Israeli online course attracting students from Arab countries

By Anav Silverman HAIFA, Israel –= While the American Studies Association (ASA) may have voted to boycott Israeli academic institutions this week – a boycott that was initiated in 2005 and coordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee – the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) has been successfully reaching out to the Arab-speaking world both

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Middle East

JNS news briefs: December 19, 2013

Boycott of Israel prompts two universities to quit American Studies Association (JNS.org) Brandeis University and Penn State Harrisburg on Wednesday announced they have withdrawn from the American Studies Association (ASA) following the ASA membership’s Dec. 15 vote to endorse a boycott of Israel. “We view the recent vote by the membership to affirm an academic

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International

Despite latter-day naysayers, Oslo Accords were valuable

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Hardly anything is more agreed among both Israelis and Palestinians than the condemnation of the Oslo Accords. They did not bring peace, or continue with the steps included in the agreements that were meant to bring the parties closer to peace. The criticism is valid, but invites a large HOWEVER.

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

The making of the Mishnah

Stories of the Law: Narrative Discourse and the Construction of Authority in the Mishnah by Moshe Simon-Shoshan, Oxford University Press, New York; ISBN 978-0-19-935638-6 ©2013, $27.95, p. 287, including notes and bibliography By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California– The Romans, who destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE, subsequently expelled the Jews from Jerusalem after

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Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Eizenstat named special advisor on Holocaust issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has appointed Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, a former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, and Ambassador to the European Union, and currently with the law firm of Covington & Burling, as his Special Adviser on Holocaust Issues. Ambassador Eizenstat held

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USA

JNS news briefs: December 18, 2013

Lebanese shooter who killed IDF soldier detained (JNS.org) The Lebanese soldier who shot and killed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Master Sgt. Shlomi Cohen on Sunday was detained, according to Lebanese and Israeli authorities. “[Lebanese authorities] jailed him, interrogated him, and according to their claims, they will punish him,” Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said. Lebanese

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International

Will Israel become increasingly attached to Russia?

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –Two items in today’s news encourage me to repeat earlier, perhaps now less idle, speculation about the future of Avigdor Lieberman: (1) the Attorney General has decided not to accept the outgoing Chief Prosecutor’s recommendation to appeal Lieberman’s not guilty verdict that enabled him to resume his post as foreign

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Middle East