The Obama administration's current obsession over Jewish settlements in the West Bank is misguided. The president may think that publicly pushing the issue will enhance his standing in the Muslim/Arab world and aid his peacemaking efforts, but this approach is likely to backfire. With Iran on the cusp of developing nuclear capabilities -- and its extremist proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah,...
American Jews, like all Americans, have much at stake in the next appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. Which is why we need to pay close attention to President Barack Obama's nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, as the Senate confirmation process gets under way. Jewish groups were quick to identify with her poignant personal story and point out the significance of her...
The passing of Rabbi Gerald I. Wolpe, who died this week at the age of 81, marks the end of an era for Philadelphia Jewry. His legacy extends well beyond Har Zion Temple, the influential congregation where he served as the much-beloved religious leader for 30 years. Though he stepped down from his pulpit a decade ago, he continued to...
One year after a federal raid on the nation's largest kosher meat-packing plant, the Jewish community is rightly engaged in constructive dialogue about just what it means to be kosher. The May 12, 2008 raid nabbed 389 undocumented workers at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville, Iowa. The owners of the plant face charges of labor violations, money-laundering and immigration fraud...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stumped the pundits this week, welcoming negotiations with the Palestinians, giving tacit support to a congressional letter calling for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and appointing a widely respected moderate as his ambassador to the United States. His pledge that he is committed to negotiations with the Palestinians was made via satellite to...
Sivan 13, 5773
