By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — As the first Israel Defense Forces (IDF) emergency aid team (there is now a second) left for Haiti, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Given Israel’s security needs, we have accumulated much search and rescue experience over the years. We have applied this experience previously in disaster scenes throughout the […]
Israel's humanitarian efforts in Haiti Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBERLIN (WJC)–Ernst Cramer, a Jewish journalist who fled Nazi Germany and served as an American soldier in World War II, has died in Berlin, one day before his 97th birthday. He was a champion of Israel who also fought to improve relations between Germans, Jews and Americans. Born in Augsburg in 1913, Cramer was incarcerated
German Jewish journalist Ernst Cramer dead at 96 Read More »
Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel’s Holocaust Memorial institution Yad Vashem has named the late André Reeders and Aaltje Reeders-Wittermans as Righteous Gentiles Among the Nations for sheltering the Jewish couple Sally and Claire Gimnicher-Hirsch in their home near Amsterdam in 1942, at the request of the Dutch resistance movement. Unlike most cases, the two couples had had no
Yad Vashem honors Dutch couple for sheltering Jews they had never met Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel has resumed a scheme to airlift 2,000 Falash Mura – Ethiopians of Jewish descent – out of the east African country and bring them to Israel. The scheme was halted in August 2008, when the Israeli government announced the airlifts would be ended. Eighty-one new immigrants arrived on a flight from Ethiopia to
Israel to welcome 2,000 Falash Mura from Ethiopia Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Twenty-two executives and employees of companies in the military and law enforcement products industry have been indicted for engaging in schemes to bribe foreign government officials to obtain and retain business, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips for the District of Columbia; and
Shonda file: Sting targeted executives willing to bribe foreign officials Read More »
Middle East, USAHAIFA (Press Release)–Israeli backpackers find themselves hosted by Christian missionaries in New Zealand because of the good lodging deals that they offer; but during their stay, these Israelis also get unique spiritual experiences. This has been illustrated in a new study carried out at the University of Haifa’s Center for Tourism, Pilgrimage and Recreation. “Even
JERUSALEM (WJC)–The failed bomb attack against Israeli diplomats in Jordan last week could have been carried out by a local al-Qaeda cell acting on instructions from Iran, sources close to the Jordanian intelligence community have told the ‘Jerusalem Post’. The unnamed sources said that the attack had come in response to the killing of Iranian
Jordanian sources point finger at Iran for attempted car bombing of Israeli diplomats Read More »
Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (WJC)–Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who visited Israel this week, has told the newspaper ‘Haaretz’ that there were forces in Israel that unfairly portrayed Norway as an anti-Semitic country. “There are references to anti-Israel sentiments in the Israeli press. I see part of that as a campaign which is being organized and orchestrated
Norway's Foreign Minister rejects charges his country is anti-Semitic Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israeli police have arrested a group of militant Jewish settlers in the West Bank for alleged vandalism, including an attack on a mosque in a nearby Palestinian village in December. Nine settlers were arrested for attacks on Palestinian property, including five linked to the torching of a mosque last month. The vandals burned prayer
Nine West Bank settlers arrested for mosque attack and vandalism Read More »
Middle East, USAPORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (WJC)–Jewish humanitarian organizations in the United States and Canada have already raised millions of dollars for Haiti relief aid since the devastating earthquake that hit the Caribbean nation a week ago. Among the top fundraisers are the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), which has received US$ 2 million so far, and
Jewish, Israeli organizations provide service, raise millions for Haiti Read More »
Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (Press Release) – Sixteen of today’s brightest Jewish movers and shakers are being invited to tackle some of the Jewish world’s most pressing problems this summer. Beginning its fourth year, the PresenTense Summer Fellowships utilize a unique approach to tap the creativity of Jewish innovators, helping them in turn to change the face of their
Sixteen Jewish innovators will gather in Israel this summer Read More »
Middle EastPORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (Press Release) – EL AL, Israel’s National Airline, landed in Haiti this past Thursday with dozens of medical teams and tons of emergency supplies to assist with rescue and salvage efforts. Two EL AL aircraft, a jumbo 747-400 and one 777, carried more than 80 tons of supplies along with 229
El Al flies medical personnel, supplies to Haiti Read More »
Middle East, USABy J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida–I am not diplomatic when I discuss Israel and Palestine with rightist American Jews who support the settlements. The facts that they pick up from rightist propaganda are usually totally wrong. Nothing I say penetrates their one-track minds. They don’t believe my facts even though I present chapter and
Correcting rightwing misinformation about Israel and Palestine Read More »
Middle East, USAThe following opinion article by World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder was published by the leading Italian newspaper ‘Corriere della Sera’ on the eve of Pope Benedict’s visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome: By Ronald S. Lauder When a Catholic bishop visits the main synagogue in his diocese it is first and foremost
Lauder's advice to Pope before his visit to the Rome synagogue Read More »
Middle East, USA