By Rafael Medoff The latest film from Ken Burns, “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” has aroused controversy with its claim that President Franklin D. Roosevelt did his best to help save Jews from the Nazis. As Donald Harrison notes in his October 5 column, filmmakers Burns, Sarah Botstein, and Lynn Novick contend that “FDR would […]
Getting it Wrong on FDR and the Holocaust Read More »
Holocaust, International, Opinion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Nearly four years after 11 congregants were slain at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Dr. Mehmet Oz is demonizing his Pennsylvania Senate rival from nearby Braddock for seeking the release of more convicts from prison. In the process, Oz unwittingly triggers thoughts of an advanced approach to
Gun-Violence Accomplices, in Congress? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Opinion, USA
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Over 10 years ago, I wanted to make an offer to buy a house in New Jersey and the agent told me to submit my offer in the form of a signed contract. She explained – and my lawyer subsequently confirmed – that upon the seller’s acceptance of the offer, my
Before Signing on the Dotted Line… Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Opinion
By Kayla Swartzberg LA JOLLA, California — Take a second to look at the Second Commandment. It reads, “Thou shalt not make idols.” And I’m sure you’ve heard it before. Maybe once, maybe a thousand times. Our great rabbis, scholars, and sages tell us that the Torah is as relevant now as it was during
It’s Just Gold: Having Perspective on Idolatry and Materialism Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, OpinionBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — A Detroit congresswoman, an Australian student editor, and a sex-abuse survivor from Vermont escape from a sanatorium and regale us with stories confirming their standing as antisemites. The trio has entangled Judaism and Israel, proving once again that from their perspective anti-Zionism is indeed antisemitism. A congresswoman we know
Anti-Zionism, Antisemitism Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — At the start of a new Jewish year, there are good signs and other signs in our corner of the world. Attacks continue, more or less daily, mostly by individual Palestinians or small groups. Recently an 84 year old Israeli was clubbed to death on the street near her
Positive Signs in Israel for 5783 Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion
By Dorian de Wind The Moderate Voice AUSTIN, Texas — If you thought that book burnings were a barbaric relic of the Middle Ages, think again. In the 1930s, in Nazi Germany, Austria and, later, in occupied territories, the Nazis conducted massive burnings of books they felt contained anti-Nazi ideology – including books written by
How Books Were Somehow Protected in One of Hitler’s Death Camps Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorian de Wind, Holocaust, International, Opinion
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I suppose the etymology of the two phrases (Holy Days and Holidays) is the same, but their significance in this day and age is very different. Holidays are a time for enjoying oneself, whether relaxing on a beach or trekking up a mountain, whichever suits your taste. Holy
Holy Days and Holidays Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — They seem to be on an upswing, but Palestinian attacks against Israelis are a continuous phenomenon. For a summary of attacks since May 2016 and through July 2022, provided by the Israeli government, in English, you can look here. A graphic display appears below. The first graph shows the
Terror, the Queen, and the deadline for Parties to Run in Israel’s Election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, Opinion
By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — If nothing else, the Republican Party has steadily removed any doubt that it has embraced an extremism that threatens the future of American Democracy. We can clearly perceive the imminent danger that the Party poses in several crucial ways, perhaps the most salient being the refusal of candidates to
The Authoritarian Personality and Rise of Right-Wing Extremism Read More »
Opinion, Sam Ben-Meir, USABy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — We must wonder what Lina Abu Akleh refers to when she charges: “We don’t expect war criminals to investigate their own crimes.” Or when Nabil Abu Rdeneh claims all evidence proves that “Israel is the culprit, that it killed Shireen, and it must be held responsible for its crime.”
Who Are the War Criminals? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion
By Richard L. Cravatts (JNS) The suppression of any speech that does not conform to hegemonic ideologies is not an uncommon occurrence at today’s universities. What is now labeled “cancel culture” is dedicated to the purging of thoughts and ideas that conflict with liberal notions or the radical ravings of social justice warriors. This unfortunate
Muzzling Free Speech at Berkeley Law School Read More »
California, Israel, Opinion, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — The images and colors of childhood sometimes determine later pictures of life. In my childhood, during the big Soviet holidays, an airship hovered over the city with four portraits on its huge body. One of the men portrayed in the portraits surpassed the other three in the amount of
On the Way to Israel Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Remember the disaster at Mt. Meron? It occurred in May,2021. Forty-five individuals died in a crowd crush and the collapse of the structure. According to newspaper reports, “Planning and safety officials expressed serious concerns over the wellbeing of pilgrims at Lag B’Omer festivities at Mount Meron last year, days
Is Mt. Meron Investigation the Last Straw for Netanyahu? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, Opinion