By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There is an old American saying that the country is safest when Congress in on vacation. It may have been spoken in America, but it applies to all western democracies. Politics is the essence of civilization when viewed as the most acceptable way of settling disputes, first by arguing and then […]
Emotional proposals may signal elections coming Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D LA JOLLA, California — A tale of a one-armed bandit. No, it’s not a slot machine, it’s me, trying to brush my teeth with my left arm, eat with my left hand, and generally feeling totally handicapped. What happened? I was planning to speak to the residents of Seacrest Village, a
A misstep turns into an adventure, of sorts Read More »
Travel and FoodIn Turkey, Pope Francis calls for interfaith dialogue to protect Mideast Christians (JNS.org) In his first visit to the Middle East since Israel last spring, Pope Francis called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to engage in interfaith dialogue in order to protect Middle East Christians and other persecuted minority groups. “It is essential that
JNS news briefs: November 28, 2014 Read More »
Middle EastSAN DIEGO (Press Release)– As part of the December Nights celebration in Balboa Park, the House of Israel will preview Chanukah by serving traditional latkes (potato pancakes) and sofganiyot (jelly filled doughnuts) on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 10 p.m, and Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 10 p.m. Food will be served from within the House.
House of Israel to preview Chanukah Dec. 5-6 Read More »
San Diego Calendar
BERN, Switzerland(WJC)–The Kunstmuseum Bern, which earlier this week accepted the Gurlitt bequest, has published a list of all art works found in the possession of the late Cornelius Gurlitt. The museum was named as sole heir to the collection and on Monday reluctantly accepted the bequest, pledging total transparency to head off any criticism over
Bern museum publishes list of Gurlitt art collection Read More »
Jewish HistoryVATICAN 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 East