By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Middle East is a fascinating place. It is far from boring, often exciting, and sometimes frightening. Various Zionists who claim authorship over modern Israel considered alternatives in British East Africa, Argentina, and parts of the US. A sense of history, plus an opportunity as colonialism was at a crisis, brought us
Israelis argue, but don’t kill each other Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — Shortly after Yasser Arafat signed the Oslo agreement (Sept.1993) he visited the Arab community in Capetown, South Africa. There, he was assailed by the ultras who accused him of selling out by recognizing the “Zionist entity” and abandoning the holy war against the Jews. But he calmly
Winners and losers in Israel- Gaza war Read More »
Middle East
Editor’s Note: Following is the text of an address delivered in August on the 70th anniversary of the liquidation of the Lodz ghetto by Prof. Goldie Morgentaler, Ph.D., who teaches English and Yiddish literature at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. Dr. Morgentaler was the subject of a recent feature story in San Diego
Lodz Ghetto again comes alive in book, lecture Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The following is a Joint Statement by Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on the ISIL meeting held Friday, Sept. 5, at Celtic Manor in Wales, United Kingdom. This morning (Friday, September 5) we had a meeting with some of our key allies and partners
U.S., allies, plot course against ISIL Read More »
Travel and FoodBERLIN (WJC) — The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany has reached an agreement with the German government for additional financial assistance for child survivors of the Holocaust. The Finance Ministry in Berlin reportedly agreed Wednesday to one-time payments of € 2,500 (US $3,270) for Jewish children who were in concentration camps, ghettos or in hiding for at
Payment planned for child survivors of Shoah Read More »
InternationalBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — When Rabbi Jeffrey Newman in the UK — Emeritus Rabbi at the Finchley Reform Synagogue — shoots you an email from his office in England and it lands in your inbox with a special “ping” to it, you know it’s about something important and deserves prompt attention. Rabbi
Rabbi, lawyer seek to end ‘ecocide’ Read More »
The World We ShareGreen Dome: Trees to protect southern Israeli trains from rockets (JNS.org) Workers have started planting hundreds of trees along the train tracks leading from Asheklon to Sderot in southern Israel in an attempt to protect the trains and passengers on that line from rocket attacks, Israel Hayom reported. After consulting with experts, Israel Railways and
JNS news briefs: September 5, 2014 Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–During the recent war with Gaza, many facets of the Israeli economy suffered. I had conflicting reports about whether concerts and theatre performances continued as scheduled and what effect the war had on the lives of some of my friends in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. I recently emailed the person I
How music survived the Israel- Gaza war Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Middle East
SAN DIEGO — Our license plate maven, Melanie Rubin, was en route to one of her appointments when she spotted this “crazy” plate. For those who don’t know Yiddish, meschugenah is how one Jewish person might describe to another person someone whose ideas or actions clearly are far beyond the bounds of reality.
Jewish-interest license plate: Meschug Read More »
Melanie Rubin, Trivia, Humor & Satire
HAIFA (Press Release) — Administering synthetic marijuana (cannabinoids) soon after a traumatic event can prevent PTSD-like (post-traumatic stress disorder) symptoms in rats, caused by the trauma and by trauma reminders. This is according to a new study conducted by Nachshon Korem and Irit Akirav of the Department of Psychology at the University of Haifa, which
Synthetic marijuana may aid PTSD sufferers Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
TEL AVIV (Press Release) — Despite the revolutionary biotechnological advancements of the last few decades, an ideal anti-cancer treatment — one that’s immediately lethal to cancer cells, harmless to healthy cells, and resistant to cancer’s relapse — is still a dream. But a concept called “synthetic lethality” holds great promise for researchers. Two genes are
Scientists devise new approach for cancer drugs Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
WEST BRIDGEWATER, Massachusetts (Press Release)– Equal Exchange, Fair Trade Judaica, and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights have announced the launch of the Jewish Fair Trade Partnership, through which Jewish institutions and individuals can purchase kosher Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate while supporting Jewish communal efforts to end modern-day slavery and support worker
Does your coffee taste good ethically? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ze’ev Ben-Yechiel JERUSALEM (TNA) — Hussam Hassan Qawasme, the Hamas mastermind behind the June kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens, has been indicted, according to a statement released Thursday, Sept. 4, by Israel’s Shin Bet security forces. The IDF military court announced the indictment nearly two months after Qawasme was arrested for his
Arab indicted in murder of 3 Israeli teens Read More »
Middle East
NEW YORK (WJC) — Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro lashed out at Israel, the United States and Europe on Monday, saying Israel’s Mossad was behind the Islamic State movement and comparing NATO military representatives to the Nazi SS. In a column published by Cuban state medisa, the long-time Cuban leader also assailed US Senator John
Fidel: Mossad behind ISIS Read More »
Travel and Food