For all the recent hubbub over the worsening lot of Israel\’s poor, and the growing criticism of Prime Minister Ehud Barak\’s born-again Reaganite economic policies, it should be understood that in many key misery indices, Israel isn\’t doing too badly.
Ehud Barak, Israel\’s prime minister, has been smiling a lot lately, and it\’s driving many people crazy.
\’Tis the season when children in public schools face the December Dilemma. As part of a classroom lesson, Jewish youngsters may be given Christmas trees to color. During holiday music programs, they may find themselves acting in a nativity scene or singing \”Silent Night.\” Santa Claus may show up on campus, passing out candy canes and asking them what they want for Christmas.
The revived Syrian-Israeli talks, which began this week in Washington, could be yet another false start on the twisting road to peace. Or the two countries could move with blinding speed to conclude an agreement that will transfer the Golan Heights back to Syrian control.
After being vanquished from the White House nearly eight years ago, much of the Republican establishment is putting its faith — and cash — behind George W. Bush to lead the party back to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Melodic harmonies echo through Dominus Flevit, a small-but-quaint church on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, as a group of 30 Christian Bible scholars and pastors sing \”Hallelujah to the Lord,\” first in English, then Hebrew.
Built in 1955 on the ruins of an ancient church, the teardrop-shaped structure commands a breathtaking view of the eastern walls of Jerusalem\’s Old City. According to Christian tradition, Jesus, knowing his prophetic message would be rejected, wept here as he viewed the illusion of a tranquil city that, in fact, was bitterly divided, its Jewish population suffering under a brutal Roman occupation.
Is the change of the secular calendar from 1999 to 2000 a Jewish issue?
Okay, let\’s just get this out in the open. The marking of the second millennium since the birth of Jesus is, well, not a Jewish event. In fact, it doesn\’t take a theologian to figure out that it\’s pretty much a Christian way of chalking up the years.
At first blush it seemed like a done deal. If Syria and Israel were returning to the negotiating table, and President Bill Clinton was leading them, then it was surely just a matter of time until the two sides reached agreement and declared peace. American, Syrian and Israeli officials sounded confident to a fault, saying a deal might be just a short distance away.
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