The Angel of Kaunas
December 31, 2015 by J-Wire Staff
Electronics giant Philips is behind a book being written by Dutch author Jan Brokken on the story of Jan Zwartendijk, also known as the “Angel of Kaunas” and wants to hear from anyone whose family may have survived the Holocaust because of his help. Read more
2015 as seen by Newt’s News : a video presentation
December 30, 2015 by Henry Greener-The Shtick
Newton Gatoff looks back on 2015 through the eyes of Newt’s News…from Henry Greener’s The Shtick. Read more
Israeli Supreme Court sends former Prime Minister Olmert to jail
December 30, 2015 by Agencies
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who was convicted of bribery in 2014 over the Holyland corruption scandal, was sentenced to 18 months in prison Tuesday after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction. Olmert, who will be the first Israeli prime minister ever to be jailed, is expected to begin serving his prison sentence on Feb. 15. Read more
World Sailing to investigate Malaysia’s denial of Israeli visas
December 30, 2015 by Agencies
The Malaysian Organising Authority of the Youth Sailing World Championship is under investigation after two Israeli windsurfers and their coach did not receive visas in time to compete at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Langkawi, Malaysia. Read more
Jewish terrorism must be cauterized like a cancer…writes Isi Leibler
December 30, 2015 by Isi Leibler
Israelis shuddered when viewing the widely publicised extracts of the wedding video in which youngsters in large white knitted kippot brandished knives like savages, sang a hymn of vengeance and gleefully danced around photographs of the victims of the fatal Duma arson attack.
The Christian new year in Jerusalem
Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin has hosted the traditional annual reception for leaders of Israel’s Christian community to mark the civil New Year. Read more
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
December 29, 2015 by Roz Tarszisz
If you ever read a Peanuts comic strip then you know that it’s a bit like childhood meals. You had to finish the veggies to get dessert. In this animated movie, if Charlie Brown is the veggies, Snoopy is dessert.
The third industrial revolution
December 29, 2015 by Dov Smith
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has launched The 3D and Functional Printing Center, Israel’s first centre with a focus on research in 3D and functional printing. Read more
New Israeli unit to counter ISIS threat
December 29, 2015 by Agencies
The Israel Defense Forces have officially inducted its new Commando Brigade, which brings together four elite military units: Maglan, Duvdevan, Egoz and Rimon. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot said the move was necessary to properly counter the threat to Israel by the Islamic State group.
Social media in Germany combating hateful speech
December 28, 2015 by Andre Oboler
At one time Germany was the origin of racist hate speech which spread across the globe. Not just speech, but speech which turned into action and fed the flames. It’s no coincidence that today the Federal Republic of Germany has some of the strongest laws against hate speech in the world, and prosecutors who are unafraid to use them, even on some of the largest companies in the world. Read more
Palestine – Elections Key To Ending Senseless Acts Of Self-Destruction
December 28, 2015 by David Singer
Elections in the West Bank and Gaza – last held in 2006 – increasingly appear to be the key to ending the past three months of random Arab stabbing and car ramming attacks on Israel’s Jewish civilian population, armed forces, border police and security guards…writes David Singer. Read more
Why is eating pork so repugnant to Jews?…ask the rabbi
December 28, 2015 by Rabbi Raymond Apple
Q. Why is eating pork so repugnant to Jews? Read more
The Lowys honoured by the IPO
December 27, 2015 by J-Wire Staff
Thousands of subscribers to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra crowded Tel Aviv’s Charles Bronfman Auditorium (Heichal Hatarbut) for its gala series concert dedicated to Sydney-based supporters Shirley and Frank Lowy. Read more
The Cost of Collaborating with Iran…writes Ben Cohen
December 26, 2015 by Ben Cohen - JNS.org
Next month marks the first anniversary of the death of Alberto Nisman, the Argentine federal prosecutor who spent a decade investigating the 1994 Iranian-backed bombing of the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires. In that massacre, 85 people were murdered and hundreds more injured. Read more
Greece’s drive to recognise Palestine disappoints the ADC
December 25, 2015 by J-Wire News Service
Australia’s B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has labelled the vote by The Greek parliament urging the Greek government to recognise the state of Palestine as premature and counterproductive. Read more
