J Street condemns Palestinian efforts to deny Jewish connection to the Kotel

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement in response to an online paper by a Palestinian Authority official that denies any Jewish connection to the Western Wall: J Street condemns this week’s denial by an official of the Palestinian Authority of any Jewish connection to the Western Wall. This […]

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Middle East

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, May 27-June 9, 1955, Part 2

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff Double Talk Southwestern Jewish Press, May 27-June 9, 1955, Page 3 By Janet & Susan Solof Hi, gang! Steven Gordon was mighty surprised when he entered Mission Valley Country Club and found Jan Klaskin ‘n Sandy Ratner, Judy Friedman ‘n Harry Ratner, Diane Caselton ‘n Richard Jacobs, Adrian

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Adventures in SD History, San Diego County

A ‘religious test’ in Texas?

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA— Texas can boast the heroes of the Alamo, Sam Houston’s victory at San Jacinto that gave Texas its independence, World War II hero Audie Murphy and three U.S.  presidents–both George Bushes and Lyndon B. Johnson Hopefully, Peter Morrison and Ray Myers do not reflect today’s average Texan. Morrison and Myers exposed themselves

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Travel and Food

Korean crisis illustrates why bullying works in international politics

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — What is the United States and the world going to do about an act of aggression by North Korea on South Korea, the deliberate unprovoked firing of mortars at civilians? And what are the lessons of this situation for other world problems? First, nobody is going to do anything

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International, Middle East, USA

Of Sponges and Chimps

By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California–Do you sometimes wonder why we have so much violence, so many wars, gang fighting, genocide? Well, I know: I saw it on TV on National Geographic. This is what I saw: Using underwater photography, cameras focused on a rock with a large sponge attached to the top of

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Natasha Josefowitz

West should—but doesn’t—react to Erdogan’s provocations

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –It should be getting pretty hard even for Western leaders to ignore the Turkish regime’s growing alliance with their enemies. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Lebanon included a very dangerous statement that must not go unnoticed. Lebanon, of course, is now a virtual satellite of Iran, another strategic factor

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International, Middle East, USA

Turkey says it would oppose Israeli military action in Lebanon or Gaza

BEIRUT (WJC)–Turkey would not remain silent if Israel attacks Lebanon or Gaza, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said during a visit to the Lebanon. “Does it [Israel] think it can enter Lebanon with the most modern aircraft and tanks to kill women and children, and destroy schools and hospitals, and then expect us

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Travel and Food

New Zealand Jews retain right to kosher slaughter of poultry

AUCKLAND (WJC)–In its efforts to overturn a complete ban on shechita (kosher slaughtering practices), New Zealand’s Jewish community has won a victory after the NZ government said it would allow the kosher slaughter of poultry. Lawyers acting for the community were due to begin a legal battle next week against the government’s controversial ban on

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Travel and Food

Canada declares it will not participate in Durban commemoration

OTTAWA (WJC)–The government of Canada will not participate in events next year at the United Nations commemorating the controversial 2001 Durban declaration on racism. Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the “government has lost faith in the Durban process. We will not be part of this event, which commemorates an agenda that promotes racism rather

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Travel and Food

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, May 27-June 9, 1955, Part 1

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World Staff JCRC Offers Explanation of Bible Controversy Southwestern Jewish Press, May 27-June 9, 1955, Page 1 Harry Wax, Chairman of the Jewish Community Relations Council, yesterday explained the position of the Council with reference to the distribution of the Bible in the public schools by the Gideon Society, which

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San Diego Calendar, San Diego County

Outsiders who don’t understand Korea should be similarly modest about Israel

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There is a lesson for the Middle East in the latest incident on the Korean peninsula. The lesson is indirect, and deals more with general principles than the details of what seems to have happened. I begin with the admission that I am a confused outsider on Korean issues. So–with respect to

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East