By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It’s easier to talk about politics, even to teach it, than to practice it. This was amply demonstrated by Michael Ignatieff, academic and TV personality, who had a less than successful spell as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party. He spoke about it at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem […]
Israel democracy needs face-to-face voter contact Read More »
Middle East
By Ulla Hadar KIBBUTZ RUHAMA, Israel — Parents and children don’t always agree on everything, but on one subject in Sha’ar Hanegev, the municipality lying alongside the Gaza border, there is nearly unanimity. Hearing sirens go off to warn of incoming rockets can be very stressful, whereas bicycling in nearby areas out of range
Biking relieves stress for children facing rocket attacks Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Several of my columns commenting about the United States have produced angry responses, claiming that I do not understand, that my “opinions” are tainted, and that if I do not value the United States I should give up my citizenship. What I think these responses reveal is yet another side of the United
The intellectual right, yea obligation, of independent thought Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Peter Huessy In the decade since the attacks of 9/11, the United States and its allies have portrayed terrorism as primarily al Qaeda-centric. This, in turn, has led, logically, to a search for the origin of the terrorism aimed at us. Thus, after 9/11, many American analysts wondered, “Why do they hate
Al Qaeda only one element of worldwide terrorism Read More »
Middle East
Story and photo by Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — What place better than the Corvette Diner to take a man who has earned his living on-stage being the “fifth Beatle” in the tribute group “Rain” which opened a five-concert set at San Diego’s Civic Center on Friday night and will close after two concerts
Rain’s ‘fifth Beatle’ grooves at Corvette Diner Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO – Although midrash at times attempts to solve textual problems, at other times midrash seems an illogical flight of fantasy that creates more problems than it solves. Such is the rabbinic comment about Pharaoh’s daughter pulling Moses from the Nile River. The Torah says: “The daughter of Pharaoh came
Helping miracles to occur Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — The Bible Lands Museum, situated opposite the Israel Museum, houses a broad range of archeological artefacts from all over the Ancient Near East. In accordance with the vision of its founder, the late Eli Borovsky, it refers to the various cultures of the Ancient Near East, each of which contributed
Bible Lands Museum program promotes friendships Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Science, Medicine, & EducationESCONDIDO, California (Press Release)– Chesed Home, San Diego County’s adult residential facility serving Jews with serious mental illness, opens next month in this city. Hope Village San Diego, a 501 3c non-profit, has developed Chesed Home. The mission is to provide a safe and nurturing residence for adults with serious mental illness, based on Jewish values and
History told of soon-to-open Chesed Home Read More »
San Diego CountyNetanyahu to ambassadors: Palestinians must declare conflict over for peace accord (JNS.org) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lecturing to Israeli ambassadors about regional concerns at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, said Palestinian claims of a “right of return” spell the end of Israel and prevent a peace agreement from being reached. “Hamas could take over the
JNS news briefs: January 4, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most exciting exegetical works I have read in years is Rabbi Ari D. Kahn’s Echoes of Eden on Sefer Shemot: Salvation and Sanctity—Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion on the Book of Exodus. Publisher: Gefen Publishing House, 2012. ISBN-10: 965229585X, 350 pages. Price: $29.95 His
Rabbi Kahn’s insights stimulating, well worth reading Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
On the ChocolateTrail by Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz, Jewish Lights Publishing, 2002, ISBN 978-1-58023-487-0-51899; 237 pages including index, appendices, $18.00 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Deborah Prinz, former spiritual leader of Temple Adat Shalom in nearby Poway, and her husband, Rabbi Mark Hurvitz, who led Congregation Etz Chaim in Ramona, have been
Rabbis’ travels produce chocolate primer Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Thursday, Jan. 3, noted a recent poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press that shows the continuing large gap in support for Israel between Republicans and Democrats. The poll, taken in mid-December, asked, “In the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians,
Poll finds conservatives favor Israel, liberals less so Read More »
USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin NEW YORK –My eyes watered and my throat tightened as I disembarked at Newark Liberty Airport and gazed upon the renewed New York skyline and the curative, colossal sight of the One World Trade Center tower. It was certainly a joyous journey: a daughter marrying in my native Israel, a connection
Gratitude on returning to the Land of the Free Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel’s largest political block (the unholy alliance between Netanyahu’s Likud and Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu) appears to believe what voters abroad have known for a long time: women can make a difference to the outcome of elections. That’s why it’s accusing its serious rival on the right, Naftali Bennet’s Habayit Heyehudi
What role will women play in Israel’s election? Read More »
Middle East