BRUSSELS (WJC)–The 62-year-old engineer Serge Rozen has been elected president of the Coordination Committee of Belgian Jewish Organizations for the next three years. Rozen succeeds Maurice Sosnowski, who led the CCOJB for the past five years, which were marked by a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Belgium and the terrorist attack at the Jewish Museum in
Serge Rozen new head of Belgium’s Jewish community Read More »
International
JERUSALEM (WJC) — An international conference addressing the question of why more was not done by the Allied Powers to save Jews during the Holocaust will be held at the in Jerusalem next week, bringing together scholars from five countries. Topics to be discussed will include ‘Could the Allies have bombed Auschwitz?’, ‘Chinese reponses to the
Conference to probe Allies’ role in Holocaust Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The U.S. State Department issued the following statement on March 9, the eighth anniversary of Robert Levinson’s disappearance: We ask the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to work cooperatively with us on the investigation into Robert Levinson’s disappearance so we can ensure his safe return. Mr. Levinson went missing from
U.S. offers $5m reward for Levinson info Read More »
Middle East, USA
BEER-SHEVA, Israel (Press Release) – Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Arizona State University (ASU) have expanded their partnership with a new joint research agreement. The expanded collaboration will establish new research initiatives as well as student exchanges. The two universities will collaborate in a number of areas, including cyber security, homeland security, nanotechnology, robotics, community
BGU, Arizona State broaden joint research programs Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most important but also neglected customs of the year is when we observe the Yahrzeit of a loved one. It occurs with such frequency that we often will forget about the date altogether because we may have forgotten the Hebrew calendar date. According to
Yahrzeits, apps, and Facebook Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiJERUSALEM (Press Release)– Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks at his weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday, March 8: Following my speech to Congress, we heard – over the weekend – several of the major powers’ foreign ministers saying that they do not see the need to reach an agreement forthwith and that they
Netanyahu says Iran speech makes headway Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– Gosh, I never felt better while lunching on a hamburger and a Coke. You see, I was at the Temple Emanu-El Purim Carnival, and any profits from that quick lunch—as well as from any other food sold on Sunday, March 8 — were to be donated to the
So many reasons to be thankful at Purim carnival Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Emeritus Professor Moshe Sharon of the Hebrew University famously lectured on negotiations in the Middle East. He wrote: “To achieve their goal, the Arabs took to the battlefield and to bazaar diplomacy. The most important rule in the bazaar is that if the vendor knows that you desire
Rules of the bazaar inform Iran’s bargaining Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A performance of Bach’s monumental St. Matthew Passion is always an event to be treasured. Its musical complexity and religious significance as well as the fact that it calls for a double choir, an organ and an enormous orchestra means that it is rarely performed in Israel. So
Bach’s ‘St Matthew Passion’ is rewarding music Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — After its improbable opening day last season in Australia, baseball will debut year this in the appropriately Midwestern locale of Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Cubs fans will be sanguine for a week or two. Like the clinging vines of that old ballyard, America will be green with hope. The All
Returning home: a tribute to baseball Read More »
Sports & Competitions, USABy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO –– Esther’s Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews edited by Houman Sarshar, published by the Center for Iranian Oral Jewish History, 2005, is a large book which opens with a three page foldout of the timeline of significant events in Iranian-Jewish History. It is a history which begins in 539 BCE
From the Jewish Library: ‘Esther’s Children’ Read More »
Jewish HistoryBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I am not a great fan of looking far ahead of where we are. There are too many possibilities capable of foiling the most carefully plotted scenarios. A small country is especially vulnerable to who knows how many outside occurences, including the unexpected. That is doubly so in the chaotic
With no party dominant, expect a messy coalition Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–In a country where women are conscripted into the army one would expect gender equality in all spheres of public life, but it’s not like that in Israel. In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8, the subject has been discussed in the media. The forthcoming election has provided something
Israel, women, and the vote Read More »
Middle East