By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Author Lela Gilbert, a Christian who lived for years in Israel, spoke for many of Israel’s supporters when she said she finds the international community’s attacks on the Jewish State “puzzling, especially when atrocities are taking place every day in Syria” and elsewhere in the Middle East. In an interview
World stands silently by in face of Islamist outrages Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenPalestinian Authority accused of human rights abuses by Arab watchdog (JNS.org) The Palestinian Authority (PA) and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, have been accused of inhumane practices and human rights abuses, according to a report from the UK-based Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR). The group monitored the practices of the PA’s security forces from January
JNS news briefs: December 31, 2012 Read More »
InternationalBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices will continue in the Astor Judaica Library for the fifth year with three Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., January 15, February 19 and March 12. These programs of poetry readings are open to the public at no charge. The first hour has three featured poets followed
Three evenings of Jewish poetry planned at JCC Read More »
Eileen WingardBy David P. Goldman “The country is on the verge of bankruptcy,” Egyptian opposition leader and Nobel Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei told the newspaper al-Arabiya Dec. 23. Unable to reduce subsidies that account for most of a budget deficit that now exceeds 14 percent of GDP, and unwilling to raises taxes, it seems
Is Egypt teetering on bankruptcy? Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It didn’t come as a surprise to those who’ve faith in Israel’s Supreme Court as the guarantor of Israel’s democracy, but it came as an expected shock to its right-wing detractors: last Sunday the Supreme Court overruled the decision taken earlier this month by the political Central Elections Committee
Israeli Supreme Court lets controversial MK run for reelection Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin JERUSALEM—It’s different each time, the sensation driven by my religious body temperature at the moment, each occasion leavened by the vicissitudes of life, by doubt, skepticism, spiritual immobility or vague rhapsody—and certainly by my own vanities. One first has to get past the sense of being an intruder, even if one
A Reform rabbi’s thoughts at the Kotel Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The received wisdom in Israel’s right-wing circles and among their supporters abroad is that, if Israel could only get its hasbarah (information/propaganda) right, the world would understand that what the Government of Israel under Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is doing is morally beyond criticism and politically justified. Many of
Policies, not the p-r, cause Israel’s problems Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Even in the best of times, voting is something of a crap shoot for citizens who wish to influence what their government does. Candidates speak in general terms in order to appeal as widely as possible and to give themselves room to maneuver in the face of conditions bound to change.
Israeli voter’s task complicated by coalition politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Loren Kantor STUDIO CITY, California –Billy Wilder is one of Hollywood’s all-time great filmmakers. His movies ranged from film noir to screwball comedy and they were known for tight plots and memorable dialogue. Wilder despised sentiment and he sought to tell stories as simply and elegantly as possible. To Wilder, “the best director is
Notes from the Woodcutter: ‘Billy Wilder’ Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Alan Eisner WASHINGTON, D.C. – There’s an old Israeli song by Matti Caspi, sung memorably by Yehudit Ravitz, that sums up exactly my view of the upcoming Israeli election: “You took my hand in your hand and said to me, ‘Let’s go down to the garden.’ You took my hand in your hand and said
An outsider’s perspective on Israel’s elections Read More »
Middle East
Editor’s Note: San Diego Jewish community leader Gail Littman died on December 21, 2012. At a memorial service on December 27, 2012, the community gathered at Temple Adat Shalom in Poway, where Littman was a past president, to mourn her loss. Among those eulogizing her was Marjory Kaplan, executive director of the Jewish Community Foundation,
Gail Littman, endowment maven, eulogized Read More »
San Diego CountyNEW YORK (Press Release) — A new national survey has shown that the American public supports Israel over the Palestinians by a five-to-one ratio. According to the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press national survey, conducted during December 5-9, 2012, Americans sympathize more with Israel (50%) than with the Palestinians (10%). Support for
Pew finds most Americans support Israel over Palestinians Read More »
USAIsrael: British minister adopts ‘Palestinian position verbatim’ on Ariel University (JNS.org) The recently heavy European criticism of Israel continued on Dec. 27 when British minister expressed “deep disappointment” over the official upgrading of Ariel University Center of Samaria’s status to that of a full-fledged university. “This decision will deepen the presence of the settlements in
JNS news briefs: December 28, 2012 Read More »
InternationalBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — Colonial powers – France, Britain, Belgium and Russia, in particular – believed there was no substitute for their own armies and officials to ensure that their colonies stayed in line. Instead of colonial occupation forces, the U.S. takes its money, arms, training and agenda abroad. It is a specifically
U.S. money, arms do not prompt ‘moderation’ in Mideast Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen