By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The heinous events of October 7 in Israel are difficult to reconcile with the modern world’s ethos. After World War II, many believed that the atrocities faced by Jewish communities were behind them and that such darkness would not be revisited upon them. Yet, as Mark […]
The Culture of Biophilia vs. the Culture of Necrophilia Read More »
Israel, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion
By Boris Kheyfets Israel must assume the mantle of moral leadership in the West. A decisive military victory, buoyed by a program of De-Nazification, will compel the West to abandon its obsession with luxury beliefs and empower the West to solve problems that matter. Israel and the Morality of the West October 7, 2023 was
Israel: The Moral Bulwark of the West Read More »
Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, USA
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — More than 350,000 reservists have been called up. Many have been sent to the north, and many have been practicing an invasion of Gaza. But there are delays. Some, with the support of the U.S., say that we should wait until the return of hostages. Others say that
Waiting for the Invasion of Gaza Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel —The eyes of the world are focused on the Gaza Strip at the moment for a variety of reasons. Is Israel going to launch a ground offensive on the northern part of the Strip, after having told the inhabitants there to move south if they want to avoid being
Heartbroken, But Not Broken Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Opinion
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — If Israel sought to cripple Hamas, they would have targeted Shifa Hospital last week rather than Ahli Arab Hospital, both in Gaza City. During past conflicts, the Hamas leadership cowered underneath al Shifa to deter Israel from destroying that facility. Unless Hamas moved its headquarters, what did Israel have
Anatomy of ‘500’ Murders Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — All my readers know that Israel is undergoing a major assault, which in its first day was the most horrific in Jewish history since the Holocaust. And this in one day! It’s hard for Israelis to get our heads around this existential war, but even more so for
What if New Jersey Were Israel? Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — We all have, or should have, concern about the prevalence of Jew-hatred on American college campuses. Previously it was couched in anti-Israel phrases, but lately it’s become blatantly about Jews in general. Frankly, this is the attitude in the U.S. towards Jews in the 1930s, coinciding with local
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — A few days after the outbreak of the war, I went into a neighborhood hardware store where two old timers were muttering that things would be different today if only Begin were still prime minister. My goal is not to disparage Netanyahu or any of Israel’s politicians. Rather, I would
If Only We Had Menachem Begin Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion
By Heidi Gantwerk SAN DIEGO — On Tuesday, I, along with Federation Board Chair David Bark, flew to Washington D.C. to gather with more than 200 Federation and partner agency leaders, philanthropists, and many national officials — all in support of Israel. We heard extraordinarily strong words of support from Congressional leadership from both sides
Jewish Federation CEO: My Trip to Washington in Support of Israel Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson 1938 A young couple fled Nazi Germany, found refuge in England and survived the war. Their parents were left behind and murdered. Four years later I was born, thus making them my parents. 1944 V2 rockets fired on London caused the evacuation of children from the city. My two-year old self was
Timeline: Why the War in Israel Feels Like Déjà Vu Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, OpinionBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — “Does the whole world hate the Jews?” The question was posed by a self-identified Democrat from Waterbury, Conn., who called into C-Span Saturday morning to confess that he believed white nationalists owned antisemitism in America. With reports of the dreadful Hamas raid dominating the news, the caller said he
Hamas Defenders Can’t Handle the Truth Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USA
The Matzo Chronicles By Karen Galatz RENO, Nevada — I come from a long line of Morton Coarse Kosher Salt users. My mother bought it. My grandmother bought it. My sisters-in-law bought it. Even my non-Jewish mother-in-law bought the salt with the little girl under the umbrella. But lately, I haven’t been able to find
What’s Shakin’ in Your Saltshaker? Read More »
Karen Galatz, Lifestyles, Opinion, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — More than a week has gone by since the infamous sneak attack by Hamas terrorists from Gaza on October 7. I have reported that Michal and I are doing ok, with no missiles striking Kfar Saba and only a few short periods in our in-house shelter. Well, we
Gaza: The Hellhole Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer
As Morocco rebuilds in the aftermath of a horrifying earthquake that struck High Atlas Mountain ranges last month, this article considers the guiding premises for sustainable societies established in the first chapter of the Torah, “In the Beginning.” [Yossef Ben-Meir]
‘In the Beginning’ in Morocco Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Yossef Ben-Meir