Advocates sought for sexual assault victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-California) has introduced legislation in the House to establish an independent advocate on campus for sexual assault survivors. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) introduced the Senate bill last week. The Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act requires higher education institutions receiving federal assistance to create an Independent Advocate […]

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Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish groups welcome Netanyahu support for 2 states

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Jewish groups on Thursday, March 19, welcomed Israel’s Prime Mininster Benjamin Netanyahu’s clarification that he still desires a two-state solution with the Palestinians, although he considers circumstances very difficult for achieving this outcome. Here are the comments from the Jewish groups: American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): “Today, Israeli Prime

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Middle East, USA

Engel to Obama: Do not ignore Congress on Iran

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, March 19, delivered the following statement at a Committee hearing on the Iran nuclear negotiations: “Thank you, very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for calling this very important and timely hearing. “Mr. Deputy Secretary, Mr. Under Secretary:

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Middle East, USA

Coalition building: the scramble for ‘tiks’

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The president hasn’t yet consulted with the leaders of the political parties, but the country is already speculating about who will get what tik (Hebrew for “portfolio”). Because Netanyahu needs the smaller parties on the political right (Bennett’s pro-settler Habayit Hayehudi; Lieberman’s “Russian” Yisrael Beiteinu; Kahlon’s right-of-centre newcomer Kulanu; the

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Middle East

UK increases spending to protect Jewish sites

NEW YORK (Press Release)– The World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Thursday, March 19, welcomed an announcement by British Prime Minister David Cameron to increase spending to better protect Jewish institutions in the UK against potential terror attacks. “The measures Mr. Cameron proposed are exemplary, and will no doubt make a difference,” said WJC President Ronald S.

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International, Middle East

Sparks Gallery in Gaslamp features 2 Jewish artists

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–The Sparks Gallery located at 530 Sixth Avenue (92101) in the historic Sterling Hardware building in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is currently showing sculptures by Jewish artists Steven Florman and Ilanit Shalev. Steven Florman, past president and member of Congregation Dor Hadash, is a San Diego artist whose abstract sculptures from wood

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Travel and Food

UC urged to strengthen anti- Semitism definition

SAN FRANCISCO (Press Release) – Following a rash of antisemitic incidents at the University of California (UC), 23 education and Jewish advocacy groups on Thursday, March 19, urged the UC President and Regents to adopt the U.S. State Department definition of antisemitism, which states that antisemitism may manifest itself with regard to the state of Israel. The

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Rhodes scholars to tour Israel

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Despite recent anti-Israel incidents on several university campuses, a delegation of Rhodes Scholars from South Africa and the United States is currently in Israel with Project Interchange, an educational institute of AJC (American Jewish Committee). The Rhodes Scholars, the 12th delegation of its kind by Project Interchange, will participate in a week-long

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International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jewish news briefs: March 19, 2015

Number of Israeli ministers expected to rise in next government (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Despite the decisive victory by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in the March 17 Israeli election, the negotiations to build the Jewish state’s next coalition government could take up the entire 42-day time period allotted by Israeli law. In his

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International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Reacting to the prayers in the siddur

Shma Koleinu: A Jewish People’s Commentary on the Siddur by Rabbi Steven Schwarzman, editor, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, an Amazon Company, Seattle, WA;  ISBN 978-1-50535-392-1 ©2014, $17.99, p. 202, plus contributor’s list By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Jews communicate with God through animal sacrifice, or at least they did when the Temple stood in

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Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion