By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Two issues were prominent on Friday’s agenda. Both were either large or small, depending on perspective and how they developed. Both combined local and international considerations. Most immediate was Land Day. Mar ch 30 is one of the prominent items on the protest calendar of Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. It […]
Planned anti-Israel protests seem to fizzle Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —As we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Passover and give thought to the meaning of freedom. The Passover Hagadah brings us to an important realization: We are not merely the products of the present. In the words of the Hagadah, “And had the Holy Blessed One
Haggadah not only has four ‘whys,’ but numerous ‘what ifs’ Read More »
Travel and Food
Israel’s Silent Defender: An Inside Look at Sixty Years of Israeli Intelligence, edited by Amos Gilbo and Ephraim Lapid, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, 2012, 385 pages including appendices, ISBN 978-965-229-528-6. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–This collection of essays by members of Israel’s intelligence establishment has been thoroughly vetted to make sure nothing therein provides
Book examines Israel’s intelligence-gathering Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Hashem (G-d) in His infinite mercy redeemed us from our bitter bondage. Not only did He free us physically, Hashem with boundless love restored our spirits emotionally and psychologically. We have the capacity both to pick ourselves up and to restore and comfort others, as the following true
Rekindling good spirits after a tragedy Read More »
Jewish Religion
By David Brin ENCINITAS, California –I regularly consult with various branches of our “protector caste”… from the military services and homeland security to several unnamed “agencies.” Naturally, I am encouraged by the fact that some of the most serious-minded men and women on the planet are very interested in well-grounded projections of diverse possible futures
Navy, insurance industry agree on climate change Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
By Carrie Kreutz-Landry SAN DIEGO –An enthusiastic group gathered on Friday, March 23, in the North University Community Branch Library’s Community Room, anxious to meet Laura Simon, author of the memoir I Am Still Here. She was equally as eager to meet her admirers. Smiling, posing for photos, and chatting with people, it was hard
Author, 106, delights in library Q&A session Read More »
Travel and Food
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–The Marker is the business section of Ha’aretz. It’s presented in tabloid form almost as a newspaper in its own right. It’s well written with a lot of photographs and charts. I read most of it every day but understand very little. The little I do understand tells me that last
High food prices, government salaries prompt talk of new protests Read More »
Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israel has allowed the world to think rocket fire from Gaza isn’t so terrible. Undoing that misperception is a crucial first step toward taking effective action to protect its population. The most chilling comment I’ve seen on the mid-March surge of violence from Gaza, when terrorists fired 300 rockets
Israel must make Gaza pay a price for rocket attacks Read More »
Middle East
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – “Phenomenal,” stated Dr. Jane Willoughby after being asked how she felt about another one of her students receiving the Sweepstakes Award (highest available award) at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. Dr. Willoughby is the director of the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program at the San
SDJA’s Melissa Fagan wins Sweepstakes Award at Science Fair Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Oscar Wilde once said: “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it… I can resist everything but temptation.” There’s a lot of truth to Wilde’s temptation. As human beings we often give in to many temptations without
ZAKA reportedly in financial disarray Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–What most Israelis anticipated has now been confirmed: Tsipi Livni has been replaced by Shaul Mofaz as the Head of Kadima and thus also the Leader of the Opposition in the Knesset. Less than 40 percent of the party members bothered to vote; Mofaz got the support of over 60 percent
Mofaz replaces Livni as Kadima chief Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Recently I wrote about Jonathan Swift’s Modest Proposal. Now it is time to think about Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Before you accuse me of going literary, note that my metaphor gets us back to politics and the Middle East. What brings forth Alice in Wonderland, its fantasy
Skepticism in Israel over reports of Syria ceasefire Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — For several years now, I have been taking a train to work every day. Not a subway train, mind you, but an old-fashioned inter-city railroad train, complete with a conductor who collects the passengers’ tickets and even shouts, “All aboard!” I enjoy my daily train ride
Spiritual conversations with the man sitting next to me Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Besides the name of flutist Susan Kornberg Simpson were enough symbols to make one wonder if someone was exclaiming something in comic book talk! But the key at the bottom of the program explained that one symbol meant that the Patrick Henry High School musician performs in the
Concert demonstrates importance of music in the schools Read More »
Donald H. Harrison