By Our Actions We Choose Blessings or Curses

As this third book of the Torah, the middle book, comes to an end, we are given nechemta, with a hopeful view of future generations. The parasha tells us, “If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them, I will give you rains in their time, the Land will yield its produce, and the tree of the field will give forth its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage…and I will grant peace in the Land…You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you…” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

By Our Actions We Choose Blessings or Curses Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

B’Tselem’s Anti-Israel Report Gets the Facts Wrong

South Africa’s apartheid laws mandated Black South Africans to use separate, often inferior facilities like public restrooms, public transport, beaches, schools, et cetera.  B’Tselem claims that a comparable system of inequality exists between Arabs and Jews, both within Israel proper and the disputed territories of the West Bank and Gaza. This is simply false. [Benjamin Zaghi]

B’Tselem’s Anti-Israel Report Gets the Facts Wrong Read More »

Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Austria’s newest citizens reclaim birthright stolen by the Nazis

Published by AFP Vienna (AFP) – Even if they rarely speak German and some have never set foot on Austrian soil, nearly 76 years after the Holocaust, descendants of those forced out of Austria by the Nazis are reclaiming the nationality stolen from their ancestors.  “It was very important for me,” says 17-year-old American high

Austria’s newest citizens reclaim birthright stolen by the Nazis Read More »

International

Asian-American leaders launch foundation to counter hate

Published by AFP New York (AFP) – Responding to a wave of recent hate crimes, Asian American leaders unveiled a new philanthropic group Monday funded so far at some $250 million to counter discrimination. Calling itself the Asian American Foundation, the group said it was undertaking “largest philanthropic commitment in history by Asian Americans fully

Asian-American leaders launch foundation to counter hate Read More »

USA

Israeli Officers Are Wrong to Ask for U.S. Intervention

Military officers in democratic countries have a difficult mission: to protect the people and to wage war at the command of their governments. It isn’t easy, and the IDF – like the United States military – has an admirable record. Occasionally however, military officers glide off into politics. A group of retired Israel officers, Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), appears to be doing that – which normally would be an issue only for Israelis and their government. But this group is asking the United States to create circumstances they believe serve their country but are not being pursued to their satisfaction by their own government. [Shoshana Bryen]

Israeli Officers Are Wrong to Ask for U.S. Intervention Read More »

Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

SDJA Senior Class Program Resumes in Israel

HOD HASHARON, Israel  (Press Release)– San Diego Jewish Academy high school seniors were among the first students traveling to Israel again to continue learning and touring the country through the Jewish National Fund-USA Alexander Muss High School in Israel program (AMHSI). The spring semester abroad in Israel is a regular part of the SDJA experience,

SDJA Senior Class Program Resumes in Israel Read More »

Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: James Carville

James Carville offered advice and criticism to the Democratic Party for their overall poor results (other than winning the presidency) in the last election (“We won the White House against a world-historical buffoon. And we came within 42,000 votes of losing.”). What “Jewish-referenced” comment did Carville offer? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

Jewish Trivia Quiz: James Carville Read More »

Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA