JERUSALEM (WJC)—Mayor Nir Barkat of Jerusalem has announced that he would petition the High Court against an election process which is likely to lead to the appointment of two ultra-Orthodox chief rabbis for the city. Barkat said 70 percent of Jerusalem’s population was not haredi. On Sunday, a five-man committee, including three haredi members from the […]
NORWICH, Vermont (WJC)–Freya von Moltke, a prominent member of Germany’s anti-Nazi resistance during World War II, has died at the age of 98 at her home in Vermont. She belonged to a group of aristocrats, clerics and diplomats who backed the failed attempt to kill Nazi dictator Hitler with a bomb in July 1944. The
Leader of anti-Nazi resistance, Freya von Moltke, dead at 98 Read More »
USABy Rabbi Philip Graubart LA JOLLA, California–Who is the most influential writer for American Jews? To my mind, it’s Daniel Gordis, the American-born rabbi, writing from Israel. Gordis grabs his readers with passionate, cogent arguments, but also through his chosen medium: emails, which fly through cyberspace, landing in tens of thousands (or more) inboxes, provoking
Has the influential Rabbi Daniel Gordis lost his way? Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t specific and doesn’t exactly endorse the upbeat news that comes from Cairo, and perhaps also from Washington, that speaks not only of the imminent resumption of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians but also the possibility of a deal within a couple of years. But he doesn’t
Can there be Middle East peace without real leadership? Read More »
Middle East, USAALEXANDRIA, Virginia (Press Release) – A survey of more than 150 travel managers by the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) — the association for business travel professionals — shows that the December 25, 2009 attempted bombing of an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight is likely to have little impact on business travel levels. The number of respondents
Business air travel seen as unaffected by Christmas Day bombing plot Read More »
USAHAIFA, Israel (Press Release)–Music therapy can assist in the speech acquisition process in toddlers who have undergone cochlear implantation, as revealed in a new study by Dr. Dikla Kerem of the University of Haifa. The study was carried out in Israel as a doctoral thesis for Aalborg University in Denmark (supervised by Prof. Tony Wigram)
Music can be bridge from deafness to hearing for children with cochlear implants Read More »
Travel and FoodWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Congressman Connie Mack of Florida, the Ranking Republican of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, today urged the Obama Administration to add Venezuela to the list of countries from which passengers must receive additional security screening prior to coming to the United States. Recently, the Administration announced that citizens
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California–When word got out that Israeli conductor Yoav Talmi and his wife Er’ella would be visiting San Diego for a few days during the second week of January, JCC Program Director Jackie G’mach invited the internationally acclaimed maestro to speak at the Lawrence Family JCC under the auspices of
Talmis' visit to San Diego prompts special JCC programming Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USAALEXANDRIA, Egypt (WJC) — Several hundred Israeli Jews have come to Egypt for an annual pilgrimage to the tomb of a 19th-century rabbi in the Nile Delta. Last year, Egypt had denied the pilgrims entry because the anniversary coincided with Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip. In past years, Cairo limited the number of pilgrims visiting
Israeli pilgrims flock to Rabbi Abuhatzeira's burial site in Egypt Read More »
Middle EastRA’ANANA, Israel (WJC) — Family and friends of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s have marked the fourth anniversary of his massive stroke. Sharon, 81, has never regained consciousness from the stroke he suffered on 4 January 2006 and has since remained in a coma. He lives in a long-term care facility in Ra’anana. Family
Sharon family observes fourth anniversary of his coma Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed cautious optimism that peace talks with the Palestinians could soon resume. “In recent weeks, I have had the impression there is a certain change in atmosphere. I hope that a maturation that would enable the negotiating process to move forward has occurred…We are serious in our intention to
Netanyahu says peace talks with Palestinians may resume soon Read More »
Middle EastLONDON (WJC)–Israeli officers invited to come to London by the British Army were unable to depart last week after UK authorities could not guarantee that they would not be arrested, according to Israeli newspaper ‘Yediot Aharonot’. The paper reports that the Israeli Foreign Ministry approached the British government in order to ensure that the officers
Israeli officers cancel London trip for fear of Palestinian motivated arrest warrants Read More »
Middle EastROME (WJC)–Italian researchers have accused Israel of contaminating land in the Gaza Strip through bombing. The New Weapons Committee, an Italian group of researchers, said it had studied Israel’s use of ammunition and concluded that the population of the Gaza Strip was “in danger.” The group of scientists based the claim on soil analysis of
New blood libel? Italians say Israeli bombs contaminate Gaza Read More »
Middle EastTEHRAN (WJC)–Iranian authorities have arrested several foreign nationals during the anti-government protests last week in which at least eight people were killed, Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi said in Tehran on Monday. “Some of the detainees are foreign nationals pursuing propaganda and psychological warfare,” he claimed on state television, without specifying their nationalities. Iranian police are
Iran reports arrest of foreigners in connection with demonstrations Read More »
Middle East, USA