Peter Beinart, author of The Crisis of Zionism , came to town last week and defended his much-maligned call for Americans to boycott Israeli products made in the West Bank while continuing to purchase goods made inside the Green Line. "I think where I disagree with some of my critics, they believe that this plays into and helps the BDS...
Growing up, Rachel Dunn participated in an all-Jewish Girl Scout troop and even went to day school. But the Jewish high school she wanted to attend wouldn't accept her, the Rhawnhurst 18-year-old said, because she couldn't read Hebrew without vowel symbols. "I honestly still can't," Dunn said, adding that dyslexia, dysgraphia and Asperger's Syndrome might prevent her from ever mastering...
Twenty years ago, Larry Ceisler challenged State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-District 182) in a primary. He lost, joining a long list of Democrats who tried over the years to unseat the Center City lawmaker. Though Ceisler, a well-known political and communications strategist had once been an opponent of Josephs, he grew to appreciate her style of politics. He described her...
With the Presbyterian Church USA once again poised to debate divestment from companies that do business in Israel, the Presbytery of Philadelphia has adopted its own resolution that rejects such a stance. And the local clergy opposed to divestment are taking their opposition a step further: The Philadelphia resolution -- known in church parlance as an overture -- will be...
The Philadelphia SPHAS, the long defunct South Philadelphia Hebrew Association's basketball team, are getting a historic plaque from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The team, which existed from 1918 to 1959, first as an amateur squad and later as a professional club, played an important role in both the history of Philadelphia Jewry and the development of pro-basketball. Most...
Sivan 11, 5773