Malaysian demands too much for Israelis
December 25, 2015 by Agencies
Two Israelis, Yoav Omer and Noy Drihan, will not be able to defend their titles at the Youth Sailing World Championship in Malaysia after the Israel Sailing Association (ISA) announced they will not send a delegation because of anti-Israel demands made by organisers. Read more
Hamas-Islamic State cooperation adds new layer to Middle East threats
December 25, 2015 by Sean Savage - JNS.org
In a region full of challenges and short on solutions, reported cooperation between Hamas and the Islamic State branch in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula—considered by many experts to be the terror group’s most potent offshoot—adds a new layer of threats to Middle East stability and especially to Israel…writes Sean Savage/JNS.org. Read more
Christmas greetings from the State of Israel
December 25, 2015 by J-Wire News Service
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sends Christmas greetings to Christians throughout the world. Read more
May the force be with you…writes Michael Kuttner
December 25, 2015 by Michael Kuttner
This week has seen the release of the latest Star Wars movie in many countries, including Israel, where because of the time difference, fans were able to view it many hours ahead of its premiere in the USA. Read more
Play better bridge with Ron Klinger: With axetreme prejudice
December 25, 2015 by Ron Klinger
This week’s bridge column from one of the game’s masters. Read more
Jesus a Palestinian?
December 24, 2015 by J-Wire News Service
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has exchanged letters with the Uniting Church in Australia following an online article in which Christ’s birthplace is described as being in Palestine. Read more
Doing “a job” on ex Ambassador Michael Oren
December 24, 2015 by Michael Danby
As any of us that travel to Israel know, it is almost impossible to reconcile the vital, passionate, funny, modern and indeed happy Jewish state with the grotesque caricature presented by Australia’s two (Jerusalem-based) advocacy journalists. Read more
A Jewish Santa
December 24, 2015 by Henry Benjamin
Why is this Santa different from all other Santas?….because he’s Jewish! Read more
Jews and the global tilt towards conservativism and populism
December 24, 2015 by Isi Leibler
Since the emancipation of the eighteenth century, Jews traditionally supported liberal, reform and even revolutionary movements which, in most cases, paved the way for them to achieve equality…writes Isi Leibler. Read more
Israeli plan to use agricultural technology for sustainable development welcomed by U.N.
December 24, 2015 by J-Wire News Service
World Jewish Congress CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer has welcomed the United Nations General Assembly’s decision to adopt an Israeli resolution to utilise agricultural technology for sustainable development, despite the Arab bloc’s attempts to prevent its passage because it was submitted by Israel. Read more
From flotilla to friends? Turkey-Israel reconciliation not so simple
December 23, 2015 by Sean Savage - JNS.org
Israel and Turkey are close to signing a deal to normalise diplomatic ties following a secret meeting in Switzerland between senior officials…writes Sean Savage/JNS.org Read more
The war is getting closer
December 23, 2015 by Ben Cohen - JNS.org
The most recent Republican presidential debate was a breath of fresh air on the terrorism challenge that is front and centre in American politics right now…writes Ben Cohen/JNS.org Read more
European Union Suffers Continuing Backlash Over Racist Labelling Laws…writes David Singer
December 23, 2015 by David Singer
The Czech Parliament’s lower House – by an overwhelming majority with all parties except the Communists supporting it – has joined fellow European Union (EU) members – Greece and Hungary – in urging the Czech Government to refuse implementing EU racist and discriminatory labelling laws for Jewish goods produced in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Read more
B’nai B’rith calls for removal of youth “ambassador”
December 22, 2015 by J-Wire News Service
B’nai Brith International and Australia’s B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) are demanding that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)—a highly politicized arm of the world body that affords Palestinian refugees special treatment denied to all the world’s other refugees—remove Mohammed Assaf as its regional youth ambassador for “Palestine.” Read more
UNRWA unmasked
December 22, 2015 by Michael Kuttner
The Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) was the venue for an important forum held this week devoted to learning exactly what goes on behind the scenes at the UN agency tasked with looking after Palestinian Arab refugees. Read more
