Archive for the ‘Israel’ Category

Manhattan, NY - There was scarce evidence of the global recession at a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser for the IDF in New York City on Tuesday night. Even as protestors outside the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel decried the guest of honor – Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi – donors pledged six-figure sums, topping $20 ... Full story

"The important work you did will not be forgotten," says chairman of US Joint Chief of Staff. Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff, met with members of the IDF's humanitarian delegation to Haiti at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on Monday morning, telling the soldiers "the important work ... Full story

Israel - A rabbinical forum dedicated to preventing sexual harassment within the national-religious sector issued an announcement Monday warning the public of prominent national-religious Rabbi Mordechai (Motti) Elon, who allegedly committed “acts in contradiction to the values of sanctity and morals.” According to Takana, after receiving complaints about Elon’s implicit sexual ... Full story

Haifa, Israel - How much would you pay to celebrate Purim in style? If the answer is 'a lot', then you may be interested in a Scroll of Esther written in 17th-century Spain which is now up for sale online for the price of roughly $21,400. Sixty-year-old Didi Bentov of Haifa, an offspring ... Full story

Israel - Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, slammed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his weekly sermon Saturday evening, referring to the Iranian president as "Haman of our generation" and saying that he "can go to hell". The rabbi, who dedicated his address to Jewish laws related to the holiday of ... Full story

Jerusalem - Israeli sources say CIA director Leon Panetta traveled to Israel this past week. He met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Mossad chief Meir Dagan, one former Israeli official said. The main subject of conversation was Iran, as well as "relations" in general, the former ... Full story

Washington - Israel has paid the United Nations $10.5 million for property losses and injuries the United Nations suffered during Israel's attack on Gaza a year ago, the world body and Israeli diplomats said on Friday. "With this payment, the United Nations has agreed that the financial issues relating to those incidents ... are concluded," U.N. ... Full story

Israel - A Knesset debate Wednesday on council tax exemptions for rooms adjoining synagogues that are used as study or events halls turned into a bizarre argument over Sephardi and Ashkenazi synagogue-going habits. Construction and Housing Minister Ariel Atias turned to Kadima MK Dalia Itzik, asking, "How is it that a Sephardi woman who goes ... Full story

Israel - The growing environmental problem caused by the burgeoning quantity of Sabbath Torah sheets and pamphlets concerns environmentalists. In any given synagogue on Friday evening, one can find up to five, 10 or even 15 piles of newly-printed, colorful pamphlets replete with Torah thoughts on the weekly reading, Jewish law and outlook, the Land of Israel, ... Full story

Israel - A Jewish-American extremist has been charged with shooting to death two Palestinians and trying to kill others with explosive devices and poison. According to an indictment filed in Jerusalem district court on Thursday, Jack (Yaakov) Teitel set out to avenge the deaths of Israelis killed in Palestinian terror attacks. Teitel is a 37-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jewish ... Full story