YEMIN ORDE, Israel (Press Release) — As part of a recent visit to Israel to address the Israeli Presidential Conference hosted by President Shimon Peres, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice spent an enlightening afternoon at Yemin Orde Youth Village near Haifa, home to at-risk and disadvantaged youth from around the world. Ambassador […]
U.S. Ambassador Rice extolls international school in Israel Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Cynthia Weisfield PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — I’m going to share some memories with you. One took place in1968, one in 1974; both were in different cities, but both involved a request by a black Jew to take part in synagogue-sponsored activities: services and a social event. In both cases, there was much discussion before he
Black Jews seek unity, acceptance in France Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–Avraham & Sarah, Yitzchok & Rivkah all lived their lives with faith and dedication to Hashem. They understood the power of mitzvos and prayer, and they realized the Hashem runs the world. This is an inheritance to their descendents as the following true story illustrates: There was a
Rescue saved not only the drowning girl Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–The great opera diva Maria Callas once famously said: “Love is so much better when you’re not married.” Our patriarch, Isaac, would not have agreed! The Torah tells us that Isaac was taking a walk in a field when Eliezer returned from Aram-naharaim with Rebecca: “…looking up he saw the
Biblical Isaac understood love and marriage Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Washington Post has published two views, claiming to be contrasting expressions of Israeli and Palestinian despair for peace. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/11/israeli_despair_for_peace.html http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/11/palestinian_despair_for_peace.html Neither is what the headlines claim. They are not expressions by Israelis or Palestinians, but by Americans or individuals affiliated with American institutions (Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the American Task
Washington Post chooses wrong commentators on Middle East Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky Consider the United States, with President Barack Obama trying mightily to break the bonds of lethargy identified with his predecessor. An article in the New York Times describes his handicaps in Afghanistan. President Karzai is not cooperating with American goals of development and reform. Evidence is that Karzai stole the most
Obama's policies seen as 'childish' by some Israelis Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Bruce F. Lowitt OLDSMAR, Florida–Freddie Roman hasn’t been around as long as the Catskills, although it might seem that way. He is a living history of a region that gave birth to countless great Jewish comedians and a reminder of an era of American Jewish life long past. There are the Catskill Mountains, ranging
Freddie Roman recalls ‘goldeneh’ era of the Catskills Read More »
Bruce F. Lowitt, USABy Gerry Greber LA JOLLA, California– Holocaust histories frequently omit the stories of what happened to survivors from their time of their liberation to their final destination – Israel. This period is mostly recorded in a simple statement that “They went to Israel.” Anita Diamant fills in some of those blanks in her latest novel
Diamant receives enthusiastic welcome at SD Jewish Book Fair Read More »
San Diego Calendar
By Donald H. Harrison LA JOLLA, California – One day, there will be a Palestinian Embassy in Israel and an Israeli Embassy in Palestine and Jerusalem residents will be able to walk from one to the other, novelist Amos Oz predicted Thursday evening, Nov. 12, at the San Diego Jewish Book Fair. Oz, author of
Amos Oz tells reasons for two-state solution Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Quite a bit of it is still hush-hush, but a proposed joint Palestinian-Israeli demonstration peace project to co-market a blended olive oil is evolving into a tri-national effort that also will involve mixing in some olive oil from neighboring Jordan. Oren Blonder, director of the Peres Peace Center’s agriculture, water
Blended olive oil may promote Mideast peace Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, Science, Medicine, & Education, USACANBERRA, Australia—Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor has approved the extradition of the Hungarian-born Perth resident Charles Zentai, 88, to Hungary but emphasized the decision was no indication of guilt. Zentai has now two months to appeal the decision. Hungarian prosecutors accuse Australian citizen Charles Zentai, 88, of being one of three men who tortured
Australia's Home Affairs Minister okays Zentai extradition to Hungary Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Carol Davis LA JOLLA, California–Sibling rivalry is as old and as common as was in biblical days: Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers. Throughout history, in literature and in theatre (Eugene O’Neill’s A Moon For the Misbegotten and Tennessee Williams’ Streetcar Named Desire,Tracy Letts’ August: Osage Count, Arthur Miller’s Death
Topdog/Underdog features a Lincoln versus a Booth Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & BroadcastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)—U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Thursday released the following statement regarding the decision by the Army’s III Corps Commander to charge Major Nidal Hasan with 13 initial specifications of premeditated murder following last week’s shooting rampage at Fort Hood: “The senseless shooting
McKeon calls for Hasan probe by House Armed Services Committee Read More »
USAREGENSBURG, Germany (WJC)–The bishop of the ultra-conservative Catholic Society of St Pius X (SSPX), Richard Williamson, is facing trial in Germany for denying the Holocaust. Williamson has lodged an appeal against a fine of US$ 19,000 imposed on him by a German court two weeks ago. As Holocaust denial is a crime in Germany, and
Bishop refuses to pay fine for Holocaust denial Read More »
Travel and Food