Hagel, amid controversial record on Israel, to be nominated for defense secretary (JNS.org) President Barack Obama’s defense secretary nominee will be former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel, who has been criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike for his record on Israel, according to media reports that surfaced Sunday. Hagel chairs the Atlantic Council think tank, which
JNS news briefs: January 7, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — In this week’s Torah portion, we read about a strange story that nearly costs Moses his life (Exod. 4:24-27). As he was about to return to Egypt, Moses takes his wife (Tsipporah) and sons and travel toward Egypt. However, along the way, it appears that Moses
May women perform ritual circumcisions? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiEditor’s Note: Funeral services will be held on Monday, Jan. 7, for Jewish communal leader Murray Galinson at 1 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel. By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO –“You should go meet with Murray Galinson.” I can’t really exactly who said that to me in early June 1990. I had just finished working on
A personal remembrance of Murray Galinson Read More »
San Diego County
Dora Klinova, “The Queen of the Universe; the Vortex of Creation,” (c) 2012, Legacy Line Publishing, ISBN 97800-98197-842-0; 80 pages, $26.95, via the author at 619 667-0925. Another 140-page version (with more photos) available through Amazon for $41.95. An electronic version is available at $3.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Author Dora Klinova,
Saving the environment–a drop at a time Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It’s easier to talk about politics, even to teach it, than to practice it. This was amply demonstrated by Michael Ignatieff, academic and TV personality, who had a less than successful spell as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party. He spoke about it at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem
Israel democracy needs face-to-face voter contact Read More »
Middle East
By Ulla Hadar KIBBUTZ RUHAMA, Israel — Parents and children don’t always agree on everything, but on one subject in Sha’ar Hanegev, the municipality lying alongside the Gaza border, there is nearly unanimity. Hearing sirens go off to warn of incoming rockets can be very stressful, whereas bicycling in nearby areas out of range
Biking relieves stress for children facing rocket attacks Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Several of my columns commenting about the United States have produced angry responses, claiming that I do not understand, that my “opinions” are tainted, and that if I do not value the United States I should give up my citizenship. What I think these responses reveal is yet another side of the United
The intellectual right, yea obligation, of independent thought Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Peter Huessy In the decade since the attacks of 9/11, the United States and its allies have portrayed terrorism as primarily al Qaeda-centric. This, in turn, has led, logically, to a search for the origin of the terrorism aimed at us. Thus, after 9/11, many American analysts wondered, “Why do they hate
Al Qaeda only one element of worldwide terrorism Read More »
Middle East
Story and photo by Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — What place better than the Corvette Diner to take a man who has earned his living on-stage being the “fifth Beatle” in the tribute group “Rain” which opened a five-concert set at San Diego’s Civic Center on Friday night and will close after two concerts
Rain’s ‘fifth Beatle’ grooves at Corvette Diner Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO – Although midrash at times attempts to solve textual problems, at other times midrash seems an illogical flight of fantasy that creates more problems than it solves. Such is the rabbinic comment about Pharaoh’s daughter pulling Moses from the Nile River. The Torah says: “The daughter of Pharaoh came
Helping miracles to occur Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — The Bible Lands Museum, situated opposite the Israel Museum, houses a broad range of archeological artefacts from all over the Ancient Near East. In accordance with the vision of its founder, the late Eli Borovsky, it refers to the various cultures of the Ancient Near East, each of which contributed
Bible Lands Museum program promotes friendships Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Science, Medicine, & EducationESCONDIDO, California (Press Release)– Chesed Home, San Diego County’s adult residential facility serving Jews with serious mental illness, opens next month in this city. Hope Village San Diego, a 501 3c non-profit, has developed Chesed Home. The mission is to provide a safe and nurturing residence for adults with serious mental illness, based on Jewish values and
History told of soon-to-open Chesed Home Read More »
San Diego CountyNetanyahu to ambassadors: Palestinians must declare conflict over for peace accord (JNS.org) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lecturing to Israeli ambassadors about regional concerns at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, said Palestinian claims of a “right of return” spell the end of Israel and prevent a peace agreement from being reached. “Hamas could take over the
JNS news briefs: January 4, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most exciting exegetical works I have read in years is Rabbi Ari D. Kahn’s Echoes of Eden on Sefer Shemot: Salvation and Sanctity—Insights into the Weekly Torah Portion on the Book of Exodus. Publisher: Gefen Publishing House, 2012. ISBN-10: 965229585X, 350 pages. Price: $29.95 His
Rabbi Kahn’s insights stimulating, well worth reading Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi