Cailin Acosta

Terror, the Queen, and the deadline for Parties to Run in Israel’s Election

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — They seem to be on an upswing, but Palestinian attacks against Israelis are a continuous phenomenon. For a summary of attacks since May 2016 and through July 2022, provided by the Israeli government, in English, you can look here. A graphic display appears below. The first graph shows the […]

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Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, Opinion

The World is Constantly Changing, As Is Everything and Everyone Around Us

By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — Some people seem to be wired to like variety, novelty, change from routine. Others seem to prefer the status quo, the predictable, the familiar. To some extent, this is genetic, but it is also influenced by the multitude of experiences we have been subjected to in

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Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz

The Semi-Fascist MAGA Menace: The Truth is Funnier (and Scarier) Than Satirical Fiction

By Laurie Baron President Biden received scathing criticism for labeling MAGA Republicans “semi-fascists.” I selected some quotations from MAGA leaders to test the validity of his characterization. “The church is supposed to direct the government. The government is not supposed to direct the church. That is not how our Founding Fathers intended it. I’m tired

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

The Authoritarian Personality and Rise of Right-Wing Extremism

By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — If nothing else, the Republican Party has steadily removed any doubt that it has embraced an extremism that threatens the future of American Democracy. We can clearly perceive the imminent danger that the Party poses in several crucial ways, perhaps the most salient being the refusal of candidates to

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Opinion, Sam Ben-Meir, USA

‘My Mother’s Sabbath Days:’ An Eye-Opening Story by Yiddish Writer Chaim Grade

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — My Mother’s Sabbath Days is a beautiful, fascinating, and eye-opening story by the Yiddish writer Chaim Grade (1910-1982). His name is pronounced gra, as in open your mouth and say ah, and de at the end pronounced as in eh, the word said in surprise. Grade

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

U.S. Says it Will Press Israel on Rules of Engagement After Al Jazeera Journalist’s Killing

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Washington will press Israel to review its policies and practices on rules of engagement after the Israel Defense Forces concluded that Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely shot by an Israeli soldier, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday. “We will continue to press Israel

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Israel

Muzzling Free Speech at Berkeley Law School

By Richard L. Cravatts (JNS) The suppression of any speech that does not conform to hegemonic ideologies is not an uncommon occurrence at today’s universities. What is now labeled “cancel culture” is dedicated to the purging of thoughts and ideas that conflict with liberal notions or the radical ravings of social justice warriors. This unfortunate

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California, Israel, Opinion, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices Committee Member Wins Prestigious Prize

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — We are thrilled to announce that Michael Mark, a member of our Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices Committee, just won the prestigious Rattle Chapbook Prize for his chapbook, Visiting Her in Queens Is More Enlightening than a Month in a Monastery in Tibet. The poems are all inspired by his mother,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Jane Fonda & Mikhail Gorbachev

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Last week saw the passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, the former  General Secretary of the Communist Party and head of state of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev instituted a policy of glasnost (openness), pursuing more democratic ideals, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Also last week,

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Parashat Ki Teitzei: Our Struggle With Doubt

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. This week’s parasha, literally meaning, “When you go out…” opens with a description of facing war with enemies. Maimonides tells us that 72 mitzvot spring from this week’s Torah portion, from weights and measures and collecting debts in a righteous way, to proper ways to divorce, keeping promises, and male

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Is Mt. Meron Investigation the Last Straw for Netanyahu?

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Remember the disaster at Mt. Meron? It occurred in May,2021. Forty-five individuals died in a crowd crush and the collapse of the structure. According to newspaper reports, “Planning and safety officials expressed serious concerns over the wellbeing of pilgrims at Lag B’Omer festivities at Mount Meron last year, days

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Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, Opinion