James Besser's Political Insider

September 8, 2010 | Adam Dickter | Adam Dickter's Continuum

It's an all-out political season, and the High Holidays are here, which made me think a bit about grudges.

September 8, 2010 | Jonathan Mark | Route 17

Here's a good analysis by The Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens regarding the Time cover by Karl Vick, "Why Israel Doesn't Want Peace."

Excerpts from the WSJ:

September 8, 2010 | James Besser | Political Insider

More Jewish groups are getting the message that the epidemic of Islam bashing isn't ...well, good for the Jews or any other religious minority.

Yesterday a broad spectrum of religious leaders gathered in Washington to discuss the rising tide of anti-Islam bigotry. Representing the Jewish community at sessions hosted by the Islamic Society of North America: Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and Rabbi Steve Gutow, president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA).

September 8, 2010 | Abigail Pickus | Abigail in Love (Maybe)

Was that woman walking her cat? On a leash?

Because that’s sure what it looked like.

The woman, heading towards us, was walking two by two with a very pretty, very spry cat. As if they were out for an evening stroll.

September 7, 2010 | Julie Wiener | Julie Wiener's In the Mix

If you aren’t completely sick of hearing about Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky’s co-officiated wedding, you may want to read Rabbi James Ponet’s piece for Tablet about his decision to officiate at intermarriages.

September 7, 2010 | Gary Rosenblatt | Gary Rosenblatt

I have long been a defender of the general media to pro-Israel supporters who believe the press – from the New York Times to the television networks – is biased against Israel. But I’m having a harder time of it these days.

September 7, 2010 | James Besser | Political Insider

Tom Friedman, the New York Times columnist, is worried that America's worsening economic woes will inevitably decrease our ability to be a leader in the world arena.

That's something pro-Israel leaders  should be worrying about. A lot.  If Friedman is right, the tectonic change  will have huge implications for an Israel that counts on an engaged, loyal America as a pillar of its security.

September 6, 2010 | Julie Wiener | Julie Wiener's In the Mix

I think I may have the opposite problem of Rabbi Marc Schneier, the prominent Orthodox spiritual leader who has been divorced four times — and is facing ethics charges from the Rabbinical Council of America.

September 6, 2010 | Abigail Pickus | Abigail in Love (Maybe)

All I wanted was to put my Haaretz on hold while I'm on vacation.

But nothing's ever that simple. Especially not in Israel.

September 6, 2010 | James Besser | Political Insider

Reading the comments of many Jewish Week readers on the New York Islamic Center controversy, I can't help but wonder why so many fail to see the parallels between their views of Islam and traditional anti-Semitism.

A typical comment goes like this: “Don't you understand that Islam is not a religion, but a violent ideology bent on conquering the world and bringing its population under submission through Sharia law? Haven't you read the Koran?”