TEL AVIV — In an unusual departure, Israel’s headlines and public conversations this week were dominated not by diplomatic, political or military news but by a business scandal. However, it was not just an ordinary scandal: With close to a dozen of the country’s most distinguished business executives called in for investigation so far, the…
The New York Festival of Song, which for the past 17 years has presented tantalizing musical buffets, deserves bravos for its May 3 “A Prince of a Fella” tribute to producer/director Hal Prince and for the May 11 “Lost Tribes of Vaudeville” exploration of the Jewish-black musical connection. Co-chaired by Jamie Bernstein, John Kander, Barbara…
OAKLAND — The Vatican’s new chief theological watchdog, former archbishop of San Francisco William Joseph Levada, has been bemoaned in some circles as a doctrinal conservative. But he is receiving praise from at least one liberal stronghold: the Bay Area’s Jewish community. Levada became the highest-ranking American in the history of the Roman Catholic Church…
Once again, Stanley Siegelman returns to Der Vinkl with his incredible ability to spot odd and unusual news items and turn them into his funny, punny English and Yiddish. Here’s the way he introduces his rare bit of news: “Yielding to pressure from animal rights activists, the Israeli Knesset has banned the force-feeding of geese….
WEST POINT, N.Y. — When Adam Sasso arrived at the U.S. Military Academy in the summer of 2001, he expected to find intense challenges, close friendships and rigorous academics. But he was pleasantly surprised to also find at the army’s elite college a Jewish community he describes as “very committed.” There are fewer than 90…
In recent days, Egypt has distinguished itself as the country to which to send terrorist suspects. The reason? Egypt is outstanding in the brutality it uses to extort confessions from suspects. On May 12, The New York Times reported that “the United States and other countries have forcibly sent dozens of terrorist suspects to Egypt.”…
WASHINGTON — A new report published Wednesday by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom slams the government of Egypt for allowing the deterioration of rights of religious minorities, including Jews. The report, which focuses on violations of the religious rights of non-orthodox and non-conforming Muslims, also mentions the failure of President Hosni Mubarak’s…
WASHINGTON — Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas left the White House last week with plenty of political gains, which Israeli pundits and some high-profile Israeli officials were saying came at Jerusalem’s expense. Still, Jewish groups remained silent. As he welcomed Abbas last week, Bush seemed supportive of the Palestinian leader’s strategy of taking gradual steps to…
Bush Taps New Liaison The White House was expected to name Jeffrey Berkowitz as the new liaison to the Jewish community. Berkowitz, associate director of the White House scheduling office, will take the post over from Noam Neusner, who according to sources has been relieved to concentrate on his position as spokesman for the Office…
Police and government officials are investigating an incident at a nursing home in Rochester, N.Y., involving two female residents that was first reported as a homicide involving a 94-year-old victim and an 85-year-old suspect. Authorities now say criminal charges are unlikely, citing the mental state of the younger resident. Neither woman’s name has been released….
TORONTO — Israeli-born financial wunderkind Boaz Manor generated national headlines earlier this year when he returned to his native country after being served with a court order by Canadian authorities investigating his failed hedge fund. Now, Manor’s father, Daniel, himself a leading businessman, is defending his son’s decision to head back to Israel. Daniel Manor,…
די „שלום־עליכם לעקציע“ וועט מען קענען הערן אויפֿן אָרט אָדער דורך דער אינטערנעץ.
