MADRID (Press Release) — Sixty leaders of member organizations of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, on an historic first official visit to Spain by the American umbrella organization, met on Thursday, Feb. 13, with King Juan Carlos I at Zarzuela Palace. The King spoke about the Jewish cultural heritage and the
Spain’s King Juan Carlos meets U.S. Jewish leaders Read More »
InternationalBy Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel –Israelis know that the Jewish State cannot afford to lose a single war or conflict. In fact prevention of any loss of innocent life is paramount to Israelis. And a determined “refusal to give up” is almost a national character trait that can be seen in many other aspects of
Roundup of good news from Israel Read More »
Middle East
JERUSALEM (WJC)– Actress Natalie Portman is facing protests from disgruntled residents in Israel who are unhappy over her plans to shoot a movie there. The Jerusalem-born US star is working on her directorial debut, A Tale Of Love And Darkness, based on the book by Israeli author Amos Oz, and she has chosen to film
Haredim protest Natalie Portman movie-making Read More »
Travel and FoodHAIFA (Press Release) — A new University of Haifa study could be of interest to the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams: It shows that the “love hormone” oxytocin raises the level of empathy toward a rival. “The research findings show that exposure to oxytocin leads people to feel that the other party is also a
Oxytocin increases empathy, researchers find Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM (TNA)–The Palestinian Authority announced last weekthat it will be giving an additional $46 million a year to released prisoners, including hundreds of murderers of civilians, this according to a report by the Palestinian Media Watch (PMW). This new funding is an addition to the tens of millions the PA already gives in
Op-Ed: P.A. continues to pay, glorify terrorists Read More »
Middle East
VATICAN CITY (Press Release) — AJC President Stanley Bergman led a leadership delegation in a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday, Feb. 13. A pioneer in advancing Catholic-Jewish relations over many decades, AJC enjoys close, cooperative relations with the Vatican, as well as with American Catholic leadership. “I am very grateful
Pope Francis reaffirms Catholic-Jewish friendship Read More »
Jewish ReligionErdogan’s demand to lift Gaza blockade ‘not under consideration’ by Israel (JNS.org) Israel clarified on Wednesday that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s demand to lift the sea blockade on the Gaza Strip in exchange for normalizing relations between the countries “is not under consideration,” Israel Hayom reported. Earlier this week, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
JNS news briefs: February 13, 2014 Read More »
International
JERUSALEM (TNA) – Jewish communities from across the globe will take part in a three-day online brainstorming marathon February 16-18. The event will open the floor to all Jews to help formulate strategies for strengthening both Jewish identity and Israel-Diaspora relations while ensuring the Jewish world continues to flourish well into the future. The event
Israel, World Jewry plan brainstorming marathon Read More »
International
COPENHAGEN (WJC) –Denmark’s Agriculture and Food Minister Dan Jørgensen has signed a regulation which effectively bans religious slaughter in the country. “Animal rights come before religion,” Jørgensen told Denmark’s TV2 television news. The regulation requires all animal slaughter to be carried out with prior stunning of the animal, which is against shechita (Jewish religious slaughter).
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InternationalBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–They may hear, but they don’t listen. Almost any TV panel of politicians will illustrate it. Before a panelist has an opportunity to say what s/he has been asked to talk about, there’ll be frequent interruptions from other panelists. Sometimes, even a moderator or an interviewer, having asked the question, interrupts
Incivility in the Knesset is inexcusable Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There is a long tradition, no less prominent in Judaism than in other cultures, of voluntary service and donations collected for the benefit of the needy or some other public purpose. There is also a long list of eleemosynary organizations that have gone bad, with leaders using the resources collected for their
Caution urged for contributors to Israeli charities Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Leslie Weening, a 30-year employee at the Jewish Federation of San Diego who rose to the position of assistant to the executive director, was memorialized Wednesday, Feb. 12, in the sanctuary of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, where she had been a longtime member. Weening had died of a heart
Leslie Weening memorialized at Tifereth Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
LOS ANGELES (Press Release)—Abby J. Leibman, President & CEO at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger (MAZON) has issued this statement regarding the Agricultural Act of 2014: “It is a relief that the extremely long and painful negotiations over our nation’s agricultural and nutrition safety net programs are finally behind us. But our relief is tempered
Mazon criticizes bill’s cuts to nutritional assistance Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)– Americans for Peace Now (APN) thanks the 104 members of the House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats, who on Wednesday, Feb. 12, sent a letter to President Obama supporting the current diplomatic efforts to resolve concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. APN strongly supported the letter and urged House members to sign
APN lauds 104 House letter-signers on Iran sanctions Read More »
International