By Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel –This is the second part of my review of Israel’s achievements during the seven weeks I was absent from the blog scene. The recent Jewish festival of Shavuot (Pentacost) showed us the proper way to treat those less fortunate than us. There were many examples of that principle in the
Positively Israel~June 10, 2014 Read More »
Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
ATHENS (WJC) — Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ choice of new health minister has come under criticism by the local Jewish community. Samaras last week appointed Makis Voridis, a man accused of promoting anti-Semitic views and who considers France’s Jean-Marie Le Pen a mentor and friend, as new minister for health. The 49-year-old Voridis ran
Voridis’ ascension as health minister criticized Read More »
International
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM (TNA) –Reuven Rivlin was elected Tuesday, June 10, by the Knesset as Israel’s tenth president. One after the other, 119 Members of Knesset cast their confidential ballot for one of the five candidates. No one candidate received the required 61 votes, and so a second round between Rivlin who came in
Rivlin elected as Israel’s next President Read More »
Middle EastBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — To retaliate against American economic sanctions, Russia has banned American astronauts from using the International Space Station starting in 2020. The United States reacted by announcing that it plans to complete the construction of an International Space Walmart by that year and that the store will refuse to accept
Humoring the Headlines: June 9, 2014 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy J Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — Prime Minister Netanyahu’s settler government has reached a parting of the ways with the United States. The United States will continue to advocate the two-state solution. It is the only way in which Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace and prosperity. It is
Israel further isolated from U.S., rest of world Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Monday, June 9, released the results from its Nationwide Access Audit, along with facility level patient access data, medical center quality and efficiency data, and mental health provider survey data, for all Veterans health facilities. Full details made public at VA.gov follow
Veteran’s Affairs Dept. releases national audit results Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)— Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) released on Monday, June 9, the following statement in response to the recent Center for Disease Control (CDC) announcement that measles cases in the United States have reached a 20-year high: “Measles was considered eliminated from the United States in 2000, but this year there have already
WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)–President Obama on Monday, June 9, announced a program to make student loans more affordable. He outlined his executive order in the following speech at the White House, excerpted below: THE PRESIDENT: … For 51 months in a row, our businesses have created new jobs — 9.4 million new jobs in total.
Obama orders interest rates capped on student loans Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Representative Jared Polis (D-Colorado) on Monday, June 9, made the following statement recognizing Pride month: “The 2014 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month offers us the opportunity to reflect upon an unprecedented number of victories for the equality movement over the past year. ________________________________ Keeping Up With Jewish Public
Polis hails LGBT Pride Month Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, made the following statement regarding Kosovo’s general elections: “Yesterday (June 8), the citizens of Kosovo went to the polls to choose their leaders, to chart a path forward for their country, and to show the world the progress
Engel extols Kosovo election process Read More »
International, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – A resolution introduced by Congressman Alan Grayson (D-Florida) unanimously passed the House of Representatives Monday evening, June 9. H. Res. 600 commends the Afghan people for completing the first round of presidential elections earlier this year, and urges Afghanistan to conduct a credible, inclusive, and transparent run-off election later
Grayson, House, commend Afghan elections so far Read More »
International, USA
TEL AVIV (Press Release)— Steve Tisch, the Academy Award-winning producer and executive Vice President and Chairman of the New York Giants, chaired the 16th Tel Aviv Student Film Festival last week. Held at Tel Aviv University, it is the largest student film festival in the world, and widely acknowledged as the most influential. This year,
Tisch to film students: Make movies from the heart Read More »
Middle East, Sports & Competitions
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Network of Reform Judiasm joined a delegation of religious leaders on Thursday, June 5, in meeting with Sudan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Maowia Khalid. This meeting comes on the heels of a Sudanese court’s sentencing of Meriam Ibrahim to death for allegedly converting to
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — I’ve decided to tackle a topic that may, and should, stir more than a little discomfort. Jewish disunity. Jewish disrespect. The Rambam writes “It is a mitzvah for every Jew to love every other Jew as himself… Therefore a person must praise his fellow Jew and be
Jewish unity doesn’t require unanimity Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell