By Rabbi Jonah Geffen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tisha B’Av, which took place this last week, is a time for each of us to experience anew the tragedies that have befallen our people over the centuries – and yet it is also a time to renew our emotional ties to Israel and to look forward […]
What Tisha B’Av can teach us Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — The pressure on politicians to rush to judgments about their fellow politicians must be overwhelming. On Monday, Democratic Congressman Scott Peters, who has been constantly badgered by the Republican National Committee to join in the howls for Mayor Bob Filner’s resignation, succumbed. So too did Democratic Congresswoman Susan
Lurid descriptions prompt more politicians to rush to judgment Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Knesset committee designates a memorial day for Jewish refugees of Arab states (JNS.org) The Knesset Ministerial Committee for Legislation endorsed a new proposal on Sunday that will mark Nov. 30 as a national day to commemorate the more than 850,000 Jews who fled or were evicted from their homes in Arab countries after Israel’s establishment,
JNS news briefs: July 15, 2013 Read More »
International
By Alan Muskovitz DETROIT–We all face challenges. Health. Financial. Challenges that test us. It’s part of the human equation. No one gets by unscathed. But you know the saying – “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Yeah, well trying convincing someone of that after they’ve attempted to “seamlessly” switch their phone service
My very own cable nightmare Read More »
Travel and Food
WASHINGTON (Press Release)– Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life today announced that Eric Fingerhut will serve as its president and CEO. The appointment was approved unanimously on Sunday by the Hillel Board of Directors, who met in New York. “Eric is an ideal fit for Hillel at this important time in our history,” said
Eric Fingerhut is Hillel’s new national president Read More »
USA
The Modern Menu. Simple. Beautiful. Kosher by Kim Kushner, photography by Andrew Zuckerman; Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, 2013/5773. Softcover ISBN 978-965-229-632-0. Hardcover ISBN 978-965-229-611-5. 152 pages. No printed price in the book but prices vary online. By Melanie Ross SAN DIEGO — Upon opening this beautiful cookbook I expected a frumme looking woman dressed in
Cookbook is kosher, but still disappointing Read More »
Travel and Food
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — The IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai wished Muslim citizens in Israel and across the world a Ramadan kareem, or blessed Ramadan, in a video message posted on the IDF YouTube account. The Israeli general spoke in Arabic with English subtitles throughout the video. “I would like to wish Israel’s
IDF wishes ‘Ramadan kareem’ to Muslims Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California–The problem is not what we know; it’s what we feel. We do not really know what happened: for the vast majority of us, it happened somewhere else (in the previously unknown town of Sanford, Fla.), we have relied entirely on the cloying media with its pundits and professional oracles,
Trayvon Martin case forces us to grapple with our racism Read More »
USA
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO –Fifty years after its publication, Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem continues to polarize public discourse. Margarethe von Trotta’s thought provoking but flawed film rekindles the fiery debates over Arendt’s characterization of Eichmann as a dutiful bureaucrat and her charge that the Jewish Councils abetted the Holocaust by complying with German
The Wandering Review: ‘Hannah Arendt’ Read More »
Lawrence BaronBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– The Union-Tribune reported on Saturday morning that according to its poll 59 percent of the people of San Diego want Mayor Bob Filner to resign. And, if he doesn’t resign, according to the same poll, nearly two-thirds of those who want him to resign–74 percent–want him to be recalled.
Courts, not politicians, should decide if Filner did wrong Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Two issues from the extremes of Judaism are disturbing the peace of Israel, and raising yet again the hoary queries about what is Judaism, and who are the Jews. One of the current issues is the hot button issue of drafting the Haredim. Another is the much quieter issue
Who is a Jew controversy still roils Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Philosopher George Santayana is perhaps best known for saying, “He who forgets the past, is condemned to repeat it.” This attitude finds profound expression in much of the rabbinic literature regarding the period of time that is better known as, “The Three Weeks,” which culminates
Akiba stayed optimistic even after Temple destroyed Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Evidently Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria and Vince Hall, who resigned Friday as Mayor Bob Filner’s chief of staff, are privy to information they don’t feel the public is entitled to know. All four of these powerful Democrats
Political lynch mob circles Mayor Filner Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonIranian missiles could reach U.S. by 2015, report says (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Iran could develop and test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States by 2015, a U.S. intelligence report released on Friday revealed. The Foreign Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat Assessment, prepared by the National Air and Space Intelligence
JNS news briefs: July 12, 2013 Read More »
International