U.S. unable to protect Ain al-Asad airbase from rockets

At least 10 Katyusha-type rockets slammed into the Ain al-Asad airbase located in Anbar province in Western Iraq on the morning of March 3. Since the earlier attack in January 2020 by heavier Qiam-2 advanced tactical ballistic missiles launched from Iran, the airbase has been reinforced with air defenses that proved unable to stop the rocket attack. Can the US protect its personnel in Iraq or elsewhere from rocket attacks? [Stephen D. Bryen]

U.S. unable to protect Ain al-Asad airbase from rockets Read More »

Middle East, Stephen D. Bryen, USA

J-Street and Palestinian Antisemitism

Dylan Williams of J Street, in a recent op-ed, called on the Biden administration to “rebuild the U.S. relationship with moderate Palestinian leaders.” Since presumably J Street would not claim that the leaders of the genocidal Hamas gang are “moderate,” then the “moderate Palestinian leaders” Williams and J Street have in mind must be Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas and those around him. [Moshe Phillips]

J-Street and Palestinian Antisemitism Read More »

Middle East, USA

Jerusalem 1000 Years Ago a Treasure Trove of Artifacts

Jerusalem 1000 – 1400; Every People Under Heaven is a beautifully-produced combination of a coffee-table book and exhibition catalogue produced in conjunction with the exhibition of that title held in New York in 2016. For the exhibition hundreds of precious, beautiful and fascinating artifacts produced in and concerning Jerusalem in the Middle Ages were amassed from a wide range of sources all over the world. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

Jerusalem 1000 Years Ago a Treasure Trove of Artifacts Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew Cuomo was seen as a voice of reason and calm during the early days of the pandemic, especially at a time when President Trump was offering practically no leadership at all regarding this crisis. Lately, however, Governor Cuomo is being seen in a different light as two former aides have accused him of sexual harrassment. Cuomo has denied the claims, and an independent investigation will likely take place under the auspices of the New York attorney general and the chief judge of the state court of appeals. Governor Cuomo once said “It was ugly. It was ugly. I’ll tell you the truth.” What was he referring to? [Mark d. Zimmerman]

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Andrew Cuomo Read More »

Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Hits and Misses on the Book Store Circuit

One of the venues publishers like to send their authors to are book stores where the author gives a talk and sells books. Our local bookstore, Warwick’s, regularly sends out a newsletter advertising an author and his/her book, such as Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, and Julie Andrews. I lectured there about half a dozen times on my various books. Warwick’s does a great job organizing space to hold 140 chairs. What I like about the Warwick’s talks is that there a lot of familiar faces in the audience. [Natasha Josefowirtz, Ph.D., ACSW]

Hits and Misses on the Book Store Circuit Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County

Jonas tells of bouncing back from hardship

I’m Not the Boss, I Just Work Here,”  was written by the founder and chairman of the multibillion dollar publicly traded telecommunications corporation IDT, and Genie Energy Ltd, Howard Jonas.  Reading his personal short and succinctly portrayed story will leave you feeling that you too can overcome barriers of clinical depression and emerge with faith and profound success. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

Jonas tells of bouncing back from hardship Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

The Street of the Prophets

To celebrate coming out of our third lockdown we recently went to Jerusalem for an urban exploration. We drove to our friends’ apartment, only the third time in a year we’ve been to Israel’s capital. Before our tour, we had lunch with Sarah Lynn (formerly of Ventnor, NJ) and her husband Ami, a Persian-born Israeli who once taught at Margate’s Hebrew Academy and later was the rabbi of Binghamton NY’s Orthodox synagogue. Among other things, Ami is a registered guide. He wanted to take us to Hanevi’im Street. We were his “guinea pigs” for leading a tour there. (Steve Kramer)

The Street of the Prophets Read More »

Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food

Election math doesn’t favor Bibi, or anyone else

Israeli politics has too many parties. A coalition government is always necessary. Now, however, the polls are indicating a tie, more or less. Bibi doesn’t have it. He may not get to 61 Seats in the Knesset, even if Bennett joins with him.On the other side, there is a problem of plurality, egos, and a false spectrum of right and left wing parties.[Ira Sharkansky, PhD]

Election math doesn’t favor Bibi, or anyone else Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

How can we discern God?

Let’s begin with a question. How could Moshe, who experienced the closest relationship with Hashem, facing the Burning Bush, the ten plagues, receiving the ten commandments and more, still ask, “And now, if I have indeed found favor in Your eyes, pray let me know Your ways, so that I may know You…” Moshe didn’t feel he knew the ways of Hashem? And WE feel troubled by our own questions about Hashem? [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

How can we discern God? Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

The Progressives’ Toolbox for Demonizing Israel

By Richard L. Cravatts BOCA RATON, Florida — In August, Florida State University was one of several universities to have adopted the now widely accepted IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, signaling that university leaders and others outside of academia have begun to see the wisdom of having guidelines by which to identify and, hopefully, eliminate hate

The Progressives’ Toolbox for Demonizing Israel Read More »

Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Pompeo Lauded by Combat Anti-Semitism Movement

NEW YORK (Press Release0 –Former US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo on Monday  was granted the inaugural Global Leadership Award by the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) at its first-ever Annual Summit. The virtual event, which was attended by thousands of people from tens of countries, marked two years since the establishment of CAM. Grassroots

Pompeo Lauded by Combat Anti-Semitism Movement Read More »

International, Middle East, USA