Olympic Gold Medal Rekindles Debate on Israeli Civil Marriages

Artem Dolgopyat won a gold medal for Gymnastics, and became a national hero. Both the President and the Prime Minister telephoned their congratulations. Bibi also weighed in with a good word, but made an error of doing it on Shabbat. That got a bad reception from ultra-Orthodox Knesset Members. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

Olympic Gold Medal Rekindles Debate on Israeli Civil Marriages Read More »

Jewish History, Middle East, Sports & Competitions

Michael Herzog Nominated as Next Israeli Ambassador to U.S.

After a brief period of speculation this week, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Friday officially announced the nomination of experienced former peace-process negotiator Michael Herzog to serve as the next Israeli ambassador to the United States. Herzog, 69, is the older brother of new Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the son of former Israeli President Chaim Herzog. [JNS.org]

Michael Herzog Nominated as Next Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Read More »

Middle East, USA

Book Review: FIRST FRIENDS – ‘The Powerful, Unsung (and Unelected) People Who Shaped Our Presidents’

Published by The Moderate Voice The literature is rich with quotations about friends and friendship. One of my surprises when reading Gary Ginsberg’s best-selling First Friends, a fascinating book about “the powerful, unsung (and unelected) people who shaped our presidents,” was the dearth of quotations about friends or friendship.* But, on second thought and paraphrasing

Book Review: FIRST FRIENDS – ‘The Powerful, Unsung (and Unelected) People Who Shaped Our Presidents’ Read More »

USA

Good News from Israel (August 8, 2021)

In the August 8, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Israeli researchers discover early warning markers for secondary cancer.
–Israeli doctors save the sight of a toddler from Gaza.
–An Israeli startup is 3D-mapping 18 million Australian buildings.
–Israel’s economic rating is still A+ despite the pandemic.
–Two Israeli gymnasts have won Olympic gold medals.
–Israeli archeologists found evidence of an earthquake that was recorded in the Bible. [Michael Ordman]

Good News from Israel (August 8, 2021) Read More »

International, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, USA

Mac Engel: Former Rangers All-Star Ian Kinsler re-writes walk off with Israel in Olympics

Published by Fort Worth Star-Telegram FORT WORTH, Texas — Ian Kinsler figured his playing career was pretty much over. And while he was not happy that an injury forced him out of the game, he was at peace with the decision when he retired. The former second baseman for the Texas Rangers aimed to retire

Mac Engel: Former Rangers All-Star Ian Kinsler re-writes walk off with Israel in Olympics Read More »

International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USA

Allen Glick Dies; Trapped by Mobsters Till He Testified Against Them

Allen Glick lived a “full and wonderful life enjoying many global adventures,” said a death notice Thursday in The San Diego Union-Tribune, noting the longtime La Jollan’s Bronze Star from Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and role in special operations. Not mentioned in the 670-word paid obituary: Glick being a formative figure in the Mafia takeover of Las Vegas. [Ken Stone, Times of San Diego]

Allen Glick Dies; Trapped by Mobsters Till He Testified Against Them Read More »

San Diego County, USA

Hezbollah Fires 19 Rockets from Lebanon at Israel

Hezbollah’s decision to fire 19 rockets at northern Israel on Friday came after the Lebanese terror organization took 24 hours to deliberate over a major dilemma: How should it respond to Israeli airstrikes in Southern Lebanon, launched early on Thursday morning? The Israeli strikes targeted a Lebanese area that was used on Wednesday by a Palestinian terror faction to fire three Grad rockets at the Israeli northern town of Kiryat Shmona. The Israel Air Force also hit what it described as “infrastructure used for terror in Lebanon” and areas used by Palestinian factions to fire on Israel in the past as well. [JNS.org]

Hezbollah Fires 19 Rockets from Lebanon at Israel Read More »

Middle East

Daniel Radcliffe reveals which ‘Harry Potter’ characters he would play in possible reboot

Published by New York Daily News The British actor who brought to life the iconic boy wizard in the blockbuster movie franchise said if he were to do it all again in the form of a reboot, he’d take on a totally different role. “I would probably want to go with like, Sirius [Black] or

Daniel Radcliffe reveals which ‘Harry Potter’ characters he would play in possible reboot Read More »

Theatre, Film & Broadcast

U.S., Israel Confer on ‘Next Steps’ Following Iran’s Attack on MT Mercer Street

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby provided the following readout on Friday:  “Today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Benjamin “Benny” Gantz about Iran’s July 29 attack on the M/T Mercer Street, which killed two innocent civilians.  [U.S. Defense Department]

U.S., Israel Confer on ‘Next Steps’ Following Iran’s Attack on MT Mercer Street Read More »

Middle East, USA

ADL Slams Facebook for Censoring Researchers Studying FB’s Impact on Hate

ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) on Friday condemned Facebook for shutting down the work of two researchers who were studying how misinformation spreads through political ads on Facebook, and demands that the company immediately restore these researchers’ accounts and access to the data they require. Earlier this week, Facebook shut down the work of Laura Edelson and Damon McCoy, two researchers at New York University, who were studying the flow of political misinformation on the platform. The NYU researchers’ initial findings were alarming, showing how ads can use Facebook to manipulate voters and how the company’s algorithms spread partisan misinformation. [ADL News Release]

ADL Slams Facebook for Censoring Researchers Studying FB’s Impact on Hate Read More »

Business & Finance, USA

Hadassah Reports Physicians Widely Diverge on End-of-Life Decisions

A study led by physicians from Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Organization and published  Thursday in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine reveals considerable disparities in the way physicians approach end-of-life decisions in conservative and liberal regions of the world. The study, the largest ever done on end-of-life practices in intensive care units worldwide, has critical implications for doctors who treat patients coming from different regions of the world and doctors who travel to other parts of the world for advanced training. [Hadassah News Release]

Hadassah Reports Physicians Widely Diverge on End-of-Life Decisions Read More »

Travel and Food