By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A basic aspect of life in Israel is the requirement that every adult, whether male or female, must serve in the IDF for a few years upon reaching the age of 18. While serving in the military, soldiers are trained in one of the many areas in which […]
Family in Reserves Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Opinion
By Dana Ben Kaplan SANTEE, California — This past September, I was contacted by the Emergency Volunteers Project (EVP) and asked if I would be available for another Israel firefighter training deployment, scheduled for October. I had been participating in these firefighter events in Israel for several years now (after retiring from the Santee Fire
By Stephen M. Flatow (JNS) I opened a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, and there’s a fellow in uniform with red beret and camo uniform screaming into a microphone. My Arabic being non-existent, I was glad for the simultaneous translation identifying the screamer as one Gen. Yahya Saree, the spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi
Who Are the Houthis and Why Are They Messing With Israel? Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USA
Upon reflecting on my work as an advocate for battered women, I realize what drives me is my memory of how Jewish women were once deemed utterly dispensable; they were loathed and discarded after gang rapes by their Nazi tormentors. What I saw last month in the Hamas attack on Israeli women was eerily reminiscent of those atrocities of yesteryear. [Amy Neustein, Ph.D]
Women’s Groups Distressingly Mum about Hamas Raping Israeli Women, Children Read More »
Amy Neustein, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Doron Krakow What to make of a week? What to make of this one? It began with the grudging release of hostages from the clutches of Hamas. Slowly they emerged. Wide-eyed. Traumatized. Haunted. Nearly all of them women and children. They’d been released knowing that others, many from their own families, remained behind. Only
Of Heroes and Leaders Read More »
Doron Krakow, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — “Palestinians Must Have Hope for a Brighter Future,” urges a New York Times headline. It tops a Thanksgiving Day opinion piece authored by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Hope for what? To kill more Jews? What about hope for the Jewish people? The hostage exchange between Israel and
A Future for Israel? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Mark Powell Times of San Diego SAN DIEGO — Protests continue across college and high school campuses as students voice opposition to Israel’s self-defense in the Gaza war, citing concerns about collateral damage and the loss of Palestinian lives. However, some of these demonstrations have transformed from anti-Israel protests to antisemitic protests. Therefore, it
San Diego Schools Must Do More to Curb Growing Antisemitism Read More »
Holocaust, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — A hate crime is not necessarily a hate crime, legally speaking – at least not in the death of Paul Kessler, after a Nov. 5 altercation due to a war 8,000 miles to the east. Kessler, 69, who was Jewish, carried an Israeli flag to protest a day of
The Hate-Crimes Obstacle Course Read More »
Bruce Ticker, California, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — During the past weeks since the October 7 massacre of Israelis, the world has heard and watched many condemnations of Israel throughout the media universe. The following short summaries describe some of the most virulent organizations who constantly vilify Israelis and Jews. Their common strategy is the dissolution
Information You Might Need to Defend Israel Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer
Unprovoked shootings are never justified, no matter what the world situation may be. I would like to extend my sympathy to Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, as well as to their families. It is outrageous that a gunman would commit such a horrendous act anywhere, and especially here in the pluralistic United States. [Donald H. Harrison]
Shooting in Vermont of 3 Palestinian Students is Reprehensible Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Opinion, USA
Chanukah, is a minor holiday in our calendar that has been made into a major holiday by Hallmark and Mattel toys over the years. Nevertheless, even …though Chanukah is a minor holiday like Purim it has a very and important lesson for us particularly as Jews in America today. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg]
Israeli Soldiers Are the Modern Maccabees Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Israel, Jewish Religion, Opinion
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — If only a bloody-hand stunt staged by pro-Arab activists applied to U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s rhetoric and her possible role leading to the deaths of two Jews – one a synagogue president in Tlaib’s hometown and the other a pro-Israel demonstrator outside Los Angeles. Tlaib, a Democrat who represents
From Rashida’s Rhetoric to Fears of Sitting Shiva Read More »
Bruce Ticker, California, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, USA
By Doron Krakow Kibbutz Nir Oz (Meadow of Strength) was founded in 1955, becoming part of the left-wing Zionist youth movement Hashomer Hatzair. In the hands of its roughly 70 founders, a formerly arid and bleak 5,000 or so acres of Israel’s frontier were gradually transformed into an idyllic setting, green and lush, and in
One Out of Four is Gone Read More »
Doron Krakow, Israel, Opinion, USABy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — You might think that the deaths of an uncertain number of Palestinian civilians – reported to be up to 10,000 – might account for the fury that infuses pro-Arab protests around the world. That is part of it, but I question if it is driving the ringleaders and other
Of All the Gall: Israel is Winning Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USA