Israel’s immigration ministry hurts Americans’ feelings with ill-conceived ad campaign

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Emigration from Israel is one of those issues that erupts every so many years to excite the fearful. Americans might think about abortion, prayer in the schools, gun control, or the placement of a Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah on a public place. What is common to them all is

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

What’s in it for me?

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–“Hi Jake, how are you doing?” “Hi guys. Just fine. What’s up?” “We’re on our way up to the school’s library to help move and cover the books. They’re going to paint the room and they need lots of help. Do you want to come?” “Are they paying you anything

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Travel and Food

The marriage of superstition and modernity: thoughts on the evil eye

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –The belief in the Evil Eye (in Hebrew, it is known as the Ayin Hara) has existed since time immemorial in cultures all around the world. Ancients believed that the world was suffused with invisible powers that could be utilized as a supernatural weapon against one’s foes. In magic,

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Travel and Food

Can the desert be made to yield more water, food and energy?

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Scientists at the Sde Boker campus of Ben Gurion University of the Negev are making strides in their quest to make the world’s deserts more productive by increasing their yields of energy, food and water, Pedro Berliner, director of the Blaustein Institute for Desert Research told about 50 people Tuesday

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Donald H. Harrison

Nuclear sabotage in Iran preferable to all-out war

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There has been another explosion in Iran. This one in the city of Isfahan, home to spectacular Muslim architecture, and industrial facilities linked to the country’s nuclear program. There are no reports that the explosion damaged the mosques or madrases. Among the Iranian reports are that it occurred at a gas station.

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

‘The Color of Rose’ explores life of Kennedy matriarch

  By Cynthia Citron BEVERLY HILLS, California — In the hands of playwright Kathrine Bates, even history’s certified villains get a sympathetic hearing. Take, for example, Lucrezia Borgia. Bates penned (with Ted Lange) and starred in the one-woman Evil Legacy: The Story of Lucrezia Borgia, performing it first for a dozen friends in her own

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Cynthia Citron

Rational Egyptians, haters and the U.S. government

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, the White House pulled the props out from under the military government in Cairo, calling for it to yield power. Now. “The United States strongly believes that the new Egyptian government must be empowered with real authority immediately…we believe that the full transfer of power to a

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen

Latke contest will highlight Dec. 9 celebration at B’nai Tikvah

  VISTA, California (Press Release)  — Congregation B’nai Tikvah will host a festive Hanukkah celebration on Friday, Dec. 9 at 6:30pm complete with the second annual “Iron Bubbies” Latke Challenge. In addition, there will be a full night of fun activities planned including Candle Lighting, a Silent Auction, activities for the kids and a presentation by

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Travel and Food