By David Amos SAN DIEGO–The story is told that sometime in the first half of the Twentieth Century, a New York music critic took his seat at Carnegie Hall for a concert of the NBC Orchestra. An elderly lady seated next to him asked, “That man on the podium, Mr. Toscanini, is he also supposed […]
Which is better: a bad conductor with a good orchestra, or vice versa? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There are times in politics, and they may be most of the times, when it is best to do nothing. Long ago I learned that the essential rule in policy making is: Don’t make things worse. At about the same time, I heard that America is safest when Congress is
There are times in politics when doing nothing is the best option Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USAMOSCOW (Press Release)–Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky was named “Man of the Year” by the Union of Jewish Communities of Russia in ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow at Sunday (Dec. 20). Sharansky received the award at the ceremonial hall of the Kremlin in the presence of Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, Russian Jewish
Sharansky is 'Man of Year' for Union of Jewish Communities of Russia Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Western diplomatic sources have told Arab newspaper ‘al-Hayat’ that Israel has agreed to release 443 of the 450 prisoners Hamas has demanded be freed in exchange for the release of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. In addition, the sources said Israel had demanded that over 100 of the prisoners to be freed will be
Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange rumors intensify Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC) — Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger has said that Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to proceed with the beatification of war-time Pope Pius XII made it difficult to continue with Catholic-Jewish interfaith dialogue. However, Metzger emphasized that the Israeli Chief Rabbinate would not cut off relations with the Vatican. On Saturday, Pope Benedict XVI
Israel's chief rabbi expresses concern over possible sainthood for Pope Pius XII Read More »
Middle EastJudy Lash Balint, “Bethlehem prepares for Christmas,” on Ground Report Cable News Network, “House uncovered in Nazareth dating to the time of Jesus” Jane Fantel found this video about “The Lost Generation” on YouTube Donald H. Harrison, “Sightseeing in San Diego County,” a growing collection of stories about places to take your family and/or
Recommended reading and viewing #8 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle EastLOS ANGELES (Press Release)– The Grand Rabbi of Spinka, a religious group within Orthodox Judaism, was sentenced Monday morning to two years in federal prison for orchestrating a tax evasion scheme that prosecutors called “an astonishingly complex and sinister enterprise.” Grand Rabbi Naftali Tzi Weisz, 61, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty last summer to a
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The issue of Gilad Shalit rocketed again this week to the top of the national agenda, and now seems to have receded to another period of probing about further negotiations. For the nth time, the later headlines are more pessimistic than the earlier headlines. As far as one can tell from the
Comparing and contrasting Gilad Shalit and Rachel Corrie Read More »
Middle East, USAATLANTA (WJC)–Former US President Jimmy Carter has asked the Jewish community for forgiveness for any offense he may have caused when criticizing Israel. In a letter release by the news agency JTA, Carter sent season’s greeting and wished peace between Israel and its neighbors. He concluded: “We must recognize Israel’s achievements under difficult circumstances, even
Jimmy Carter says an 'Al Het' if any of his words stigmatized Israel Read More »
Middle East, USAVATICAN CITY (WJC)–Pope Benedict XVI has moved his controversial war-time predecessor, Pius XII, a step closer to sainthood, declaring that Pius had displayed “heroic virtues” throughout his life and thus been a Christian worthy of imitation. Pius was one of 17 people approved by Benedict on Saturday in a list that also includes Pope John
WJC provides background on its doubts about Pius XII sainthood Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)–A new poll has revealed that 61% of Americans support the United States coming to the military defense of Israel if it strikes Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran retaliates. The December Survey of The Israel Project, carried out during December 14-16, also found that 51% of Americans favor military strikes by the
ZOA reports poll finds Americans favoring military action to stop Iran's nuclear program Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO–The Guardian of Great Britain called the recently completed Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, “the biggest environmental meeting in history.” But the final result is an agreement that calls for monitoring emissions but neither sets a target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and no deadline for reaching a formal international climate treaty.
Climate Change Summit long on rhetoric, short on action Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release)—Recent press reports rehashing an interview from 10 years ago regarding the practices at Abu Kabir forensic institute have no relation to the false accusations that appeared this past August in the Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet. In the 2000 interview, Dr. Yehuda Hiss, then head of the Abu Kabir facility, acknowledged that body
By Jeanette Friedman NEW YORK–Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Prof. Elie Wiesel and New York Governor David Patterson participated in the installation of Rabbi Yaakov Kermaier, spiritual leader of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue, to his new post as President of The New York Board of Rabbis. Congregants and well-wishers packed the East 62th Street sanctuary on the seventh night