By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2,000-year-old Jobar Synagogue in Damascus is said to be the site where the prophet Elijah concealed himself from persecution and anointed his successor, Elisha. It was a UNESCO World Heritage Site until last March when someone appeared to have blown it up. The Syrian government and the rebels […]
Jobar Synagogue treasures belong to the Jewish community Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
Natan Sharansky a possible candidate for Israeli president (JNS.org) Natan Sharansky, chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, is a possible candidate to run for Israeli president in June 2014, Israel Hayom reported. Habayit Hayehudi party Chairman Naftali Bennett has reportedly thrown his support behind Sharansky’s candidacy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor
JNS news briefs: December 27, 2013 Read More »
International
By Steve Kramer SHUNI FORTRESS, Israel — Ephraim, originally from Wisconsin, and his sabra wife, Rimona, bought a lovely home on a building lot in Aviel last year. Aviel is a small, pastoral moshav (agricultural cooperative) near the towns of Zichron Yaacov and Binyamina. Our good friends and former neighbors love being in the country,
Archaeology, art, history await at Shuni Fortress Read More »
Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — After some reluctance, I decided it was important for me to weigh in on the Duck Dynasty controversy involving Phil Robertson and his off-the-cuff remarks regarding gays and African Americans. Robertson’s equation of homosexuality to bestiality is incorrect. The biblical passages dealing with homosexuality pertain to
A Voltairian view of the Duck Dynasty controversy Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Until a few months ago, my daughter Sandi Masori was known principally as an e-book author, video teacher and practitioner in the balloon entertainment and decór community. As a result of her concern about the possible impact of a helium shortage, she increasingly has become a television spokesperson
Sandi Masori, balloon artist, makes her magic on ‘Today’ show Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –Zalman left the small village of his youth, to seek his fortune in the big city. It was a very rough and lonely trek. The city can be a harsh place for a newcomer. The pace is much quicker and there is always someone out there looking to swindle
Shabbat: More than a day of rest Read More »
Jewish ReligionTurkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened by corruption scandal (JNS.org) Turkey’s Islamist Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing an increasing pressure on his rule amid a corruption scandal that has already forced three of his top ministers to resign. The corruption probe, revealed by prosecutors on Dec. 17, targeted the resigned minister’s sons with
JNS news briefs: December 26, 2013 Read More »
International
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM–Israel’s Knesset held a special session on Wednesday, Dec. 25, marking Jonathan Pollard’s 29th year of incarceration in an American prison after being convicted of espionage for Israel in 1987. The session was attended by a huge majority of house members from across the political spectrum, including Arab MK’s. Forty Knesset members
106 MK’s to Obama: Release Pollard Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Meyer Lansky and Jonathan Pollard are both significant for what they say about US-Israel relations. Lansky was a gangster, a good American, and a good Zionist. He worked his underworld connections in behalf of US efforts in World War II, the movement of refugees from Europe to Israel, and arms shipments
Pollard case perplexes Israelis and Americans Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO–What a wonderful world we live in — if only we would take the time to appreciate it! * San Diego Jewish World thanks Amnon Markusfeld for forwarding the above video to us.
A paean to biodiversity Read More »
The World We Share
By Dr. Navras Jaat Aafreedi NEW DELHI, India — The need for the strengthening of Indo-Israel academic ties has been increasingly felt lately. Two events held in Delhi within a week drew attention to the neglect India-Israel academic ties suffer from, in spite of the great strengthening of trade relations between the two countries during
Israel, India, US strengthen academic ties Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — Last week we saw another suicidal attempt by so-called “academics” to sever themselves from the Jewish State. The real world, however, knows the true value of Israel’s life-enhancing innovations. Whilst the American Studies Association was voting itself into oblivion, Israel’s VBL Therapeutics announced the development of the first of
If they’re not hypocrites, here’s what ASA members will give up Read More »
USASderot inaugurates rocket-proof train station (JNS.org) A new train station in the southern Israeli city of Sderot was inaugurated on Tuesday in a festive ceremony attended by top government officials, Israel Hayom reported. By linking up to Israel’s national railway system, Sderot residents will be able to reach Tel Aviv in just under an hour.
JNS news briefs: December 25,2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –This past week, a newspaper featured a picture of a Lubavitcher rabbi smilingly putting tefillon on Santa Claus. It reminded me of a story from Eli Plaut’s book, Kosher Christmas. It mentions how an old Ukrainian Jewish immigrant dressed up as Santa Claus and spoke Yiddish. When speaking
Letting go of our past fear… and prejudice Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi