By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D LA JOLLA, California — In his speech “to the Arab World,” delivered at the State Department (5-19-11), President Obama said that the boundaries between Israel and the future Palestinian state should be based “on the 1967 lines with agreed land swaps by both sides.” This shift of policy has stunned Israel
Call for ’67 boundaries wrong in so many ways Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — There is a small detail at the end of Obama’s big Middle East speech that everyone has overlooked up until now but which shows how inept this administration is at understanding the Israel-Palestinian issue and why it continually makes Israel mistrustful. In doing his balancing act on Israeli and
A mistake in Obama’s speech betraying his bias Read More »
Middle East, USABy Audrey Jacobs and Michael Lurie SAN DIEGO — The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to intensify. This past Sunday, protesters from Palestine and surrounding Arab nations marched on Israel’s borders on all sides and Israeli troops fired in response when the boundaries were breached. Locally, last week pro-Palestinian student groups such as the Muslim Student Union and Students for Justice in Palestine held their annual
How local universities can spur healthy debate Read More »
San Diego CalendarBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Germans call it in zwischen zwei Welten: between two worlds. The image of participating in both, without being an intimate of either came to me as I pondered Barack Obama’s speech on the Middle East and North Africa, Bibi’s response, and the post-speech meeting between them. There will be other speeches
American-Israeli sees both points of view Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur TORONTO, Canada–As hard as I try, I can’t really get out of the ghetto. This means that I evaluate world events according to the criterion, “Is it good or bad for the Jews?” But the present situation in the Middle East doesn’t seem to lend itself to it. That’s why I
Is Arab ‘spring’ coiled to strike Israel? Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Most of the aggravated commentary about President Obama’s digression from the stirring winds of change in the Arab world into the details of Palestinian statehood have to do with the 1949 Armistice Line, or 1967 line – the western line of Palestine – and whether the President changed U.S. policy.
Obama’s ’67 formula hurts Jordan as well as Israel Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — As a child living in Israel, I used to look out onto the horizon from my grandmother’s simple porch. I vividly remember the dusty little village of Kfar-Saba, some fifteen miles east of Tel Aviv, nestled against a thick patch of orange groves and in the shadow of
Obama trying to get Mideast past visceral hatreds Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–We often wonder where our happiness will come from – and when? The Torah tells us the answer, “Im Bechukosai tailaichu” If we follow in Hashem’s ways we will find happiness and fullfillment. The Mishnah tells gives us the same message, “Eizehu ashir hasameach bechelko” “Who is wealthy? He who
The golden house across the valley Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Responses are all over the map to Barack Obama’s highly touted speech on the Middle East and North Africa. Take your pick: from indifference to despair, excitement and anger. There was enough in it for everyone. The mention of 1967 borders brought one of Benyamin Netanyahu’s instant responses, described as “icy” by
Obama’s speech sounded like it was written by committee Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Cynthia Citron NORTH HOLLYWOOD — It’s Jeffrey Schoenberg’s Spring 1603 Fashion Collection, and it’s what every Shakespearean scholar will be wearing this fall. Or should wear this fall! The most sumptuous silks, puffed pantaloons, gold-threaded lapels—brilliant costume designer Schoenberg has outdone himself! And oh yes, there’s a play to watch as well. It’s
‘Malcontent’ on the stage, but not in the audience Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — President Obama’s speech is the most recent in a series of events that change the landscape of the Middle East. The Arab Spring, the killing of Osama bin Laden and the accord between Fatah and Hamas all have come in a matter of weeks. More changes in the Middle
Obama speech may have advanced Mideast peace; Dennis Ross can help Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Most of the media focus of the President’s speech appears to be on his belief that Israel should shrink to the 1967 borders – with minimal land swaps – and should make that deal even before discussing the status of Jerusalem (the capital of the Jewish people and never
Egypt part of Obama’s speech may be worse than Israel part Read More »
USALA JOLLA, California (Press Release)–Donations of used books are pouring in for the 11th Annual Used Book Sale of the Samuel & Rebecca Astor Judaica Library, which will take place June 15-17 and 19, 2011 at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus, 1426 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Early Bird Special buying hours
Books being donated for Astor Library’s Jewish book sale Read More »
San Diego Calendar
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO– This year the North Coast Repertory Theatre is mounting Aaron Posner’s adaptation of Chaim Potok’s My Name is Asher Lev on Sunday, June 26 as part of the Jewish Art Festival’s program. The show will officially open on June 4 and the final performance is June 26 at the North Coast
Challenging ‘Asher Lev’ a feature in growing Jewish Festival Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast