Yearly Archives 2011

Op-ed: Entebbe and bin Laden raids underscore U.S.-Israel alliance

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Nearly 35 years ago, on July 4, 1976, the streets of America were aglow. The nation was celebrating the bicentennial — the 200th anniversary of its independence. In Israel, too, the streets were radiant. Israel Defense Forces commandos had rescued some 100 hostages held captive by… Read more »

Op-ed: Reform Judaism must move beyond ‘personal choice’

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. (JTA) — Change is afoot in American Reform Judaism. A new president of the Union for Reform Judaism has been selected. The movement has launched a series of nationwide public forums to discuss its future. Hundreds of Reform rabbis have endorsed a plan toward achieving greater… Read more »

Op-ed: Elevate more female rabbis into leadership roles

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (JTA) — On a recent trip to Berlin with a dozen other Conservative rabbis, we made certain to stop at the apartment building that Regina Jonas once called home. I had never heard of Jonas, but to the four female rabbis in our group she was… Read more »

Point/Counterpoint: Magen Tzedek encouraging, not replacing, kashrut

(JTA) — We appreciate Rabbi Shafran’s embrace of the importance of the work of Magen Tzedek when he states in his JTA Op-Ed, “to be sure Jewish ethical values in food production are no less important (than) halachic concerns, and are indeed embodied in independent halachic mandates. But they… Read more »

Point/Counterpoint: Magen Tzedek seal engaging in a kashrut cover-up

(JTA) — There is something ironic, to put it politely, about an effort championing ethics that speaks from both sides of its mouth. That would be the new certification seal for kosher food products, created by a Conservative rabbi and actively being promoted by his movement, that aims to… Read more »

JTA’s new digital news archive marks historic first

NEW YORK (JTA) — Known today as the massacre at Babi Yar, the killing near Kiev of tens of thousands of Jews by German troops at the end of September 1941 is remembered today as one of the most grisly chapters of the Holocaust in Ukraine. In the weeks… Read more »

‘House’ cast gets taste of Israeli medicine

Lisa Edelstein, a star of the hit television show "House," jokingly comforts a dummy used in medical simulations at the Sheba Medical Center, an Israeli hospital outside of Tel Aviv alongside fellow cast members. [Jorge Novominsky]

RAMAT GAN, Israel (JTA) — On television Lisa Edelstein, a star of the hit Fox show “House,” and her fellow actors work medical miracles every episode. But at an Israeli hospital she stumbled trying her hand at simulated arthroscopic surgery. “I’m so glad this is not a living person,”… Read more »

Demjanjuk conviction hailed as long-awaited victory for justice

John Demjanjuk is wheeled into a Munich courtroom on Nov. 30, 2009 for the first day of his trial. The photo was taken by Sobibor death camp survivor Thomas Blatt. (Thomas Blatt)

BERLIN (JTA) — The guilty verdict pronounced May 12 against John Demjanjuk in a Munich courtroom was a long time coming. Following a trial that lasted a year and a half — capping more than three decades of legal drama — the 91-year-old former Ohio autoworker is now officially… Read more »

In West Bank, Palestinians marking Nakba Day encouraged by Arab Spring in fight against Israel

Stone-throwing Palestinians clash with Israeli troops near the Kalandiya checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem on the 63rd anniversary of the Nakba, May 15, 2011. (Nati Shohat/Flash90/JTA)

RAMALLAH, West Bank (JTA) — Clouds of tear gas hovered over hundreds of rioting Palestinian youths on the road to Jerusalem, where demonstrations marking the anniversary of Israel’s founding 63 years ago turned violent. “I want a third intifada,” said Ala Barghouti, a 21-year-old accounting student, his nostrils stuffed… Read more »

Tikkun’s Lerner doesn’t connect Jewish mind to Jewish soul

Thank you for your recent column entitled “Michael Lerner Looks Back as Tikkun Turns 25” (April 21, 2011). I, for one, was heartened to learn that Tikkun’s circulation is dwindling and that a full 40% of its remaining readership is non-Jewish. It cogently confirms that Lerner’s “unapologetically utopian” vision… Read more »

Jewish atheists look for their place in Jewish life

Rabbi Robert Barr of Congregation Beth Adam in Cincinnati says Jews are looking for spiritual nourishment without necessarily believing in divine power. [Alan Brown]

SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) — Jeff Levine has spent 40 years searching for a God he can believe in. He’s finally given up — but he’s not giving up on Judaism. “I did a lot of studying, and I realized about a year ago that it’s OK to say I’m… Read more »

The Tony Kushner flap: What does it say about the discourse on Israel in America?

In a letter to the CUNY board, Tony Kushner wrote, "I believe I am owed an apology for the careless way in which my name and reputation were handled at your meeting." (Jay Thompson)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — It was the latest dustup over what constitutes acceptable discourse in the American Jewish community when it comes to Israel. Except this time the battle wasn’t contained within the community, but began at a university board meeting and spilled over onto the front page of The… Read more »

On Independence Day, a reminder about Gilad Shalit

Yoel Shalit, brother of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, is led away by security after interrupting an Idependence Day ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90/JTA)

JERUSALEM (JTA) — As Israelis celebrated the country’s 63rd Independence Day, they had much more on their minds than barbecues and fireworks. The carefully crafted theme of the day, “Looking after one another — the year of mutual care,” raised the hackles of some Israelis who do not believe… Read more »

Business briefs 5.6.11

MYRON ROTTENSTEIN, vice president — investments at UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES, has been named to Barron’s Top 1000 Financial Advisers List. Rottenstein, who joined UBS Financial Services in 1990, has 27 years’ experience in the securities industry. He is an institutional consultant with UBS, a certified financial planner and a… Read more »

Nikki Leah Baim

NIKKI LEAH BAIM, daughter of Lea Rallis and Richard Baim, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 21 at Temple Emanu-El. She is the granddaughter of Helen and the late Leslie Baim of Evanston, Ill., and Alexandra and Nicholas Rallis of Tucson. Nikki attends St. Gregory College… Read more »

Emanuel (Manny) Katcher Rosen

EMANUEL (MANNY) KATCHER ROSEN, son of Gina and Andy Rosen, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 14 at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Deborah and the late Bernard Margolis of Tucson, and the late Gloria Rosenblatt Donnelly and the late Donald Rosenblatt, both… Read more »

Madison Shiloh Barrow

MADISON SHILOH BARROW, daughter of Lisa and John Barrow, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 14 at Congregation Chaverim. She is the granddaughter of Anne and Sam Zaretsky of Tucson, Christine Barrow of Muscle Shoals, Ala., and Susan and the late Bill Barrow of Birmingham, Cal.… Read more »