchell’s Adventures in Law and Politics” will be held from
Houston, we have a religious problem Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, USAYom Kippur War vets: IDF is better prepared now (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Forty-two years after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, only a handful of officers who served then remain in the Israel Defense Forces. Several of them gathered on the anniversary of the war to speak about their difficult experiences decades ago. Legendary
Middle East Roundup: September 22, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle EastSapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari; Translated from the Hebrew by the author, with the help of Haim Watsman and John Purcell, Harper Collins, 2014 By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — First, kudos to the author for using the term ‘humankind’ rather than ‘mankind’ as used by Neil Armstrong when
History of humankind includes section on economics Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan –I’m a cli-fi freak, not a sci-fi geek, and here’s why: It’s in my genes and over the last decade, I’ve taken a very strong interest in climate change issues and man-made global warming. And with the United Nations climate conference in Paris coming up in late November, humankind
Confession of a ‘cli-fi freak’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — According to Jewish tradition, the period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the opportunity for soul searching and a new beginning, i.e., Atonement. The Almighty is said to decide each person’s fate for the coming year on Rosh Hashana, and to sign the final decision on Yom Kippur. The
Diversity, unity both said to be strengths of Judaism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) – Among the traditional knitted and velvet kippas of those praying at the men’s section of the Western Wall last night, one particular group stood out with their Harley-Davidson leather vests and black bandanas. An Israeli group of Harley-Davidson riders made their annual trip to Jerusalem, as part of the
Harley – Davidson riders roar up to Kotel Read More »
Middle East