In the first verse of this week’s Torah portion, the Israelites are commanded by God to ignite, and then tend to a Ner Tamid – an eternal light. Today almost every synagogue in the world, Tifereth Israel included, has some kind of light fixture, an eternal light, in front of their ark. [Rabbi Joshua Dorsch]
Why the light over the Holy Ark is eternal Read More »
Jewish Religion
Hatikvah, as Israel’s national anthem, stirs tender emotions among us whenever it is played, but for others it is a provocation. Likewise, a $225 million expenditure is seen as worth the price to defend Israel, but some newly-minted members of Congress do not readily understand that. Two episodes surfaced last week that reflected missed opportunities in communication for Jewish organizations that seek to be protective of Israel. Most prominent was the sharp bickering between Sen. Bernie Sanders and Jewish and political leaders over his attacks against AIPAC and Israel’s prime minister. Despite the offensive attitudes of some Israel critics, some of this acrimony could be grounded in AIPAC’s tactics to lose friends and influence people – the wrong way about Israel. [Bruce S. Ticker]
AIPAC should take a gentler approach toward Israel’s critics Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
A Conservative congregation in San Diego, Tifereth Israel Synagogue, is urging members to practice caution as the coronavirus epidemic spreads across the United States. It recommended that congregants and visitors wave to each other or bump fists rather than shake hands, and also to refrain from the custom of touching mezuzahs on doorpost and then kissing their hands [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews urged to avoid kissing doorpost mezuzahs Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County
HAIFA, Israel — Despite a strong turnout for the Right, Israel is still facing a looming political stalemate. However, it’s not completely deja vu all over again as Israel’s third election in a little over a year did manage to produce some interesting trends. Dr. Ehud Eiran, University of Haifa’s Senior Lecturer in Political Science,
Arabs increase share of Knesset in latest election Read More »
Middle East
The Coronavirus, also known as COVID 19, is spreading steadily throughout the world. At first it seemed to be confined to one region of China, then to other places in the Far East, but now it’s getting closer every day, appearing first in Italy and then in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and now even Israel. The unfortunate Israelis who happened to be on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, commonly known in Israel as the coronaship, were first confined to their cabins for a fortnight, then isolated in Japan, and when finally allowed to return to Israel (not all of them though, as a few were found to be carriers before being able to board the plane bringing them to Israel, so had to remain behind), only to be subjected to another two weeks of isolation in a hospital in Israel. One sad result of this was that one couple had to be separated, the wife returning to Israel and the husband remaining in isolation in Japan. Those two happen to live quite near to me in Mevasseret, though I do not know them personally, I’ve read about them in the local paper, and my sympathies certainly go out to them. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Coronavirus curtailing normal life in Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Sadly, we have become accustomed to Trump’s lies and misstatements about the presumed progress the US made under his watch. It’s time to take a hard look at his domestic policy which is inflicting terrible damage and anguish on the majority of Americans. Trump knows that he lies regarding just about everything, but he continues to successfully sell his lies to his base, representing the 25 to 30 percent of Americans who still believe every word he says. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
OpEd: Trump’s disastrous domestic policy Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, USAA strong link exists between Israel and the US, personified by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump. Therefore there is linkage between the two ongoing leadership contests. Although Israel had enjoyed non-partisan support in the US for decades, that diminished rapidly under the Obama administration. In fact, as a last parting shot, President Obama ordered his ambassador to the United Nations to refrain from vetoing a particularly nasty Security Council Resolution (2344), which basically declares that Jerusalem and Israel’s heritage is Muslim/Palestinian, not Jewish. [Steve Kramer]
OpEd: U.S., Israel benefit under Trump, Netanyahu Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Tetzaveh – Exodus 27:20-30:10 This parasha deals mainly with God’s instructions for the elaborate vestments-outfitting of Aaron, the first High Priest, and his four sons. This is followed by instructions for their ordination. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
High priests in Judaism, other ancient cultures Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Though all the results aren’t in yet, it’s very unlikely that Netanyahu and his right-wing allies will muster 61 out of the 120 votes in the Knesset to form a majority government. But it’s also clear that his rival Benny Gantz, the leader of the Blue and White party, won’t be able to form a government either. Yet, politicians close to both assure us that there won’t be a fourth round, following the three elections within the last twelve months. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
After the Israeli election Read More »
Middle East
Sanders and Bloomberg were two of the 12 Jewish candidates whose names appeared on San Diego County ballots. Of the other 10, semi-official returns indicated that three placed in first positions — Sara Jacobs in the 53rd Congressional District, Joe Leventhal in San Diego’s 5th City Council District, and incumbent Bernie Rhinerson in the District B race for the San Diego Community College District. (Their second-place finishing opponents respectively were San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, City Attorney candidate Marni Von Wilpert, and Daniel Piedra.) [Donald H. Harrison]
Eight of 12 Jewish candidates made runoffs Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, USA
This week’s parasha opens with very clear instructions on how to create and maintain the ner tamid, a light much like the chanukiyah, not to be used for any practical purpose but rather to amplify our connection to Hashem. Indeed, the Talmud Bavli in Masechet Shabbat (22b), tells us the ner tamid is a symbol of Hashem’s presence and that the flame of Torah, our deepest values, are similarly eternal. “And you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall take to you pure olive oil, crushed for lighting, to kindle the lamps continually. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the dividing curtain that is in front of the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall set it up before the Lord…”(Exodus 27:20-21). [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Don’t let the light burn out Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The current practice is that Purim is celebrated as a one-day holiday. Cities that were walled at the time of Joshua’s conquest of Israel – most notably Jerusalem – celebrate Purim on Adar 15, as a commemoration of the end of hostilities in the walled city of Shushan, where the battles occurred on Adar 13 and 14. Elsewhere, the holiday is observed on the one day of Adar 14, to recall the cessation of the battle after the war on the thirteenth in all other places of Ahasuerus’s kingdom. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Purim differs from the biblical requirement Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish ReligionThere were 12 Jewish candidates on San Diego County ballots on March 3. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden were in a coast-to-coast race for delegates that stretched from Maine to California, with Biden winning or ahead at press time in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. Sanders won or was leading in California, Colorado, Utah, and Vermont. Michael Bloomfield won in the American territory of American Samoa, and was battling Elizabeth Warren for third place in many of the states. Texas and Maine saw seesaw battles between Biden and Sanders, both too close to call as we went to press. [Donald H. Harrison]
How Jewish candidates fared in March 3 primary Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
The days before Monday’s balloting were as sleazy as any I recall, from watching Israeli elections since 1977. Bibi led the negative campaigning, bringing up issues against all the major figures in Blue and White that had been settled years ago, and charging Benny Gantz with faults up to incipient senility. Blue and White’s campaign pictured Turkey’s President Erdogan, speaking Bibi’s mantra against the charges of corruption, “There won’t be anything because there is nothing.” However, Blue and White’s campaign seemed mostly mild, repeating charges against Bibi, but not getting the air time that Bibi did. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D.}
Only more questions in wake of Israel’s election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East