By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Even if we don’t formally celebrate Christmas, we in the Jewish community honor and venerate its true meaning and implication. Though this December holiday season has been too often co-opted by commercial anxiety and undeniable stress, we recognize the feelings of hope and serenity that are at last realized
Seeing Christmas through Jewish eyes Read More »
Travel and FoodIDF soldiers attacked by Hamas sniper fire (JNS.org) An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier from the Bedouin Reconnaissance Battalion was seriously injured Wednesday as Israeli troops on the border with Gaza came under sniper fire from the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. “The IDF soldier suffered a severe chest injury from Gaza sniper fire, he was
JNS news briefs: December 24, 2014 Read More »
International, Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)— The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)reiterates its call of last week for President Barack Obama to free Jonathan Pollard, after President Obama freed three convicted spies who spied for an enemy regime, Cuba, and now that he has also freed ten terrorists imprisoned at Guantanamo. The first of six, freed the previous week
ZOA: Why doesn’t Obama free Pollard? Read More »
Middle East, USABy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO─ North Korea has accused the government of the United States of involvement in the making of The Interview because Hollywood would never voluntarily make a tasteless comedy with Seth Rogen and James Franco. Moreover, North Korea denied it had anything to do with the hacking of SONY Pictures and threatened
Humoring the headlines: December 23, 2014 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — It’s winter in some parts of the world, and summer in other regions, and even in America the temperatures vary widely from Alaska to Florida. It might be pouring raining in one state and snowing heavily in another state. But one thing strikes me as we enter a
Will ‘cli-fi’ heat up Hollywood in 2015? Read More »
The World We ShareAbbas: No U.N. resolution, no more cooperation with Israel (JNS.org) Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas threatened to break off ties with Israel if the Palestinian-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution demanding Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank by 2017 fails. Speaking to reporters in Algeria, Abbas said that the Palestinians are “determined to restore
JNS news briefs: December 23, 2014 Read More »
International, USA
JERUSALEM (WJC) — The Israeli Tourism Ministry is working in cooperation with church officials and other bodies to facilitate the celebration of Christmas by the 70,000 visitors expected to arrive in Israel for the Christmas period. “The State of Israel has a close relationship with Christian leaders and we will continue to invest in the
Israel expects 70,000 visitors for Christmas Read More »
Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) –When Mark Halawa lights his family’s menorah during Chanukah, it is not without recalling his unique journey as a Kuwaiti Muslim to Orthodox Judaism. The 38-year-old businessman, who lives today in Jerusalem with his wife and family, keeping Shabbat and kosher dietary laws, began his journey 12 years ago in Canada.
A Kuwaiti Muslim’s journey to Chanukah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Toby Klein Greenwald JERUSALEM–These latest parshiot (chapters) of the Torah readings remind me of the summer and fall of 2001, when the women of the Raise Your Spirits Theatre put on the production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to sold-out audiences who came on bulletproof buses from all over Israel to our
Joseph was dressed for success Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein GreenwaldBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Entry to politics does not require a test of intelligence, or even political savvy. The best most recent evidence appears in reports associated with Tsipi Livni and John Kerry. Livni–along with Shimon Peres–advised John Kerry to postpone action on the Palestinians’ request of the UN Security Council to grant it statehood
Livni, Kerry ploy backfires to Netanyahu’s benefit Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — When partners fall out with each other, the fallout can be devastating. In marriage it’s called divorce, but, of course, it occurs in many other situations. In Israel, it has just become an election issue with possible serious consequences. The late Ovadia Yosef, a former Sephardi chief rabbi of
A split in Shas; other Haredim restless Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Sam Litvin SUSIYA, Israel — It was a most unusual heat on a December morning in the hills south of Hebron. The white rocks stacked in serpentine order reflected light heavenward while the green patches in between them soaked up the rays. The light disappeared inside the ancient caves and cisterns of the old
On tour in the Judean settlement of Susiya Read More »
Middle East, Sam Litvin, Travel and Food
Editor’s Note: Janet Tiger, a San Diegan, is a member of the Jewish community who has written, produced and acted in numerous dramatic presentations. She shares her story with us on the night of Chanukah’s seventh candle. ©Janet S. Tiger all rights reserved (A man comes onstage, he is wearing a yarmulke, dressed from the seventies,
‘A Great Miracle Happened Here’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — They arrest you for having any opinion that isn’t theirs. They arrest you for demanding elections; the last thing they want is to know you want different leadership. They arrest you for having a Facebook page that is out of step, or you don’t have Facebook at all.
U.S., Europe ignore repression by Cuba, P.A. Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA