By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The term ‘apartheid’ is being bandied about with increasing frequency with regard to Israel. The crime of apartheid is defined by the 2002 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as ‘inhumane acts of a character similar to other crimes against humanity committed in the context of […]
The ‘apartheid’ calumny against Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Some bad things are heading in our direction. The organizers of some 20 ships are planning to sail toward Gaza in May. They will bring back the Mavi Marmara in its second attempt to get through the Israeli Navy. A campaign is building to have the United Nations General Assembly
Blockades, independence votes, and Goldstone Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Danny Bloom CHIAYI, Taiwan– I recently sat down on the internet— and in internet time — asked Los Angeles writer Racelle Rosett a few questions by email about her published short stories on Jewish life. Among her published gems are “Moving Waters,” Levi” and “Shomer.” (Our edited “conversation” follows below. Rosett is an award-winning
An interview with short story writer Racelle Rosett Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO, April 4 – An Israeli and a Nigerian walked into an Italian restaurant last night, and …. No, this is not a joke. The restaurant was Pernicano’s in Scripps Ranch, and after they both ordered veal parmigiana, the two septuagenarians compared memories of the times when their native countries
Two immigrants in an Italian restaurant Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Lawrence puts his hand in the flame of a match after lighting a cigarette. POTTER: Ow! It damn well hurts. LAWRENCE: Certainly, it hurts! POTTER: Well, what’s the trick then? LAWRENCE: The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts. –“Lawrence of Arabia,” the film. By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –Engaging in Middle East
How The Bizarre World of Middle East Studies Messes Up U.S. Foreign Policy Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –“If I knew then what I know now…” So goes Goldstone’s lament in The Washington Post. Openly blaming Israel for his lack of understanding that the IDF is a moral military force and the Government of Israel a civilized government (1), Goldstone insists that, “The purpose of the Goldstone Report
Goldstone mea culpa: too little too late? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Binyamin Netanyahu has been prominent since his service as Ambassador to the United Nations in the 1980s. I’ve compared him to Barack Obama on account of his fluency. He might also be compared to Richard Nixon (Tricky Dick) due to his reputation as a slippery politician, and his capacity to
Israel debates whether Netanyahu family lives too high Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison LA JOLLA, California, April 3 – Last night, Nancy and I had the opportunity to look into what could become our future and that of other Baby Boomers. We visited a fashionable condominium complex run for senior citizen residents by a well-known hotel chain. The high-rise building has many of the
On jackets, blue jeans and dress codes Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –As of today, one can say that the revolution in Syria must be taken seriously. Not only were the demonstrations large but also they had spread to additional parts of the country and involved different religious and ethnic communities. Of course, there is a big difference between Egypt and Syria.
Syrian Revolution Takes Off. Where is American Support? Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The recent resumption of rocket attacks from Gaza deep into the Negev was bound to get a forceful Israeli response, including targeted killings. The first of these has just cost the lives of three Hamas terrorists. Hamas acknowledges that they were members but denies that they were planning an
Former Mossad chief favors Israel talks with Hamas Read More »
Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO, April 2– “Count to three, and I’ll make the magic happen.” Grandson Sky, aged 4, dutifully counted. “One-two-three.” The television screen jumped to life, and an episode began of “The Land Before Time,” perhaps Sky’s most favorite show. It’s about dinosaur youngsters and their adventures. This one, telling the
‘Grandpa, what’s this button?’ Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Now that the New York Times tells us that the Muslim Brotherhood is really strong, organized, widely supported by the army, and capable of taking over Egypt–all the things I wrote at the time and the mass media denied–the Washington Post confirms every point I made during the revolution
U.S. media catching up on Egypt’s drift toward Islamism Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California–Marc Lavry is one of the composers whose song “Emek” will be sung by the Congregation Beth Israel Sabbath and Festival Choir at the 4:00 performance of “Sing Out!” on April 3 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Sharon Russakoff, who will be singing in both the San Diego Jewish Women’s Choir/Sisterhood
When a song leader corrected the composer Read More »
Eileen Wingard
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –On Wednesday evening I returned from attending this year’s Rabbinical Assembly International Convention. For the first time, this annual gathering of Conservative-Masorti rabbis took place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the convention was held in the suburb of Summerlin in a quiet hotel far from the famed Las Vegas
Rabbinic impressions of Las Vegas Read More »
Jewish Religion