Jacob Kamaras

Jacob Kamaras

La Jolla, California, based public relations executive Jacob Kamaras is a former editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).  He is an active member at Adat Yeshurun Synagogue.

Naddaf: Fight against Israel is religious, not political

  By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org HOUSTON, Texas–“It’s nice that he understands both English and Hebrew,” Father Gabriel Naddaf tells his interpreter, Amit Barak, at Houston’s Royal Sonesta hotel while I go back and forth between the two languages during my interview with the Israeli Greek Orthodox priest. Hebrew is Naddaf’s stronger tongue, and English is mine—despite […]

Naddaf: Fight against Israel is religious, not political Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Middle East

U.S., Israel agree to curb Iranian aggression

By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite their disagreement over the Iran nuclear deal, the U.S. and Israel “can and should work together now” to ensure that Iran complies with the agreement and to curb Iranian aggression throughout the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday at the General Assembly of The Jewish Federations

U.S., Israel agree to curb Iranian aggression Read More »

International, Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, USA

Houston, we have a religious problem

By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org  HOUSTON, Texas — In a scheduling conflict of Abrahamic proportions, a Houston-based think tank is hosting George Mitchell—former U.S. senator from Maine and the Obama administration’s former envoy for Middle East peace—on both Jewish and Muslim holy days. “The Negotiator: Senator George Mitchell’s Adventures in Law and Politics” will be held from

Houston, we have a religious problem Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, USA

School Sup’t Marten: ‘Every child has a gift’

  By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org SAN DIEGO — Cindy Marten respects private educational institutions in the Jewish community and elsewhere, but at the very least, she believes that Jewish parents should give public school a chance. The superintendent of San Diego Unified School District—California’a second-largest school district and the eighth-largest in the country, serving 109,785 enrolled

School Sup’t Marten: ‘Every child has a gift’ Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Exit polls: Netanyahu slightly outpolls Herzog

By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org Israeli television exit polls on Tuesday night showed that while the country’s national election remains too close to call, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party defied the projections of pre-election polling and would likely extend his current six-year run as prime minister. An exit poll by Channel 2 said that Likud won

Exit polls: Netanyahu slightly outpolls Herzog Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Middle East

Netanyahu: Speech won’t derail U.S.- Israel friendship

Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org WASHINGTON, DC—A day before his much-debated speech about Iran to a joint session of Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, March 2, attempted to assure the 16,000 people attending the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference—an annual showcase for the U.S-Israel relationship—that current tension will not derail the countries’ friendship.

Netanyahu: Speech won’t derail U.S.- Israel friendship Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, USA

Netanyahu to AIPAC: BDS will fail

By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel will fail, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference. “Beyond our traditional trading partners, countries throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, these countries are flocking to Israel” wanting Israeli technology, Netanyahu said. “The BDS

Netanyahu to AIPAC: BDS will fail Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, USA

Disabled rights activist awarded $100,000

By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BOSTON–The Ruderman Family Foundation on Monday, Jan. 27, announced that Dr. Michael Ashley Stein, a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and an internationally recognized expert on disability rights, will receive the inaugural $100,000 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion. Stein is the co-founder and executive director of the Harvard Law School

Disabled rights activist awarded $100,000 Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, USA

Birthright expands eligibility for free trips to Israel

By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org The Taglit-Birthright Israel program has expanded eligibility for its free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults ages 18-26, JNS.org has learned. Teenagers who went on an educational trip to Israel during high school were previously not eligible for Birthright trips, but can now participate, confirmed Noa Bauer, Birthright’s vice president

Birthright expands eligibility for free trips to Israel Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Middle East

Haifa University to offer American Jewish Studies

By Jeffrey F. Barken and Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org HAIFA—Jay Ruderman has observed for years that when American Jewish leaders visit Israel or when Israeli leaders visit the United States, the conversation is “always about Israel” and how the Jewish state relates to Iran, Syria, the Palestinians, and others. “What’s happening in the American Jewish community?” and

Haifa University to offer American Jewish Studies Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, USA

Muslim speaker replaced at Marathon service

By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org The imam of a mosque that is managed by the Muslim Brotherhood-founded Muslim American Society (MAS) was initially invited to speak at Thursday’s interfaith service in Boston to honor the Boston Marathon attack’s victims, but that invitation was later rescinded by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s office, JNS.org has learned. The Islamic Society

Muslim speaker replaced at Marathon service Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, USA