By Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — A new documentary by film director Alison Klayman, titled Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is screening now in Taipei. While the film has not been shown in mainland China yet, the controversial artist and photographer, Ai Weiwei, has seen it and gave it a big thumbs up, Klayman said. […]
Jewish director focuses lens on China’s Ai Weiwei Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Gil Shefler/JNS.org SECAUCUS, NJ—Nothing says Jewish food like a bowl of matzoh ball soup or a slab of pastrami on rye. But will Mediterranean gefilte fish or facon also be on that list one day? Facon, you ask? As the name implies, it’s fake bacon, and it was just one of the many novelties
Don’t eat bacon? How ’bout kosher ‘facon’ Read More »
Travel and FoodPalestinian media praises terrorist leader Jabari as ‘martyr’ (JNS.org) The day after the targeted killing of Hamas terrorist chief Ahmed Jabari, the Palestinian media lead with headlines praising his “martyrdom,” despite his long history of involvement in terrorism against Israeli civilians. According to Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) official newspaper, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida,
JNS news briefs: November 15, 2012 (Latest war news) Read More »
InternationalBy Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — The immense impact that weather can have on our civilization has been demonstrated regularly with such events atvolcano eruptions, massive tsunamis and, as of late, hurricanes like Sandy. But as fearsome and awesome as these are, the impacts of globalwarming may be even more devastating. Hollywood ought to
When ‘Superstorm Sandy’ spoke, was Hollywood listening? Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Bibi isn’t what he sounds like. He is a fascinating mixture of the distasteful and admirable, a politician who remains on top of a contentious and highly competitive heap despite promising much more than he has delivered. What follows is not an endorsement, but an exploration of how his various
Bibi roars like lion yet is timid as a mouse Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIran calls new air defense system a ‘slap’ to U.S. and Israel (JNS.org) While the U.S. and Israel engage in air defense cooperation such as Austere Challenge 12, a drill meant to build soldarity, Iran’s current air defense exercise is intended as a “slap” to West. Iran has modeled a new air defense system after
JNS news briefs: November 14, 2012 Read More »
International
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — Here it was, the sixth session of the class which was using the book of Genesis as a source for studying the nature of leadership. It was proving not to be the kind of class in which the teacher lectured and the students listened passively. Rather, it
Why couldn’t Isaac tell Esau and Jacob apart? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Yaakov Lappin Israel is facing an unenviable challenge these days, to regain its deterrence in a chaotic neighborhood in which its enemies are feeling emboldened. As a direct result of the regional turmoil, Israel is dealing with the deterioration of security on two fronts simultaneously. In the south, the time bomb that is
Israel facing military challenges in Gaza and Golan Read More »
Middle EastPalestinians begin exhuming Arafat’s body (JNS.org) Palestinians have begun work to exhume the body of their former leader Yasser Arafat as part of a probe into his death that some experts say is fueled by politically charged rumors, AFP reported. Arafat’s mausoleum in Ramallah has been cordoned off, according to local sources. International experts will
JNS news briefs: November 13, 2012 Read More »
InternationalEditor’s Note: Janis Coulter was among the victims who died with San Diego’s Marla Bennett in a terrorist explosion that rocked the Hebrew University cafeteria. New York City has memorialized her. By Rafael Medoff/JNS.org The average pedestrian standing at the corner of Madison Avenue and 69th Street in New York City may not appreciate the
NYC remembers Hebrew U bombing victim Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Is revenge or vengeance permissible in Judaism? Has the view of revenge changed over time? Answer: You ask a difficult question and the answer is far from simple. Numerous laws and passages proscribe revenge and vengeance. Conversely, revenge plays an important role in rectifying injustices that occurred. The
What Judaism says about revenge Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Maxine Dovere/JNS.org NEW YORK—Noam Sheriff, conductor of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra and 2011 winner of the Israel Prize (largely regarded as the state’s highest honor) in music, believes decades of experience gives him a unique perspective on major prizes. “If I were 20 or 30, the excitement would be overwhelming,” the 77-year-old Sheriff,
Composer Sheriff carries Jewish history on his shoulders Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BALTIMORE—The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) set a theme of “Where the Jewish community downloads/uploads/shares” for its 2012 General Assembly well in advance. Then Hurricane Sandy came along and ravaged the East Coast, making the theme that much more relevant. “The uploads, the downloads, the connection—to me it’s all around the
Federation CEO on Sandy, Iran, young leadership Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BALTIMORE—Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the Reform movement’s congregational arm, was an atypical choice as scholar-in-residence for the 2012 Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly—by his own admission. “First of all, it’s an honor,” Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), said in an interview with JNS.org in
Jewish Federation pick Reform movement head as its scholar Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion