We learn in Choshen Mishpat 137, “Behold, the first ‘good’ in the Torah was based on sight. And from this Rabbi Eliezer learned that the general way to achieve goodness is ‘ayin tova.’” Indeed, in Bereshit, we see that the first verse in the Torah using the word “good” is in relation to sight: “And G-d saw the light and it was good…” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Parashat Balak: Opening Our Eyes to Goodness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The government created the Building Construction Index to protect all parties’ interests. When someone purchases an apartment in a project under construction, the unpaid portion of the price becomes linked to the BCI. Parenthetically, buyers who are risk averse can often accelerate their payment schedule and prepay the lion’s share of the purchase price, thus limiting their inflation risk. [Gedaliah Borvick].
Inflation Index Adds to Cost of Buying Homes in Israel Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Middle East
Members of the Jewish community who have served on the Port Commission since its creation in 1962 were Harvey Furgatch (appointed 1969), Milton “Mickey” Fredman (1970), Ben Cohen (1977) and Louis Wolfsheimer (1979), all of whom had passed away prior to my undertaking this book, and Robert Penner (1988), Lynn Schenk (1990), Stephen Cushman (1998) and Laurie Black (2007), all of whom I had the opportunity to interview. All these Jewish Port Commissioners represented the City of San Diego, except for Penner and Cohen, who were appointed by Chula Vista and Coronado respectively. [Donald H. Harrison]
Four Jews Who Served as Port Commissioners Tell of Their Tenures Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
By Mike Wagenheim (JNS) Broadcasting the Summer Olympic Games is a massive operation, with more than 7,000 personnel covering 28 sports utilizing 1,000-plus cameras, taking the games global. For the first time, the so-called Jewish Olympics will be broadcast around the world from July 12-26 with slightly more humble resources, though still requiring a herculean
This Year’s Maccabiah Games Are Going Live … Read More »
International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USA
Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz held a rare meeting in the West Bank in an effort to calm tensions and coordinate security measures days before U.S. President Joe Biden’s first visit to the region. Gantz said on Twitter that Thursday’s meeting in Ramallah
Palestinian Authority President, Israeli Defense Minister Meet Before Biden Visit Read More »
Middle East
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) has appointed Justin Pressman as Executive Director of its Western Region, which encompasses Southern California and the Southwestern states. In his new position, Pressman will develop regional strategic campaign plans, as well as implement and evaluate major giving campaigns in support of the
By Shoshana Bryen (JNS) Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh died covering an Israeli counter-terror operation on the West Bank. That this was a tragedy is the only thing clear about her death. Various media outlets—some reasonably unbiased and some not—mounted “investigations.” Private companies, including a Dutch-based consortium, did their own. Politicians with an ax to grind
The Bullet That Killed Abu Akleh Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Shoshana Bryen, USA
By Rabbi Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The destruction of the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, and neighboring towns is a well-known tale filled with obscurities that people often fail to notice. When they do, they stop thinking about the story and fail to learn from it. Here are some of the many obscurities. Was
What We Don’t Know About Sodom and Gomorrah Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
(JNS) Israel and Turkey on Thursday initialed a civil aviation agreement as part of a broader deal to broaden bilateral ties. The aviation agreement would be the first of its kind to be signed since 1951, and would allow Israeli airlines to resume flights to Turkey. Israeli Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli expressed her thanks to
Israel, Turkey Move Forward on Civil Aviation Agreement Read More »
Middle East
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — What kind of people do we want as our leaders? Is it unreasonable to expect the individuals who govern our country and determine our fate, at least to some extent, to be honest, righteous and upstanding? The sad reality seems to be that decent, honest individuals are not
Integrity? Who Needs Integrity? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, Opinion, USA
Published by Reuters By Aziz El Yaakoubi, Andrew Mills and Matt Spetalnick RIYADH (Reuters) – The United States and Israel are seeking to lay the groundwork for a security alliance with Arab states that would connect air defence systems to combat Iranian drone and missile attacks in the Middle East, four sources familiar with the
US, Israel Push Arab Allies for Joint Defense Pact Amid Iran Tensions Read More »
Middle EastBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. If you want to believe that our Torah is obsolete and without consequence in our modern society, and if you choose to believe that those who live a more Torah–observant life than you do are thoughtlessly following nonsensical and senseless foolish “religious rules,” then this week’s Torah portion may put
Parashat Chukat: One Imperfectly Human Step at a Time Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Omar Shakir should forget the popular refrain, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.” He screameth way too loud when he declares the Ben & Jerry’s sale another grand victory for the Palestinians. It is one more humiliating loss that the Palestinians have suffered. It is
Ben & Jerry’s Creates a Drip…a Monstrous Drip Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, Opinion, USA
By Eric George Tauber CINCINNATI, Ohio — My friend Maria has dyslexia, so reading and writing are more difficult for her than most. To make matters worse, Maria was raised in parochial school in the 1950s when dyslexia was not well-known and the nuns’ pedagogy was pretty much limited to rote memorization and corporal punishment.
Irreconcilable Mindsets Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Jewish Religion, Opinion, USA