Special Sections + National + Israel + Jewish Life + Julie Wiener's In the Mix

Israel’s Supreme Court Finds Tal Law Unconstitutional

02/22/2012

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the Tal Law, which allows yeshiva students to delay their military service, is unconstitutional.

The court issued the ruling Tuesday evening by a vote of 6 to 3.

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Seven Of Obama’s 35 Campaign Chairs Are Jewish

02/22/2012
Ron Kampeas
JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- At least seven of the Obama campaign's 35 co-chairs are Jewish, including Alan Solow, a leading figure in the organized community.

Solow is identified on the list released early Wednesday morning as both a partner at the DLA Piper law firm and as a past president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

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U.S. General’s Iran Comments Sharpen Rift With Israel

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey.

Countries still seen on different page on nuke-containment strategy as high-level talks continue.

02/21/2012
Joshua Mitnick and Stewart Ain

Tel Aviv — U.S. National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon was here this week to confer with Israel’s leaders, the latest in a series of high-level bilateral talks as anxiety builds over a possible Israeli preemptive strike against Iran’s presumed nuclear weapons program.

The U.S. is clearly concerned that Israel may be preparing a military strike against Iran, something the Obama administration believes is “premature.”

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The Rick Reaction

Jewish backers of Rick Santorum say Jewish voters should look past his hard-line social conservatism.

Surging Santorum has Jewish GOPers shrugging, shvitzing and kvelling.

02/21/2012
Ron Kampeas/ JTA

Washington — If Rick Santorum secures the Republican nomination, expect to hear this mantra from his Jewish supporters: In times of crisis, social issues don’t matter.

The former Pennsylvania senator, who is leading in national polls in the race for the GOP presidential nod, is fiercely anti-abortion and believes that states have the right to ban birth control — stances that are at odds with the views of most American Jews.

Not a problem, says Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

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The Mom That Has No Name

Submitted by Julie Wiener on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 14:07

 

In her groundbreaking “The Feminine Mystique,” Betty Friedan famously referred to “the problem that has no name.”

A few weeks ago I took on the mom that has no name: the fact that we have no pithy and consistent way of identifying non-Jewish women raising Jewish children.

InterfaithFamily.com graciously put out a call on Twitter and on its blog seeking suggestions.

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Obama To Address AIPAC

02/21/2012

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Obama will address the annual AIPAC policy conference.

Obama will address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference on March 4, his spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday.

The address comes a day before Obama's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will also address the AIPAC conference.

The White House has intensified its Jewish outreach in recent weeks, ahead of what is expected to be a tough election. On Friday, Obama's chief of staff, Jack Lew, met with Jewish leaders in New York.

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The Source Of Israel’s Security

Shlomo Riskin
02/21/2012
Shlomo Riskin

Candlelighting, Readings:
Shabbat candles: 5:23 p.m.
Torah: Exodus 25:1- 27:19
Haftarah: I Kings 5:26-6:13    
Havdalah: 6:23 p.m.         

“They shall make a Sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them” [Exodus 25:8].

“This Temple that you build… if you follow My decrees… I shall dwell among the Children of Israel and I shall not forsake My people Israel” [I Kings 6:11, haftarah].

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Rain, snow Send Galilee Well Above Danger Level

02/21/2012

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The Sea of Galilee's water level rose by about half a foot following a weekend of rain and snow, sending its levels well above the lower red line.

Even with the rise, the Galilee remains four yards shy of being what is considered full.

The lower red line is a government-recommended level below which water should no longer be drawn from the lake to prevent damage to the ecosystem.

Nearly 8 inches of snow (about 20 centimeters) fell in the northern Golan Heights. Snow also fell in Hebron and in the Gush Etzion bloc.

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Obama, Netanyahu To Meet March 5

02/21/2012

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet early next month.

A meeting was expected, as Netanyahu is set to be in Washington to address the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on March 5.

In a statement Monday, the White House said the two leaders would meet the same day.

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Tel Aviv Seeks Approval To Run Buses On Shabbat

02/21/2012

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The Tel Aviv City Council approved a resolution to allow public transportation to run on Shabbat.

The measure was approved Monday evening by a vote of 13-7

The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality must now seek a permit from the Transportation Ministry. If the ministry rejects the request, the resolution provides for the creation of an independent transportation service.

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