By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — I find myself once again confused and conflicted, this time about Syria. On the one hand, as a liberal I’d like to see the end of yet another dictator in the region. One the other, as a Zionist I’m worried that what will come after Assad may be much
Could a new ruler in Syria be worse for Israel? Read More »
Middle East
By Carol Davis VISTA, California.– It isn’t often my memory takes me back to 1959 when my late husband, Gerry, and I motored across the country from Massachusetts to California in our then Valiant. We had our TripTik from the Automobile Club routed so we could see some of the southern most country on the
‘Foxfire’ pits memories against necessity Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — At the moment in history when people are not just rebelling in the Middle East but when the opposition movements in Iran and Syria are at a high point, the fact that the U.S. government is standing by and not only doing nothing but virtually saying nothing. No, it
U.S. should denounce Syria’s Asad Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — What is the American national interest in military intervention in Libya? What is our military objective and how do we plan to achieve it? If it wasn’t clear before yesterday, it was no clearer after the President spoke. After denouncing the Iraq war “bluntly,” as he said, President Obama
Obama’s reasons for Libyan action sound like Bush’s for Iraq Read More »
USA
Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO—Facebook, a highly powerful and electrifying force, the new cyber world-house, was ostensibly meant to bring people together. I write today to share the remorse of many millions who so regret—and condemn—its recent exploitation by radical Muslim elements to simply spread hatred and potential violence against innocent citizens of Israel.
Facebook, a powerful tool, can be used for good — or bad Read More »
Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California – Grossmont College has been revisiting the Civil Rights Movement, bringing to campus former Freedom Riders like Robert and Helen Singleton and Congressman Bob Filner. The Singletons appeared at a March 17 event introducing Breach of Peace, a photo and follow-up book by Eric Etheridge on what happened
Filner recalls Freedom Riding days to Grossmont College students Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego CalendarBy Carol Davis SAN DIEGO–If the snuggly laced corsets, tightly wound up sexual repressions, and freely bouncing bustles tied on to the rear ends of our nineteenth century Victorian sisters conjure up a contradiction in your mind’s eye, so then the apparatus in the good doctor’s home will do the same. It looks like a
Good Vibrations ‘In The Next Room’ at San Diego Rep Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Cynthia Citron SANTA MONICA – There is something decidedly peculiar about the old couple who live deep in the forest in a cottage that they built themselves. They have no electricity, no telephone, and no water. “Who needs water when we have a beautiful river so close by?” she says. But that’s not
Lots of lust, little reality, in ‘Come Sundown’ Read More »
Cynthia CitronBy Dov Hartuv KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ, Israel — Places and people have their names changed from time to time. Kibbutz Nahal Oz was originally established as an army outpost in 1951. At that time the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel was just a ploughed furrow to demark where Egypt ended and Israel began.
Hebrew place names and people’s names often come with stories Read More »
Middle East
Beginnings: The First Love, the First Hate, the First Dream… Reflections on the Bible’s Intriguing Firsts by Meir Shalev, Translated from the Hebrew by Stuart Schoffman, Harmony Books, New York; ISBN 978-0-037-71718-4 ©2011, $25.00, 295 pages By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California– Americans relish someone accomplishing something first! Do you remember who flew the first airplane? How
Witty book examines ‘firsts’ in the Bible Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — When the pioneers of modern Zionism wanted a homeland that became the State of Israel to be a country like all other countries so that Jews could again be a “normal” people, they didn’t dream that they’d also be as racist as elsewhere in the world. Though it’s by
Racism has become a lamentable fact of Israeli life Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — For several years I’ve been telling you that under its current Islamist regime, Turkey has become less and less of a democratic state. Hundreds of peaceful dissidents have been arrested, thrown in prison, and accused of seeking to overthrow the government violently when there is no real evidence. The
Turkey moving, moving toward Islamism Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—It was no accident that Louis Rose Point was dedicated at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 24, rather than at some other time on some other date. Nor was it happenstance that hamantaschen, rather than some other sweet, was served at a reception immediately following the event. In fact, little
Louis Rose Point ceremony laden with symbolism Read More »
Jewish HistoryBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Judging a prominent politician who is also a skilled showperson is like putting on a blindfold and attempting to judge a beauty contest. One can ask for advice, listen to the contestants, maybe even touch their faces. Yet a lot will be missing. Any decision to be made will be risky in
Bibi’s politics: feint, bluster and maneuver Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East