Abbas: ‘All options are open’ if peace talks fail (JNS.org) Amid the push by Secretary of State John Kerry towards restarting negotiations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted in an interview with the Jordanian daily Al Ra’i as saying that if there is no progress in peace talks, “all options are open.” “If there
JNS news briefs: July 22, 2013 Read More »
International
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Supporting sanctions against Iran is understood to be a position designed to moderate Iranian behavior regarding the acquisition of nuclear capability. It is the position of people and countries that do not want to contemplate military action by either the United States or Israel. It is the position of
Iran uses European courts in its war on the West Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The amorphous agreement of Israeli and Palestinian leaders to begin talking has pushed other items–that might otherwise be grabbing all the headlines–to the margins of national attention. One is the impending election of two Chief Rabbis (Ashkenazi and Sephardi), after a campaign with nastiness that makes Knesset elections seem like the most
Any deal from Mideast talks likely to be partial Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — Every four years, the Maccabiah Games, the world’s third largest sporting competition following the Olympics and FIFA, are held in Israel. Also called the Jewish Olympics, the games date back to 1932, when they were first held in the then British Mandate of Palestine with 390 Jewish athletes competing from
Jews from far-flung countries to compete in Maccabiah Games Read More »
Middle East
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — I was taught that my job in life was to make the world a better place – tikun olam. So, maybe I should have become a research scientist to discover a cure for cancer. Or, I should have been a civil rights attorney, representing those most in need. Instead,
Money Maven: Is this what my mother wanted? Read More »
Sheryl Rowling, Travel and Food
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Coming from the American heartland, I understand the importance of rain. Lack of it can drive up the cost of everything and destroy your livelihood. In the last drought, families gave up their belovèd horses for want of oats to feed them. Desperate times can lead folks to
Globe’s ‘Rainmaker’ helps us see a woman’s true beauty Read More »
Eric George TauberBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — For those of us who believe in civil processes for the resolution of disputes, I would say that there were three good stories on the front page of the Union-Tribune on Saturday morning, July 20. Good news, too, sometimes comes in threes. The articles weren’t displayed in
Good news, sometimes, comes in threes Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Anyone wanting a full description of what John Kerry has achieved, praise or condemnation for one of the parties, must look somewhere else. I am currently impressed with the variety of reports, couched as coming from one or another unnamed participant in Israeli or Palestinian governmental forums, with the additional reservation that
Palestinians, Israelis signal confusion over Kerry talks Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The media did its best to portray George Zimmerman as a racist in its efforts to influence the public and the jury to convict him for the crime of manslaughter. Eric Holder, as of today, is still investigating whether Zimmerman might be prosecuted for civil rights
Zimmerman, no racist, has African-American ancestors Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USAAMMAN, Jordan (Press Release)– Following is a statement by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday, July 19, announcing the likelihood of renewed negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority: Good evening, everybody, thank you very much for your patience. I apologize for the delay. I’m just going to make a statement, and I’m
Kerry: New Israeli-Palestinian talks in the works Read More »
Middle EastBy Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — A few days ago, I was standing at the ticket booth of a theater asking to have a couple of tickets reprinted because my friend had left them in his car. I tried to be funny and said to the ticket seller, “my stupid friend forgot
Jokes, Irony, and Sarcasm Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and FoodNEW YORK (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has issued an informational advisory to law enforcement and Jewish communal groups concerning the display of swastikas in parks and other public areas this weekend by a fringe religious sect known as Raelian. The ADL advisory makes clear that the sect poses no known security threat, and has
ADL: Raelian swastikas not motivated by hate Read More »
USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–I think it is in the city’s best interest if Mayor Bob Filner reasserts his position as the elected leader of our city and stops feeling he has to avoid public appearances or meetings with the news media. For the benefit of the City of San Diego, Mayor Filner needs
Filner needs to reassert policy leadership Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Parashat Va-etchannan contains the first paragraph of the Shema: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Since the Torah is never redundant, the
Analyzing the three parts of the Shema Read More »
Jewish Religion