By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Winter has been reluctant to arrive here in Israel, and as I write this in mid-December we can enjoy the balmy sunshine (and not having to heat our homes), though our fields and gardens yearn for rain. However, the silver lining to the lack of clouds is that […]
A Kind of Coexistence Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Lifestyles, Opinion
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Top federal officials and Jewish leaders spoke to each other, and together they spoke to the public at large, the public that reads newspapers, watches television news programs and listens to those who run our government. But they did not speak to the people that count. This is the
Outreach or ‘Pod Squads?’ Breaking Down Bias on the Left and the Right Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USA
By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — On March 1, 1881, in Russia, members of the People’s Will assassinated Tsar Alexander II. The murder, to which the Jews had nothing to do, triggered the largest wave of Jewish pogroms in the 19th century due to a blood libel against Jews falsely accused of complicity in the
The Triumphant and Tragic Odyssey of the Inventor of Sea Cruises Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Opinion
By Rabbi Ari Leubitz (JNS) Community. It comes in all forms—and it is something we each rely on for support. Sometimes we are born into our community and inherit it from our parents. Other times, it’s a group or connection we grow and build and develop for ourselves. As Jews, we have an instant community
The Increasing Importance of Community to Battle Antisemitism Read More »
Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Sam Ben-Meir “Anarchism is an aspect of socialism (among many others) that those of us wishing socialism, or some comparable form of resistance, to survive will have to think about again, this time without a prearranged sneer.” T. J. Clark, Farewell to an Idea It is 180 years since the birth of Pyotr Kropotkin
Pyotr Kropotkin, 180 Years Later Read More »
International, Opinion, Sam Ben-Meir
By Heidi Gantwerk SAN DIEGO — As I prepared my remarks for last week’s Town Hall on Antisemitism, once again I came back to the need to balance the light with the dark. It is essential that we pay attention to the darkness surrounding us; that we stay strong and resilient and outspoken. But it
Forging Lasting Connections With Israel Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — I’m confused. Among other things, about the creation of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. We hear of several promises. From Bibi, they are worth as much as a wet tissue. Itamar Ben-Gvir expects to be Minister of Public Security, Bezalel Smotrich with two years as Minister of Finance, Aryeh Deri as
Confusion Surrounding Creation of Netanyahu’s Government Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — Ernst Jones, one of Sigmund Freud’s few non-Jewish students, wrote in an obituary that his teacher’s achievements would not have been possible without his national characteristics, among them “a special national insight” and “a skeptical attitude toward illusions and deception.” Psychoanalysis shaped a new way of thinking that made
The Neuroses of Sigmund Freud Read More »
Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, OpinionBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — The Three Stooges of Mar-a-Lago launched a hate-fest that is hardly the first that is directed at Jews. Nor are Republicans alone in enabling antisemitism in America. Democrats have been restrained in responding to antisemites in their own ranks and advocacy groups have failed to deter antisemites and other
‘Complicity’ With Antisemites is Bipartisan Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg and Rabbi Sam Michaelson The news about Donald Trump’s dinner meeting with his friend Kanye West (Ye) created more problems than Trump might have expected. West brought two people Trump did not know—Milo Yiannopoulos and Nick Fuentes—to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Trump insisted that he only did so because Kanye
Living in a Glass House Read More »
Opinion, USABy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Prospects of the Israeli government are frightening. Itamar Ben-Gvir will head the Ministry of Public Security, which might be expanded to include the Border Police, and Bezalel Smotrich will have two years as Minister of Finance. In that post, he’ll be given control over Jewish settlements in the West
Frightening Prospects for Israeli Government Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion
Published by Chicago Tribune “We will stand up to hatred and bullying wherever it rears its head.” Such was the message at the 2016 Risa K. Lambert Luncheon, Chicago’s massive fundraiser for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. That same season, Donald Trump was running his first presidential campaign, which was fueled with language and policy
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — A new coalition to govern Israel will emerge in December. There’s been a hue and cry over the right wing/religious makeup of the coalition, especially from foreign governments. Among these fears are possible changes to Israel’s judicial system, especially its highest court. I believe that some changes are
Reforming Israel’s Supreme Court Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — In 1945, when philosopher Karl Popper published “The Open Society and its Enemies,” his landmark critique of historicist philosophy, he probably did not suspect that only three years later a Jewish state would be established in a distant part of the Middle East. On the other hand,
Anarchists and Enemies of the Open Society Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Opinion