By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Pesach is one of those occasions in the Jewish calendar when Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited. One of the verses that often are, alas, very topical in Israel reads “All the nations surround me…” While life in Israel seems almost idyllic during this holy/holiday season, life across Israel’s borders is anything
Israel an island of serenity in sea of turmoil Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –Having grown up in a British home where Passover/Pesach was observed with rigour, it came as something of a shock when I arrived in Israel to find that not everyone did the same. It was only in Israel that I heard about people filling their fridges and freezers with bread
Search for chametz can go to an extreme Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Many people would be surprised to hear that the charge of drinking blood was a common accusation made against the nascent Christian religion in the first three centuries of its existence. Yes, this historical fact is true and recorded in the annals of ancient history. The Roman
When Christians were victims of blood libels Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Yehuda Ben Hanan LOS ANGELES — I helped to start MAZELTOV.COM, an event-centric social-network, with a deep-rooted emphasis on charitable giving. The word “Mazeltov!” has been adopted by people of all faiths from around the globe, but for Jews, this word carries with it a rich history and tradition. Our story started in 1995,
Mazeltov.com–What’s it all about? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– Here’s a crop of articles that arrived in my Inbox in the last week: The Jewish Chronicle of London (March 21) has an article about Lord Ahmed, Britain’s first Muslim peer, who has been suspended by the country’s Labour Party because of a statement he made in his native Pakistan that
Anti-Semitism increasing in Europe Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — I am often struck by the differences in value systems between the U.S. and the other countries I travel in. Because we can understand each other, live in similar circumstances, have more or less familiar political, organizational, and family systems, we assume we also share a similar
Do people always want to move ‘up’ at work? Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and FoodBy Carol Davis SAN DIEGO–I don’t know why I’m surprised that a musical about the assassination of a president, or attempted assassinations of presidents and others should rattle my soul. Many years ago I was at production at San Diego State University Experimental Theatre and sat through the musical “Yours, Anne”, based on the play
How disrespectful are musicals becoming? Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & BroadcastNew plans to breach Israel’s naval blockade (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) While the aftermath of Israel’s apology to Turkey for the Mavi Marmara incident continues to unfold, a pro-Palestinian group says its activists will soon stage a provocation aimed at ending the Israeli naval blockade on the Gaza Strip. But unlike past attempts in which activists,
JNS news briefs: March 29, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — From letters-to-the-editor at Time magazine to the public shows he performs with his wife Rusti, psychiatrist Steven Moffic believes that personal actions are important in the global fight against climate change. But readers might wonder what exactly does climate change have to do with psychiatry? Is it all
Psychiatrist ‘psyched’ to fight climate problems Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
Peter Mehlman, Mandela Was Late, Sager Group of Smashwords, (c) 2012, ISBN: 978-1481250771, 132 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Here is a book of 21 light and frothy essays, most of which sitcom writer Peter Mehlman published in high circulation newspapers or magazines over the years. Like the Seinfeld TV series for which he
Comedy writer’s book light and frothy Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonFlags to be waved throughout Israel to mark Warsaw Ghetto uprising (JNS.org) Schools throughout Israel this month will wave Israeli flags at precisely the same time as part of a special ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising during the Holocaust, Israel Hayom reported. Exactly 70 years prior, those who survived
JNS news briefs: March 28, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Apparently lists of VIPs attract a lot of readers; that’s why they’re so common in publications and blogs. No country, no walk of life and no profession remain unrated. Even rabbis: in the last few days alone I’ve read two lists telling me who’re the most influential and/or “spiritual” of my professional
Sarah Netanyahu: controversial wife of P.M. Read More »
Middle East
Mira’s Diary:” Lost in Paris” and “Home Sweet Rome” both by Marissa Moss, Sourcebooks, Inc., ISBNs respectively 978-1-4022-66065 and 978-1-4022-66096, $12.95 each. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– A teenage heroine learns to her surprise that, unsought, she has the power to travel through time, a genetic gift from her mother whose mysterious disappearance also was
‘Time travels’ take Jewish girl through Paris and Rome Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy J.Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — Now that President Obama has come and gone, Israel’s new Knesset will get down to business.The question in my mind is will Yair Lapid, the new flag bearer of the middle class, succeed in his bold program or will he follow the example of his predecessors, Shinui and Kadima,
Netanyahu may oppose Lapid on 5 key issues Read More »
Middle East