NOTHING BUT ART AT THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL MUSEUM GALA Greeting the more than 600-strong crowd at the October 27 American Friends of Israel Museum “Israel at 60” gala, held at the Waldorf-Astoria, AFIM President Stephen Lash said that “one-third of the guests in the room are under 45 years old” and that “despite…
Haifa, Israel — After 40 years as the voice of the left in Israel, the Labor Party appears to be losing its political heft, and many powerful politicians are now moving to form a replacement. Labor and its predecessor, Mapai, have been major forces throughout Israel’s history, either governing or leading the opposition in almost…
Washington — The appointment of Rahm Emanuel as president-elect Barack Obama’s new chief of staff drew a wave of jubilation in Israel at the prospect of the son of an Irgun fighter running the White House, and a wave of condemnation in the Arab world for much the same reason. The Israeli press embraced him as…
Canadian police, armed with an arrest warrant issued by two French judges, have arrested a university professor in connection with a bombing of a Paris synagogue 28 years ago, a fatal attack that caused shockwaves across France. Authorities arrested Hassan Diab, 54, who is wanted in France on murder and attempted murder charges on November…
Jerusalem — The 4,000 North American Jews who visited Jerusalem for United Jewish Communities’ General Assembly were treated to an all-star line up of speakers, including Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Shimon Peres and the leaders of the country’s three main political parties. With little consensus among politicians as Israel gears up for elections,…
Thanksgiving poses new challenges in Jewish households this year, as some kosher consumers face poultry shortages, price increases and the dilemmas of supporting an industry that has made national headlines over the issue of unethical practices. In New York City, one synagogue created a task force to address the ethical questions its congregants now have…
Washington — After four years of silence, a former pro-Israel lobbyist accused of passing classified information is trying to make his way back to center stage. Steve Rosen, who was in charge of foreign policy at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is putting himself in the public eye with a new blog, public speeches…
Los Angeles — As opponents of California’s new gay marriage ban take aim at the Mormon Church for spearheading the campaign to pass it, a Jewish communal professional who is also a Mormon Church lay leader finds himself at the center of a growing storm in Jewish circles on the West Coast. Mark Paredes, the…
The troubles at what was once the nation’s largest kosher meat producer, Agriprocessors, have continued to beset the company six months after a massive immigration raid at its Postville, Iowa, slaughterhouse and a few weeks after the company declared bankruptcy. In the midst of its efforts to stay alive in the wake of the bankruptcy…
It’s difficult to quantify whether Jews are in line to hold any sort of a record number of top positions in the Obama administration or the next Congress, but it’s clear that a large number of Jews stand to serve in key positions. Among the latest is U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman. The California Democrat dethroned…
Passing Game: Benny Friedman and the Transformation of Football By Murray Greenberg PublicAffairs, 352 pages, $26.95. Even though he retired from pro football in 1934, Jewish quarterback Benny Friedman didn’t make the sport’s Hall of Fame until 2005. Now, Friedman has received a biography of his own. “Passing Game: Benny Friedman and the Transformation of…
