By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM –The Central Bureau of Statistics, in its traditional Yom Ha’atzmaut statistical report about the citizens of Israel, stated that Israel has now 8.018 million residents, almost ten times more the 806,000 citizens in its establishment. The Jewish population stands at 6.042 million (75.3% of the entire population). Israel’s Arab citizens constitute
Israel’s population now 8.018 million Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A hundred meters from these fingers is a border between civilizations. To the east of that border is the “village,” “suburb,” or “neighborhood” of Isaweea. With more than 20,000 residents, the label “village” is misleading, but that’s the term many use. “Suburb” suggests something outside of Jerusalem, but it is
In Israel, it’s us and them and them Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Odette’s Secrets by Maryann Macdonald, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, (c) 2013, 978-1-5990-750-5; 225 pages, $16.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Although classified as “fiction,” Odette’s Secrets cannot be so easily pigeonholed. Author Maryann Macdonald found a copy of the real memoirs of the late Odette Meyers, who as a child in Nazi-occupied France had posed
The Holocaust in terms a child can understand Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Eva Trieger ENCINITAS, California — From the instant the dialogue began, I was riveted by the hallmark Mamet staccato, terse exchanges. The principals in this case were a young college professor (Francis Gercke) attempting to understand a distraught, frustrated coed (Rachael Van Wormer). The Intrepid Shakespeare Company, directed by Christy Yael and Sean Cox,
‘Oleanna,’ an allegory for self-conflicted Jews? Read More »
Eva TriegerSAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Hillel of San Diego, a local non-profit organization that provides opportunities for college students to participate in Jewish community, will break ground on Sunday, April 28,on a new LEED certified building to serve as the center for Jewish life at San Diego State University (SDSU). The Melvin Garb Hillel Center,
Hillel to break ground April 28 for SDSU center Read More »
San Diego CountyBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The fifth season of “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” concluded last month at the Astor Judaica Library in the Lawrence Family JCC. During its first five seasons, the series featured local poets and song writers expressing themselves not only in English, but also in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino, Russian, Spanish and
A potpourri of Jewish poetry Read More »
Eileen WingardBEER-SHEVA, Israel (Press Release)–Combining video feeds from unmanned ground and aerial vehicles in a single screen will aid soldiers with orientation and identification tasks, according to a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers funded by the United States Army. Dismounted operational tactics in urban areas are often aided by information
Video feeds from air & ground aid infantry Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Evelyn Gordon This past February, the New York Times reported on a love affair gone sour. For months, Algeria had courted an Islamist warlord in Mali. The Algerians knew, as the Times put it, that he was “the leader of one of the militant Islamist groups holding northern Mali captive,” but they thought he
Events prove danger of cozying up to terrorists Read More »
Middle East
Triumph and Tragedy: Journeying Through 1000 Years of Jewish Life in Poland, compiled by Joel Padowitz, J Roots (c) 2013, ISBN 978-1-937887-06-3, 264 pages including endnotes. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Essentially this is a Jewish guide book to Poland. The “triumph” portion focuses on the great rabbis and writers who preceded the
‘Triumph and Tragedy’ relates Jewish history of Poland Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonMaimonides: Essential Teachings on Jewish Faith & Ethics, the Book of Knowledge & the Thirteen Principles of Faith Annotated & Explained by Rabbi Marc D. Angel, PhD, Skylight Paths Publishing, Woodstock, VT; ISBN 978-1-59473-311-6 ©2012, $18.99, p. 172, plus notes and selected bibliography By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — By the mid-twelfth century, conditions
Angel teaches about Maimonides Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdDBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Call me old-fashioned or sexist, but I think that the entire dust up of President Obama calling California attorney general Kamala Harris the “best-looking attorney general in the country” is a tempest in a teapot. I understand the importance of de-emphasizing appearance in a world in which physical
Finding the positive in others Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Two thousand years ago lived Rebbi Akiva – the greatest Rabbi of his generation, and one of the greatest Rabbis of all time. He amassed 24,000 talmidim (students). They flocked to bask in his greatness and learn his Torah. Rebbi Akiva’s talmidim were the pride of the generation.
The rabbi didn’t need a feasibility study Read More »
Jewish ReligionObama stresses ‘window of opportunity’ for Mideast (JNS.org) Israel and the Palestinians have a “window of opportunity to get back to the peace table,” U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday after meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the Oval Office. Obama said the two discussed how “the United States, as a
JNS news briefs: April 12, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Marsha Sutton SAN DIEGO — Hearing the words, “Hate feels so good,” is shocking in itself. But hearing those words uttered by a former neo-nazi skinhead turned equality and human rights advocate is a stunner. To understand how a white supremacist is created, and how a racist bigot can find his humanity, check out
Former hater practices respect and love Read More »
USA