By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–Shimi Gerber (name changed) was a boy with lots of unfulfilled potential – which is putting it mildly. His parents sent him to an excellent yeshiva in New York, but he was more interested in anything but learning. During parent-teacher conferences they always heard the same thing; “Shimi is a very […]
How dreidel and other games led to a boy's piety Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — In Parashat Miketz we learn that when Joseph’s brothers first appeared before him in Egypt: “Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize Joseph.” {Gen. 42: 8} How was this possible? The Talmud explains that Joseph was sold into slavery he was young and did not have
Judaism’s balance between tradition and modernity Read More »
International, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) – dedicated to the defense of constitutional liberties secured by law – on Thursday filed its brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on behalf of Ohio Common Pleas Court Judge James DeWeese urging the court to clear the way for the
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – In a new report measuring infringements on religious beliefs and practices around the world, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that two-in-three people in the world today live in countries with high levels of restrictions on religion. The report gauges the level of restrictions due both to government actions
Middle Eastern countries most restrictive on religion, American countries the least Read More »
USAGREENBELT, Maryland (Press Release)–A former FBI contract linguist pleaded guilty today to unlawfully providing classified documents to the host of an Internet blog who then published information derived from those documents on the blog. Shamai Kedem Leibowitz, aka Samuel Shamai Leibowitz, 39, of Silver Spring, Md., pleaded guilty in federal court in Greenbelt, Md., to
Shonda file: FBI linguist pleads guilty to leaking secrets Read More »
Travel and FoodTEHRAN (WJC) — Iran is producing new generations of uranium enrichment centrifuges and plans to use them by March 2011, the head of the country’s Atomic Energy Organization told the ‘Fars’ news agency on Friday. “We are producing a new generation of centrifuges named IR3 and IR4 … We plan to use them by 2011
Iran producing new generations of centrifuges Read More »
Travel and FoodSTRASBOURG, France (WJC)–Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s new foreign policy chief, has lashed out against Israel. In her first major speech since taking office on 01 December, Ashton – a former deputy minister in the British government and until recently EU trade commissioner – condemned Israel’s “occupation,” demanded that Israel lift its “blockade” of the
New EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton denounces Israel Read More »
Middle East, USAAUSCHWITZ, Poland (WJC)–The iron sign bearing the infamous Nazi slogan “Arbeit macht frei” (“Work sets you free”) that spanned the main entrance to the former Auschwitz death camp was stolen in the early hours of Friday, Polish police said. The sign was removed by being unscrewed on one side and pulled off on the other,
'Arbeit macht frei' sign stolen from Auschwitz Read More »
Travel and FoodNEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is supporting a petition signed by 39 Members of the Knesset calling upon the Israeli public to reconsider availing themselves of British goods and services in response to a recent British government initiative to recommend to all U.K. retail chains the placing of prominent labels indicating
ZOA endorses Israel counter-boycott campaign against British goods Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.–While the Europeans were busy recasting Jerusalem in the image of Cold War Berlin complete with a wall and two governments-one free and one not-the Palestinians were busy revealing what their presumed state would look like. Follow the threads. In June, Fatah reaffirmed “the right of armed resistance” (terrorism) in
Fatah and Hamas may be gearing up for Civil War Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)—Our nation’s first African-American president,the pronounced intensification of global anti-Semitism, continued defiance from Iran, and an unabashedly biased anti-Israel report were among the top issues affecting Jews in 2009, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) annual list. “Much of the good news from the past year is, unfortunately, tempered by the bad,”
ADL lists its top 10 Jewish issues for 2009 Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–When Ehud Barak, the elected leader of Israel’s Labour Party, joined the Netanyahu government early this year as Minister of Defense, it was said in many quarters that he’d destroy the party that had already been greatly diminished in the election. The fact that several members of his Knesset faction rebelled
Barak's decision to join Netanyahu government may have been prescient Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–According to Israelis and others who talk and write about the country, it is the worst or the best place on earth. Hyperbole is the language of those who love and hate it. It is often in the cross hairs of international organizations flying the flags of justice and humane behavior. Or
Israel is a magnet for hyperbole Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release)– Many governments’ policies toward migrants worldwide expose them to human rights abuses including labor exploitation, inadequate access to health care, and prolonged detention in poor, overcrowded conditions, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday in advance of International Migrants Day, on December 18, 2009. A 25-page roundup of Human Rights Watch reporting on violations