Now that Israel finally has a government, a centrist unity government at that, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu will finally face trial in Jerusalem District Court, where he is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The trial, which was delayed by repeated elections and the coronavirus, will begin on Sunday, May 24. The investigation of Netanyahu began in 2016. [Steve Kramer]
Netanyahu in the dock Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
With the approach of Memorial Day, I’d like to salute the memory of Private Herman Addleson, whose story I first wrote in Waxie: An American Family Business Success Story, a book that was published in 2016. [Donald H. Harrison]
Remembering Pvt. Herman Addleson, WWII paratrooper Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Editor’s Note: Maile Faust, a junior at Francis Parker School, wrote this poem inspired by Elie Wiesel’s “Night,’ during her freshman year. Her family is of mixed Jewish-Christian ancestry. Maile has seven years of ballet and 8 years of Free Style Martial Arts, in which she has earned a black belt. An honors and advanced placement student at Francis Parker, she intends to pursue a college degree in mechanical engineering.
Poetry: Endless Night Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
“Iftar” is the break-the-fast meal at sunset each night during the Muslim month of Ramadan. Ordinarily, participants–often including welcomed non-Muslims–will eat a prodigious meal together and share family stories and high points. On Thursday, two organizations teamed up to host a different kind of Iftar that brought together celebrants from around the world and from several different religions. [Donald H. Harrison]
30 leaders gather for an interfaith Iftar Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, The World We Share, USA
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spent the hours leading to the Sabbath last Friday by having Israel’s back while getting his inspector general off his back. Israel’s reputation has long been impaired in part by the concept of intersectionality, and what happened Friday exemplifies how resentment of President Trump can undermine support for Israel. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Republicans’ domestic record hurts Israel’s cause Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
The administrations [of Hebrew day schools] wanted the students to understand what it was to be an American, what the sacrifice of our Soldiers was all about and how Jewish Soldiers honorably served their Nation. They took great pride in knowing that we as Jewish-Americans served and continuing to serve, bleed, and die for our Nation. To this day, an Orthodox Hebrew day school in Rockland County displays at their entrance a six feet by five feet Iraq battle flag from the 101st Airborne Division that I sent them in 2003. They display it so that all their students, staff and faculty will not forget the sacrifice of our Jewish Soldiers to their Nation. {Rabbi Carlos Huerta]
If you cut me, I bleed American Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
By Sarah Stern EMET Founder and President WASHINGTON, D.C — In quoting Former Vice President Joe Biden’s remarks on a call with donors, EMET shared that Biden stated, “Criticism of Israel’s policies is not anti-Semitism. But too often that criticism morphs into anti-Semitism.” He further stated, “We have to condemn anti-Semitism (on the left) And
EMET founder calls on Biden to rebuke anti-Semitism in Democratic party Read More »
Middle East, USA
A roundup of Jewish content available on the web and via the Public Broadcasting System, Sunday May 24-Thursday, May 28 by Laurie Baron, Ph.D
Streaming Jewish content for Week of May 24 Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
In Israel we are just beginning to feel the easing of the strict lockdown rules. At the recent very low-key Independence Day celebrations one of the individuals honoured with lighting one of the twelve flames which traditionally mark the opening of the day’s events declared how much she missed being able to see, hug and kiss her grandchildren. That must have triggered something in the national psyche, as not long afterwards the Prime Minister announced – as part of the easing of restrictions – that grandchildren will henceforth be able to visit their grandparents, though still keeping a safe distance. I doubt that any other national leader has included that particular facet of family life in their official announcements about relaxing coronavirus restrictions. Well done, popular entertainer Tzippi Shavit! [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Hanging out with hubby at home in Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
Next Sunday, Binyamin Netanyahu is about to make history, but not of the kind for which he wants to be remembered. The court just ordered him to appear in person at the opening of his trial on three charges of breach of trust, accepting bribes and fraud. This will be the first time in the history of the State of Israel that a prime minister will be in the dock while in office. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Netanyahu trial to make history, possibly tumult Read More »
Middle East
I was asked to explain the verse in Malachi 1:3, “Esau I hated.” He wrote: “This is one of the few verses in the Bible that truly disturbs me…. I believe everyone who has ever lived … will attain supreme, lasting happiness…. What exactly does it mean that God hated him, I don’t know?” A similar question can be asked about Malachi 1:2 where the prophet chastises the Judeans for not loving God despite God loving them. Does God feel hatred and love? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Does God have emotions: anger, hate, and love? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
I have chosen three passages from this parasha (Bamidbar) for comparison with ancient pagan practices, from internet sources. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Censuses, war camps and first-born redemptions in the ancient world Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East
The wilderness. To some it may seem freewheeling, perhaps even disorganized, chaotic and confusing. In this week’s parasha, Bamidbar, always read on the Shabbat prior to Shavuot, we learn about not just any wilderness, but the wilderness of Sinai, through which we embark on a forty-year passage with a very specific goal, the Promised Land. To help organize and provide focus to people in the midst of a vast expanse of open land, the parasha tells us of Hashem’s command to Moshe to take a census, not just to count (some of) the people, but perhaps more importantly to help assure that people know they count and for us to remember that every human being has an important contribution to make. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Like Moses and the Israelites, we are in wilderness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
The young wife dressed in men’s clothing, with her breasts tightly corseted. She shaved her head and pretended that shell shock had rendered her incapable of speech. Izabella and Bill, a British prisoner-of-war who had escaped from a lightly guarded Nazi-run work camp in Czechoslovakia, figured it was likely he would be recaptured, but if so, she was determined to be captured with him. And so they were, and so began the more intriguing part of the story. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]
Novel tells of a woman surviving as a man in POW camp Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison