By Barry Rubin HERZLYIYA, Israel –While the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt claims victory, the election was actually a defeat—at least temporary and possibly less important than it seems—for the Brotherhood and Islamism. Here’s why. The Islamist Camp Note that only about 44 percent of voters backed an Islamist candidate, compared to 75 percent in the parliamentary […]
Islamists’ percentage dropped in Egypt’s voting Read More »
Middle East
By Lloyd Levy LONDON –It is a fascinating irony that Israel flourishes while Greece and Italy are self destructing. The reason for the irony, is that the founders of Zionism based their world view on the struggle for Independence of these European states. The Italian struggle for independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a particular
Italy, Greece succumb to Euro; Israel remains independent Read More »
International, Lloyd LevyBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel has learned from more than 60 years in a difficult neighborhood not to solve problems. In case you are wondering, that is a compliment. It is a sign of political maturity. The most important lesson came in the Lebanon war that begin in 1982 and lasted until the troop
Coping is Israel’s great political skill Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Of the 70 family members and friends who gathered Saturday night, May 26, at the Crown Plaza Hanalei Hotel to celebrate the 90th birthday of World War II POW Sy Brenner, three sisters from France had only met the guest of honor the night before, but nevertheless were the
A poignant World War II ‘reunion’ on Memorial Day weekend Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Ilene Lerner CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts –Fortunately or unfortunately, my daughter Emily recently separated from her husband of thirty years, Chris Messier, and when I called to speak with her one summer day, her new voice message said I had reached the home of Emily Graf Messier. Graf is the last name of my first husband,
This woman, by any other name, is…. happier Read More »
Travel and FoodEditor’s Note: The following article was written in response to a commentary by Bruce Kesler criticizing the WorldBeat Center for showing the film, Tears of Gaza. By Makeda Cheatom SAN DIEGO — Part of our mission statement at the WorldBeat Center is to promote peace through consciousness raising. In our long history we have presented
WorldBeat Center seeks to help resolve conflicts Read More »
Jewish History
Photos and story Sandy Golden SAN DIEGO — Israeli Scouts from San Diego’s Carmel Valley, miniature plants of sunflower seeds from Israel, a San Diego middle-school student writing names in Hebrew for passers-by, the results of a Dream House Competition begun on “Yom Ha’atzma’ut”, a strolling, Yiddishe minstrel/ accordionist, young children and adults from local
Enthusiastic HOI lawn program spreads good will Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County
By Bruce Kesler Bruce Kesler SAN DIEGO — For those of you who, like me, enjoy “world music” it is saddening that a major venue in San Diego which largely targets children is sponsoring pro-Palestinian propaganda from a virulent anti-Israel, anti-US group operating under the misleading name Middle East Children’s Alliance. The WorldBeat Cultural Center sits
WorldBeat Cultural Center joins in propaganda attack on Israel Read More »
San Diego Calendar
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) has offered an amendment to the FY 2013 funding bill for the State Department that would require the Department to provide two numbers to Congress: 1) the number of Palestinians physically displaced from their homes in what became Israel in 1948, and 2) the
Sen. Kirk seeks true census of Palestinian refugees Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — According to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the almost complete vote counting for president looks like this: Mohamed Mursi (Brotherhood) 28.4% Ahmed Shafiq (Mubarak era general) 24.6% Abdul Moeim Abul Fotouh (so-called “moderate Islamist” but supported by radical Islamist Salafists) 18.1% Hamdeen Sabahi (radical anti-American “left” Nasserist) 17.1%
Muslim Brotherhood claims victory in Egypt voting Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — On Shabbat we begin reading the book of B’midbar, Numbers in English. At the conclusion of Shabbat we celebrate Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. According to rabbinic tradition, the Children of Israel received the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Torah from God on Shavuot, exactly fifty
New Jews join our people in spirit of Ruth Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An uptick in loud concern about illegal immigration is currently riling Israeli media and politics. By “loud concern” I mean shouting on a prime time discussion program set off when moderators do not accept as appropriate the answers to questions they have asked, against the background of anti-immigrant riots in
Israelis’ rhetoric about illegal immigration sounds like Americans’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By J.J. Surbeck SAN DIEGO — a new pro-Palestinian movie titled Tears of Gaza had its local premiere Thursday evening, May 25, at the World Beat Center (one of the buildings in Balboa Park along Park Boulevard). Described as “a powerful and emotionally devastating record of the impact of the 2008-2009 bombing of Gaza by
Pro-Palestinian film shows gory images out of context Read More »
Travel and Food
By Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — When I first began to write “The Silverman Manifesto (2012)”, I had some qualms about how it might or might not go over among American Jews, and whether it might be or might not be accepted. Still, struck by some of the God-awful humor that has made its
Do ‘Jewish jokes’ need to be updated? Read More »
Travel and Food