Waiting and Wondering in Israel

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended new  judicial reform legislation until after the holidays. That means until close to the end of this month. Meanwhile, demonstrations continue around the country, with tens, if not hundreds of thousands gathering to protest what may happen when the suspension ends. Criticism continues, focused

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Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Passover Price Gouging

By Mark D. Zimmerman Jews worldwide are preparing for Passover, with the first seder taking place this coming Wednesday. Traditionally, Jews do a thorough cleaning of their houses, removing all chametz, or forbidden foods, particularly leavened bread. Dishes are changed, shelves are lined, and kosher-for-Passover products replace the year-round foods in the kitchen. Sadly, however,

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Why is Passover Different From All Other Nights? 3 Essential Reads

Published by The Moderate Voice Amitai Gross reads from the Haggadah while preparing to dip parsley into salt water as part of the Passover meal, called the Seder.Marty Caivano/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images Molly Jackson, The Conversation Boxes of matzah stacked high in grocery stores? It’s almost Passover. Wednesday, April 5, marks

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Jewish Religion

‘The First Step’ Tells How Prison and Sentencing Reform Were Won

I’ve watched CNN commentator Van Jones many times on television. Now I’ve learned more about him from watching The First Step, a 90-minute documentary about the role he played in lobbying for prison reform. He suffered severe criticism from the right and from the left, but he stuck to it, engaged his critics in dialogue, and in 2018 helped to cobble together a coalition that passed HR 5682 by a vote of 355-58 in the U.S. House of Representatives and 87-12 in the U.S. Senate.  [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Jewish Congressman Benjamin Gilman Fostered Study Abroad Programs

Chances are the students who receive the scholarships know only a little about their benefactor, the late Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman, a Republican from New York and a member of the Jewish community.  Towards the end of his congressional career, he urged his colleagues “to defray eligible study- or intern-abroad costs,” according to the website of the Gilman International Scholarship Program. “These costs include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance, international airfare, passport and visa fees.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Strength in Adversity

By Doron Krakow Over the past few days, a series of remarkable gatherings took place across the continent—gatherings of hundreds of Jewish Community Center professionals from dozens of JCCs, centers, and camps representing different regions of our movement. Programs and settings varied, but each one focused on skill-building while addressing emerging challenges around programs, operations,

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Doron Krakow, Lifestyles, Opinion, USA

Satire: Authoritarians of the World Unite, You Have Nothing to Lose But Your Reigns

By Laurie Baron Dear Donald, I heard you were indicted by a Soros puppet. If it’s any consolation, I hate Soros too. We need more Jewish billionaires like Sheldon Adelson. Don’t worry about it. Even though my trial for corruption has been going on since 2020, it hasn’t hurt me politically. After all, I’m Prime

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Thousands of Judicial Reform Supporters Demonstrate in Israel

Published by DPA Thousands of supporters of the government’s controversial judicial reform took to the streets in Israel following calls to attack journalists and activists of the opposing side, Israeli media reported on Thursday. Some 30,000 demonstrators marched through downtown Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, blocking a highway in both directions, Channel 12 reported. Some

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Israel

B’Shalom: George Soros, Trump Indictment, Jewish Political Scene, Business, and Celebrities

When former U.S. President Donald Trump denounced Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who has been conducting a grand jury inquiry into a “hush money” payment from Trump to porn star Stormy Daniels, he called Bragg a “Soros backed animal who doesn’t care about right or wrong no matter how many people are hurt.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Celebrities, USA

Israeli Democracy is Still Under Threat, Even if Netanyahu Has Hit the ‘Pause’ Button

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer The urgent threat to Israeli democracy that brought that entire country to a halt on Sunday is far from over. True, there is a lull. Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu was compelled to delay passage of legislation that would have dramatically weakened Israel’s Supreme Court because of opposition by hundreds

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Opinion