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January 19, 2011
Limmud becomes a Jewish networking nexus
Journalist and author Lisa Alcalay Klug flew across the country this month to present at the annual New York version of Limmud, one of the Jewish learning gatherings that occur worldwide. She’ll fly in the other direction next month to attend the fourth annual LimmudLA, Feb. 18-21 in Costa Mesa. LimmudLA will be Klug’s eighth Limmud gathering in 12 months. Like the hundreds of other Limmud presenters whose paths she crosses, she doesn’t get paid for her time. “I’ve met amazing people, developed new friendships and reinforced past relationships,” said Klug, who splits her time among California, New York and Israel. “My world has grown exponentially because of it.”
Ehud Barak quits Labor: what’s next?
Was it an act of political self-preservation, a feat of political destruction or a bid to stabilize Israel’s government ahead of some dramatic move? And for Israel’s Labor Party, was it another sign of the once-leading party’s demise or a precursor to a revival and the ideals for which it stands? What’s certain is that Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s decision this week to quit Labor, which he had headed until Jan. 17, has sent shock waves throughout the Israeli political establishment.
Joel Osteen, Israel and the Jews: an exclusive Q&A
Saying they want to \”show solidarity with the nation of Israel and the Jewish people,\” mega-pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen will bring their musical, charismatic brand of Christianity to Israel. The Osteens announced they will hold to hold “A Historic Night of Hope” at the Jerusalem Theater on Thursday, February 3 at 7:00 pm. The event will be broadcast around the world by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). While in Israel, the Osteens will meet with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as a tour of the Holy Land.
Spain Indicts Demjanjuk for Crimes Against Humanity
The Supreme Court of Spain has indicted accused Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk on charges of being an accessory to genocide and crimes against humanity. The court on Jan. 14 requested an international arrest warrant for Demjanjuk, who is accused of being a Nazi concentration camp guard. The court issued the ruling a week earlier but did not make it public until Jan. 14.
Israel Project adds China desk
The Israel Project has set up a China desk. The Washington-based group, which promotes Israel in the international media, announced the addition of veteran China expert Alex Pevzner to its staff on Wednesday as Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Washington for meetings with President Obama.
Tunisia: the first Arab revolution
Every July 23 for the past 58 years, Egypt, my country of birth, has celebrated its “July revolution” that overthrew King Farouk and ended the monarchy and British occupation once and for all. It was no revolution: It was a coup staged by young army officers. And so it has been with a series of “revolutions” around the Arab world in which a succession of military men went on to lead us in civilian clothes — some kept the olive drabs on — and rob generations of the real meaning of revolution. For years I looked at the Iranians with envy — not at the outcome of their 1979 revolution, but because it was a popular uprising, not a euphemism for a coup.
Still want to bomb Iran?
If ever the term “game-changer” could be applied without fear of exaggeration, it could be applied to Meir Dagan’s statement on his last day as Mossad chief, that Iran will not have nuclear weapons before 2015. And that’s the worst-case scenario, he told reporters and Knesset members — that’s if Israel, the United States and the rest of the world suddenly take the pressure off and let Iran go on its merry way to the bomb. If, on the other hand, the campaign of covert operations — i.e. sabotage and assassination — and sanctions continue, then, Dagan said, Iran will be unable to go nuclear for many years beyond 2015.
Six degrees of Senator Joe Lieberman
It was an innocuous interview about a subject I no longer remember. A dozen years ago, I made arrangements to meet Joe Lieberman in a Manhattan office building where he had other business. The Connecticut senator, who announced this week he won’t seek re-election for a fifth term, would be able to spare 15 or 20 minutes between appointments for a taped conversation to be broadcast on the television network where I was then employed.
Honor your father and mother
To make the case for the Torah, I can think of no better verse with which to begin than the fifth of the Ten Commandments: “Honor your father and your mother so that your days be lengthened on the land that I give you.” Proper understanding — and living by — this commandment is indispensable to making a good society. And to properly understand it, perhaps the most important point to be made is that the Torah commands that we honor our mother and father; it never commands us to love them.
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