The American Jewish Committee last week became the first, and to date only, mainstream Jewish group to give strong public backing to proposed legislation that would ban the use of torture by American military, intelligence and law-enforcement personnel. On December 10, the AJCommittee’s board of governors passed a resolution expressly condemning the use of so-called…
Is That a Prayer Shawl? It turns out that Mitt Romney wasn’t the only one wearing his faith on his sleeve in Texas earlier this month: One of the former governor’s top Jewish donors has raised eyebrows for showing up at the GOP contender’s speech on faith in religious garb. David Nierenberg, an investor from…
United Nations – The top humanitarian official at the United Nations said he found “shocking” the lack of international attention to the worsening situation in Gaza, which was caused by the Israeli blockade since Hamas took over the territory last June. John Holmes, who serves as under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and as emergency relief…
San Diego – In a darkened room at the San Diego Convention Center last week, nearly 1,000 people clapped, sang and danced to evening prayers, with the words projected on two large screens against a bucolic backdrop of mountain vistas and rolling streams. Featuring a five-piece band and a charismatic, storytelling leader, the evening service…
Judaism is a religion that thrives on rituals. We light candles before the Sabbath, recite special prayers before drinking wine and, most inexplicably, eat Chinese food on Christmas. In her forthcoming book “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food” (to be published by Twelve in March 2008), New York Times reporter…
This should be an easy column to write. Blah blah blah, New Year’s resolutions, going to the gym, 1,000 words, yadda yadda yadda, file it, done. Yet I cannot seem to start. Wait! It’s like a metaphor! For going to the gym! Yes! New Year’s Eve is fast approaching and the country is about to…
Dored Zarkawi’s popular radio talk show is devoted to helping Arab Israeli women solve their most pressing problems. On his program, “Najom Ely,” or “Nighttime Astrology,” Zarkawi combines astrology, modern psychology, and his fresh and forward thinking about women to dispense advice. The 34-year-old Arab Israeli resident of the Galilee says that he tries to…
President Bush will visit Israel and the West Bank as part of a nine-day trip to the Middle East. Bush will travel to the region Jan. 8-16, the White House announced Tuesday. The U.S. leader also will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. In Jerusalem, Bush will meet with Prime…
The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday continued its assault on Gaza Strip militants responsible for the Qassam rockets that batter southern Israel on a daily basis, raising the death toll among Islamic Jihad and Hamas to 13 in the past 24 hours. The strikes are the IDF’s most deadly military response in months to the…
Toronto – This past week, as Toronto struggled with its first major snowstorm of the winter, Ve’ahavta, Canada’s Jewish humanitarian and relief organization, took to the streets to comfort and feed the homeless. A van staffed by Jewish volunteers from the affluent suburbs made its way through the downtown core, distributing blankets, clothing and food….
Washington – Congress approved new legislation this week enabling families of terrorism victims to go after hidden assets of foreign governments accused of sponsoring terrorist groups. The bill, which passed with overwhelming support in both the Senate and the House despite strong opposition from the Bush administration, opens the door for the enforcement of multimillion-dollar…
