By Robert S. Reichmann (June 10, 2021 / JNS) The following commentary isn’t about Middle East peace. I really do sympathize with Gazans and all Palestinians who’ve faced such a deprived situation. I’m not suggesting Israel is to blame, but those growing up in the disputed territories can hardly be blamed for their hostile feelings […]
What Does Antisemitism Want From the Jewish People? Read More »
International, USA
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Hummingbird-like, Tovah Feldshuh inhabited Dr. Ruth Westheimer as she flitted around the stage, all the while, espousing optimism, warmth, and humor. The actress incredibly mastered the German-Swiss-French-Hebrew-English accent with nary a dropped rolling R, as she relayed the fascinating life of the petite renowned sex therapist. The audience
‘Becoming Dr. Ruth:’ A Passion for Purpose, Action, and All Things Jewish Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
(June 9, 2021 / JNS) A popular Jewish-owned bookshop, cafe and event space in San Francisco was vandalized on Sunday with antisemitic and pro-Palestinian graffiti. Manny’s in the Mission District was tagged with blue paint and the phrases “Racist pigz,” “Zionist pigz,” and “Free Palestine.” “Targeting Jewish businesses is straight-up anti-Semitic,” California State Sen. Scott
Jewish-owned cafe in San Francisco tagged with antisemitic graffiti Read More »
Middle East, USA
(June 9, 2021 / JNS) The leadership of the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) is scheduled to vote in September on a proposed resolution that urges the U.S. government to end aid to Israel and endorses the BDS movement “against apartheid in Israel,” reported The Los Angeles Times. “As public-school educators in the United States,
Los Angeles teachers union to vote on resolution endorsing BDS movement Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Dmitriy Shapiro (June 9, 2021 / JNS) With the likelihood that new leadership will be sworn in next week in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure from the role he has held for almost two decades has some worried about how an inexperienced leadership spanning the breadth of viewpoints will handle Israel’s important relationship
Can the Biden administration capitalize on an inexperienced Bennett-Lapid government? Read More »
Middle East, USA
Watkins Glen by Eleanor Lerman; Mayapple Press 2021; ISBN 9781952-781018; 213 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is known for Watkins Glen International, a race car venue that permits ordinary citizens to take three laps around the track in their personal cars for a fee.
More Than a Raceway: Novel Presents a Jewish Side of Watkins Glen Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, USA
Published by Reuters By Dan Williams INS LEVIATHAN, Mediterranean Sea (Reuters) – When fighting erupted in Gaza last month and rockets rained on Israel, the men operating its navy submarine Leviathan knew next to nothing. Deep beneath the Mediterranean sea, they were relayed only brief bulletins so as not to be distracted from their mission.
Exclusive – In the belly of the whale: Israeli sub simulates strike Read More »
Middle East
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — About three years ago my husband and I rescheduled our flight back to Israel from London, at considerable financial and personal cost, because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called a snap general election. We were determined to cast our votes in order to get rid of the party
Cautious Optimism After Israel’s Political Deadlock Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — When one needs a specialized test in Israel, which can at times take months for an appointment, there is a quicker option: considering cities farther from home. Searching for less of a wait, we scheduled such a test in Ashdod and saved four weeks. Ashdod is just
Quickie Vacation in Israel: Ashdod and the Weizmann House Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
An unusual, although not unprecedented, rollout for the documentary Of Animals and Men will occur on Tuesday, June 22, in theaters around the nation when the film telling “the true story behind The Zookeeper’s Wife” will be given a one-day only showing. [Donald H. Harrison]
One-Day U.S. Screening of Documentary on the Warsaw Zookeepers Who Hid Jews Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
This simple short prose extract from I Samuel comes from the group of books artificially designated as the ‘Former Prophets.’ These are: Joshua; Judges; I & II Samuel; and I and II Kings. All of these arguably contain little of recognizable prophecy. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah Reading for June 12, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Following the news that the American Jewish Committee will open an office in Abu Dhabi, the organization hosted United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday at its 2021 AJC Virtual Global Forum. [JNS.org]
UAE Leader: Abraham Accords Will Show Other Arab Countries Benefits of Peace with Israel Read More »
Middle East, USA
Published by Reuters By Nelson Renteria, Tom Wilson and Karin Strohecker SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) -El Salvador has become the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender after Congress approved President Nayib Bukele’s proposal to embrace the cryptocurrency. With 62 out of 84 possible votes, lawmakers voted in favor of the move
In a world first, El Salvador makes bitcoin legal tender Read More »
Business & Finance
Published by Al-Araby Dozens of Iraqis gave blood samples in Baghdad Wednesday as the country carries out a campaign to identify hundreds of victims of the Islamic State group found in a mass grave. The Badush prison massacre was one of the worst crimes IS carried out after it seized control of a third of
Iraqis give blood in hope of identifying mass grave victims Read More »
Middle East