This week in power: 2012 election, Egypt, Stripsearch, Kobe Bryant

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

Eying the election
With Rep. Barney Frank, a popular Jewish politician for the past 30 days, ” title=”http://www.sun-sentinel.com/florida-jewish-journal/opinion/fl-jjps-ettinger-1130-20111129,0,3669807.story”>syndicated column. While Israel remains a ” title=”http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/theslant/blog/2011/11/obama_and_me.html”>said Elazar Hiller in the Florida’s Sun-Sentinel. Florida will remain a battleground state all the way through, and Vice President Joe Biden is making his ” title=”http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/1129/1224308279761.html”>according to reports. “We are witnessing an Islamist wave washing over the Arab world after decades of stable military rule,” Binyamin Netanyahu said. “We are facing uncertain times. One cannot estimate how long it will take until things stabilise. We must act responsibly and carefully. This is not the time for rash actions.” And this unrest is sparking new disputes at the Temple Mount. “If there is to be any hope for peace between Israel and its neighbors it will have to wait until there is a sea change in the political culture of a Muslim world still stuck in their irrational hatred for the Jews,” ” title=”http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/egypt-muslim-brotherhood-holds-anti-semetic-rally-draws-thousands-cairo-top-mosque-vowing-day-kill-jews-article-1.982830?localLinksEnabled=false”>fear is there?

A controversial stripsearch
Israel apologized on Monday after officials had ” title=”http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/84337/israel%E2%80%99s-infuriating-treatment-of-lynsey-addario/”>said Allison Hoffman at Tablet. “This, from a country that treats women’s fertility and prenatal health as a paramount public policy issue.” Joe Klein at TIME agreed: “This is completely outrageous, of course. It is another indication that Israel has been brutalized by its occupation of Arab territories since 1967. For those of us who feel strongly about the need for Israel to exist–especially those of us who love the place, warts and all–this incident is yet another reason to fear for Israel’s future,” ” title=”http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/a-jewish-thanksgiving-blessing/2011/11/24/gIQAwz6vrN_blog.html”>said Rabbi David Wolpe in The Washington Post. He’s not the only one reflecting on the meaning of the holiday season. “It’s true that Judaism provides ample opportunities outside of this non-Jewish holiday to recognize our spiritual and familial selves. It has often been noted that the Jewish festival of Sukkot has several elements in common with the multifaith holiday of Thanksgivin,” ” title=”http://blogs.jpost.com/content/do-i-hate-america”>said Rivkah Lambert Adler in the Jerusalem Post. You can take your mind off wondering if Twilight is actually a ” title=”http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-28/sports/30449426_1_jewish-roots-stoudemire-hebrew-school”>rumors that Amar’e Stoudemire is considering opening a Hebrew school. Then, we got word that Kobe Bryant, trying to get into shape for the upcoming NBA season, was ” title=”http://ca.shalomlife.com/culture/16252/kobe-bryants-private-training-session-at-jcc/”>said Ashley Baylen at Shalom Life. What’s next: LeBron James in Tefillin?