By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM – It was an unusual sight on Friday night at Judaism’s most sacred site, the Western Wall. Around the blue-and-white Israeli flag, waving over the multitudes of Sabbath prayer-goers, a group of young adults were holding hands and dancing – in complete silence. The group consisted of young deaf Jewish […]
Deaf Jews tour Israel Read More »
Travel and Food
By Alex Traiman/JNS.org Egyptian Defense Minister and Field Marshal General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Jan. 27 was cleared by the country’s army to run for president, one day after an interim government announced that presidential elections would be advanced to take place within 30-90 days. Now, just three years after a revolution that toppled longtime secular
El-Sisi presidency in Egypt would help Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Alina Dain Sharon/JNS.org With the Winter Olympics gearing up for their Feb. 7 start in Sochi, Russia, the Jewish debate on the games mirrors the discourse taking place in the broader international and athletic communities. While some Jews say they view the games purely as sport—with social or political issues not factoring into
Jewish world debates Soshi Olympics Read More »
International
TEL AVIV (Press Release)–Camels are mentioned as pack animals in the biblical stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Jacob. But archaeologists have shown that camels were not domesticated in the Land of Israel until centuries after the Age of the Patriarchs (2000-1500 BCE). In addition to challenging the Bible’s historicity, this anachronism is direct proof that
Dating of camel bones contradicts Bible account Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationWhile Roger Waters targets Johansson, SodaStream CEO ‘proud’ of Israeli factory (JNS.org) SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum, whose company aired a Super Bowl commercial featuring Jewish-American actress Scarlett Johansson on Sunday, said he is “very proud” of his company’s presence in Israel. “We are very proud of our factory in Mishor Adumim,” Birnbaum said. “It is
JNS news briefs: February 3, 2014 Read More »
InternationalBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Secretary of State John Kerry and special envoy Martin Indyk have been meeting and talking with groups of American Jews in an effort to “sell” the interim deal Mr. Kerry plans to put on the table for Israel and the Palestinians. With Mr. Kerry acting as the “bad cop” and
Indyk ‘good cop;’ Kerry ‘bad cop’ to Israel Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
Benjamin Morse, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever, Orson and Company, (c) 2012, ISBN 978-0-9858136-0-5, 77 pages with illustrations, $30. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–The title of this book is intriguing; what can that oldest bedtime story possibly be? Once a parent and child begin this colorfully illustrated and judiciously edited book by author and
Book review: ‘The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever Told’ Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM– “Staid” is the only adjective one can apply to the audience at the regular chamber music concerts held in Jerusalem’s august YMCA auditorium on a monthly basis. The average age is pulled down sharply by anyone under sixty, and there aren’t too many of those. The concerts, under the auspices of
Argument made concert memorable Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Rabbi David Hartman, the distinguished exponent of contemporary Judaism, who died a year ago, built his monument while he was alive and named it after his father: the Shalom Hartman Institute. The Institute has become a powerful presence in Israel dedicated to opening the eyes of Israelis to pluralistic Judaism and
Can there be worldwide Jewish unity? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO―Get ready movie mavens and meshugenahs for a cornucopia of cinema, delicatessen of documentaries, a feast of feature films, and a smorgasbord of shorts (you probably get the idea without the food metaphors) at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival running February 6-16. Although I have not viewed all the films―contrary
The Wandering Review: SD Jewish Film Festival Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Lloyd Levy LONDON–This last week or so must rank as one of the most depressing weeks as far as Israel is concerned. This is despite the lifting of major military threats to its borders, with the collapse of Syria and Egypt in recent times. My wife and I have an apartment in Eilat, which we
BDS and bombs can spoil a week Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle EastBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO– What would you do for your child? If your child were taken from you, what would you do to get her back? Before you answer “anything,” think about what “anything” might entail. Desperation doesn’t bring out the best in any of us. It’s easy to say, “I would never…”
‘Bethany,’ a provocative portrait of a woman Read More »
Travel and Food
Tazpit News Agency JERUSALEM (TNA) –For the first time in decades, enemy forces can attack all of Israel’s cities, Chief of the IDF Intelligence Directorate Major General Aviv Kochavi has reported. “About 170,000 rockets and missiles are pointed at Israel, and they are deadlier than ever,” the intelligence chief said on Wednesday, Jan. 29. “Many
Enemies can attack every Israeli city–IDF Read More »
Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM – At the start of the weekly Israeli Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Feb. 2, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu stated: “Attempts to impose a boycott on the State of Israel are immoral and unjust. Moreover, they will not achieve their goal. First, they cause the Palestinians to adhere to their intransigent positions
Netanyahu says BDS pushes away peace Read More »
Middle East