By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Perhaps only Rabbi Meir Azari, the spiritual leader of Tel Aviv’s Reform Beit Daniel congregation, would describe Yair Lapid, the new powerhouse of Israeli politics, as a Reform Jew. That’s not how Lapid seems to see himself. In an article in the English Ha’aretz of January 24, he’s quoted […]
Lapid’s success should encourage Reform Jews Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Is lack of faith our fault or God’s fault? This week I discovered two commentaries on parashat B’shallach with radically different points of view. When the Sea of Reeds blocked the escape of the Children of Israel from Egypt, they thought they were doomed. As Pharaoh’s chariots closed
Do we need God’s miracles in order to believe? Read More »
Jewish ReligionWith 61 Knesset seats, Netanyahu-led bloc can form coalition without Lapid (JNS.org) Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) stressed Jan. 24 that with the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earning 61 of 120 Knesset seats—just more than half—in the recent election, the Likud Beytenu-led bloc does not need to incorporate
JNS news briefs: January 25, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Paul Greenberg LA JOLLA, California — Rabbi Gary Katz began the highly informative and well-received program, Breakfast With The Mob, that took place in the rehearsal room at the Lawrence Family JCC on Monday, January 21, with an hour-long power point presentation about Jewish gangsters, who operated what might literally be called “cut-throat businesses”
Rabbi tells history of Jewish mobsters Read More »
USABy Evelyn Gordon When the Palestinian Authority (PA) obtained UN recognition as a nonmember observer state in November, many Israelis feared the consequences for Israel: After all, PA President Mahmoud Abbas stated openly that he sought recognition primarily “to pursue claims against Israel” in international forums. Those fears may yet prove justified.
PA near financial collapse Read More »
Middle EastBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — One of the notable things about this year’s Oscar nominations is the absence of films about the Holocaust. I wonder if this is a result of what Simone Schweber has termed, “Holocaust fatigue.” According to her, overexposure to the Holocaust in education and popular culture may have inadvertently desensitized
The Wandering Review: Have the Oscars Tired of the Holocaust? Read More »
Lawrence BaronBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — One can only welcome the Pentagon’s decision to tear down another fence barring female members of the Armed Forces from full participation in the security and defense of our nation. It’s not really about being more so in harm’s way—women have been wounded, maimed, or killed (300
Women long have been fighting for our nation Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Though the two ultra-Orthodox political parties, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah, held their own or did better in the Israeli elections earlier this week, their grip on key issues in the country may be loosening, not because they’ve embraced liberalism and moderation but as a result of the character of
Election may prompt religious reform Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One should never say never, but it appears that the Palestinians have shut the door against the idea of a state. Too often they have done what Abba Eban placed in the handbook of political aphorisms, missing yet another opportunity to miss an opportunity. One can produce numerous explanations of
World increasingly fatigued by Palestinian intractability Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastPA vows to prosecute Israel in International Criminal Court over E1 construction (JNS.org) Equipped with the eligibility to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) following its status upgrade at the United Nations last November, the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Wednesday said it would prosecute Israel in that court if the Jewish state proceeds with construction
JNS news briefs: January 24, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — As the film Lincoln nets twelve Oscar nominations, it’s time to examine Hollywood’s growing power in our national political life—and its celluloid skewing of history. From Congressional hearings over Zero Dark Thirty to President Obama’s private screening of 1600 Penn to politicians calling for Obama to be a
How movies remake history Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israel had a party on Election Day. The weather was beautiful and people went to the beach and the parks by the tens of thousands. They were in a very good mood. And why not? For all the gloom and doom about Israel, its neighbors and its neighborhood, Israel
Youth and females emerge from Israel’s election Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” hosted an exciting array of poets Saturday evening, Jan. 19, at the Astor Judaica Library. The three featured poets, Rabbi Patti Haskell, Ysmael Escudero Tisnado II and Joni Gurstein, attracted an audience of 40 listeners. Below are two examples from each of the talented presenters. Ysmael writes
Selections from three Jewish poets Read More »
Eileen WingardBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Thirty four parties were officially in the running. Polls indicated that 11 were certain of winning enough votes to enter the Knesset, two others were close to the minimum required, and four of the others attracted my attention as curiosities. It will be another day before the ballots of Israelis
‘No’ to Palestinians among trends in Israel election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East