By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — At the start of a new Jewish year, there are good signs and other signs in our corner of the world. Attacks continue, more or less daily, mostly by individual Palestinians or small groups. Recently an 84 year old Israeli was clubbed to death on the street near her […]
Positive Signs in Israel for 5783 Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion
Published by DPA Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, as long as the state would be a peaceful one, in his speech to the UN General Assembly. “Peace is not a compromise. It is the most courageous decision we can make,” he said. He said Israel seeks
Israeli Prime Minister Calls for Palestinian State in UN Address Read More »
Israel
Adrienne Gold Davis, without the benefit of a microphone, silenced a roomful of Jewish women (no mean feat!) while delivering an insightful and timely message about forgiveness. Attendees ranged in age from about 4 to 74 and represented the entire spectrum of Jewish observance. [Eva Trieger]
Forgiveness and the Cause of Jewish Momentum Read More »
Eva Trieger, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego CountyOver the years the Education Ministry has winked at partial compliance with its requirement. The schools of some Ashkenazi Haredi movements teach math, English, and Hebrew, less than described in the formal requirements, and others teach almost entirely religious matters, dedicating perhaps two hours per week to secular subjects. And all in Yiddish. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Math English, Hebrew Get Short Shrift in Haredi Schools Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education
They were blowing the shofar, but it wasn’t Rosh Hashanah. On Jan. 5, 2021, the sound of the ram’s horn echoed in the streets of Washington, D.C., as participants in the Jericho March circled the capitol in a re-enactment of Joshua’s siege on the ancient city. For Jewish observers, it was a puzzling scene. “Are you going to do the shevarim as well?” one reporter asked a puff-cheeked protester, referring to the rhythmic blowing pattern used in Jewish tradition. He got a blank stare in return. [JNS.org]
The Shofar’s Role Through History Read More »
International, Israel, Jewish Religion, USA
StandWithUs (SWU), an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism, has announced the 2022-23 students participating in its high school and campus programs. [StandWithUs news release]
StandWithUs Announces Student Interns and Fellows Read More »
California, Israel, San Diego County, USA
ESPN and ESPN+ will premiere at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 20, The Survivor, an hour-long documentary on the murder of 11 Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympics. Reporter Jeremy Schaap interviews Shaul Ladany, a teammate of the slain athletes, who has been dubbed an “ultimate survivor.” Along with his family, he had earlier in his life survived the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]
Israeli Athlete Survived the Holocaust and the Munich Olympics Massacre Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The first thing that hits you as the plane starts the descent towards the airport in Israel is the difference in the colors on the ground. If you have just left one of the countries of Europe, as we did, there is a noticeable difference in the shades of green that you perceive. The brilliant emerald green of the fields of rural France (or Germany or England or wherever), even in the summer of 2022 when temperatures rose to unprecedented heights and there were restrictions on water usage, remained in one’s visual memory, only to be erased (or at least put in the shade) by the greys, browns and dusty dark greens of the Holy Land. And, of course, the ever-present white of the stone buildings. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Au Revoir to France, Shalom to Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Travel and Food
Natalie Abulhawa had multiple advantages going for her after she filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against a Main Line school: her own disingenuous voice, the aid and comfort of excuse-laden Arab-American spokespersons; and kid-glove treatment in a Philadelphia Inquirer story filed by an Arab-simpatico reporter. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Girls School Athletic Trainer Bashes Israel, Loses Job, Claims Discrimination Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
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
Terror, the Queen, and the deadline for Parties to Run in Israel’s Election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, OpinionBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — We must wonder what Lina Abu Akleh refers to when she charges: “We don’t expect war criminals to investigate their own crimes.” Or when Nabil Abu Rdeneh claims all evidence proves that “Israel is the culprit, that it killed Shireen, and it must be held responsible for its crime.”
Who Are the War Criminals? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion
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
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
Muzzling Free Speech at Berkeley Law School Read More »
California, Israel, Opinion, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — The images and colors of childhood sometimes determine later pictures of life. In my childhood, during the big Soviet holidays, an airship hovered over the city with four portraits on its huge body. One of the men portrayed in the portraits surpassed the other three in the amount of
On the Way to Israel Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Israel, Opinion