Donald H. Harrison

In Israel, Reform must focus on providing alternative to Orthodoxy

By Rabbi Dow Marmur  JERUSALEM–In the closing decades of the last century, the complaints I used to hear in Progressive/Reform/Liberal Judaism circles in Israel had to do with the dangers inherent in the secularization of the Jewish state. Religiously and politically liberal Jews were urged to articulate viable alternatives and create institutions to promote them. […]

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Middle East

U.S. official: Egypt should democratize before next year’s presidential election

By Michael H. Posner WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Although it has held a series of troubling elections this year, Egypt has an opportunity to fulfill the commitments its government has made to the Egyptian people as it prepares for next year’s presidential election, if it takes steps to implement several changes to which it has

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Travel and Food

American Jewish Committee urges passage of DREAM Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.  (Press Release)– American Jewish Committee (AJC)  is urging the Senate to pass the DREAM Act, which is scheduled for a vote today (Saturday, Dec. 18) “The DREAM Act, addressing the critical needs of the undocumented student population, is an important step towards desperately needed reform of our immigration system,” said Richard T.Foltin, AJC Director of

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USA

U.S. senators urge boycott of Durban III

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– A bipartisan coalition of 18 U.S. Senators, led by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, on Friday  urged United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice to refrain from participating in the United Nation’s Durban III World Conference Against Racism, citing concerns that the conference will once again serve as a forum for

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USA

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, June 24, 1955, Part 2

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff In The Good Old Summertime Southwestern Jewish Press, June 24, 1955, Page 3 By Julia Kaufman Starlight Opera Company– To paraphrase the words of the immortal Gilbert and Sullivan: “I’ve Got It On My List,” and I hope you have too.  Naturally, I’m referring to the “Mikado” which

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Adventures in SD History, San Diego County

Highly sophisticated Israeli spy equipment found in Lebanon; more border attacks from Gaza

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Here’s a good report on Israel’s amazing intelligence activity along its northern border, with new types of information-gathering and targeting equipment concealed in rocks: And here’s a good report on the heating up of terrorism activity along Israel’s Gaza border: Note that something very important is happening here–unnoticed [surprise!]

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Middle East

Jordan’s King Abdullah urges more interfaith dialogue

BRUSSELS (WJC)–Jordanian King Abdullah has stressed the need for inter-faith dialogue in order to build bridges of tolerance and understanding between different cultures. In a speech to leaders of the European People’s Party in Brussels, attended by 20 European presidents and prime ministers as well as the heads of EU institutions, Abdullah emphasized the need

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Travel and Food

Winona Ryder says Mel Gibson taunted her for being Jewish

HOLLYWOOD (WJC)–The actress Winona Ryder has claimed that American actor and film director Mel Gibson, 56, made “anti-Semitic and homophobic” remarks long before he was caught on tape making such comments. In the new issue of the men’s magazine GQ, Ryder said that the actor and director was anti-Semitic and homophobic, but “No one believed

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Travel and Food

Germany pledges $80 million to preserve Auschwitz in acknowledgment of its historic crimes

BERLIN (Press Release) — The German government is to pay € 60 million (US$ 80 million) over the coming months into a fund for the preservation of the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Notably the former gas chambers and other evidence of crimes committed at the camp are deteriorating to the point of collapse. Germany

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Travel and Food

Clinton announces high-tech initiative to help Palestinian economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday announced the launch of the Palestinian Information Communications Technology Capacity Building Initiative (PITI). This initiative is designed to enhance Palestinian economic capacity in the information communications technology (ICT) sector by facilitating partnerships between Palestinian ICT companies and U.S. multinational companies, particularly those with operations in the

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Travel and Food

ACLU says U.S. agents improperly question Muslims about their religion and beliefs

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are questioning innocent Americans who are perceived to be Muslim about their religion and their political beliefs without any suspicion that they have done anything wrong, according to a letter the American Civil Liberties Union and Muslim Advocates sent to the top internal watchdog

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USA

Coordinated effort needed to deal with domestic terrorism, congressional report suggests

  WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–While there is a coordinated federal government approach to combatting terrorism emanating from foreign countries, there is no such coordination in countering the threat of domestic terrorism, according to a report provided by the Congressional Research Service.   The report provides history of domestic terror incidents in the United States, several of

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USA

Three indicted in plot to disguise funds to Iran as a children’s charity

 PORTLAND, Oregon (Press Release) – A federal Grand Jury sitting in Portland has charged Hossein Lahiji, 47, of McAllen, Texas, Najmeh Vahid, 35, of San Antonio, Texas and Ahmad Iranshahi, 53, of Tehran, Iran, in a two-count indictment charging conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit money laundering. The indictment alleges that the

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Travel and Food