Quiet time in Israel?…asks Ron Weiser

Is there such a thing as a quiet period of time when it comes to Israel? Read more

The elusive path to the negotiating table Part 2; Israeli and Palestinian delegates head to Washington.’

After a four year stalemate, the Palestinian and Israeli parties laid the groundwork to resume negotiations on the so-called “final status” issues that must be resolved to end the dispute. Amidst much hype, the first ‘peace talks’ commenced in Washington this week…writes Gabsy Debinski. Read more

Israel once held all the cards … writes Gil Solomon

The naiveté of the Jewish world never ceases to amaze me. Read more

Welcome to Camp Jihad…writes Michael Kuttner

The hazy, crazy, lazy endless days of summer are upon us and children are enjoying vacation from school, the luxury of going to bed late and then sleeping in the next morning and for many having a great time at summer camps. Read more

Wonder where the money goes to?…writes David Werdiger

If you live in the ghettos of Caulfield, East St Kilda or Bondi, and have a mezuzah on your door, then you will surely have experienced them. Read more

Palestine: Kerry Commits Harakiri…writes David Singer

US Secretary of State John Kerry has fallen on his sword in attempting to seek a renewal of negotiations designed to culminate in the creation of a new Arab State between Jordan and Israel for the first time ever in recorded history. Read more

New Executive Director for Victorian Rabbis

The Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) has announced the appointment of Rachel Mihalovich to the role of Executive Director. Read more

A Bissel Beethoven

The second International Pianists in Recital concert for the year was a night out for Beethoven-philes as Jonathan Biss stacked four sonatas on top of one another, writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

Palestine: The Unending Conflict – Part 2…writes George Peters

One Small Candle …a question for Rabbi Gourarie

Question:
I happen to know a number of people who are experiencing big difficulties and challenges in their lives at the moment. Some have been hurt and need a listening ear to share their pain. Others are struggling with their relationships and a few of them are grappling with emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. But I am not a psychologist and do not have the necessary skills to provide support, nor do I have the energy to help each one with their specific issues. On the other hand I feel a sense of responsibility. Can you advise? Read more

Can we do something about Israel’s PR?…asks Rabbi Nochum Shapiro

On Tisha B’Av Israeli newspapers and the world media reported The European Union (EU) has issued a resolution for all its 28 member States that forbids any form of cooperation, including funding, scholarships, and research grants, to any Israelis or Israeli entities in areas that Israel acquired in 1967, namely the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Read more

Indyk: a disastrous choice for mediator…writes Isi Leibler

The US State Department has floated a trial balloon to test the idea of former US Ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, serving as mediator in the forthcoming peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. It is not surprising that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has signaled his approval. What is incomprehensible is that Prime Minister Netanyahu has done likewise. Read more

The Elusive Road to the Negotiating Table…write Gabsy Debinski

It has been a big few days in Israel. After an intense round of shuttle diplomacy aimed at reviving the inactive peace process, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, announced that the Israelis and Palestinians had agreed to the resumption of peace talks. Read more

Beyond the Pale…writes Michael Kuttner

Not so many years ago back in Czarist Russia, Jews were confined to certain areas of the country beyond which they were not allowed to live. Ironically in light of today’s developments this was called the Pale of Settlement. Of course Russia was not alone in confining its hapless Jews to certain clearly defined areas as most of Europe from time to time also indulged in this selective practice of segregating where their Jewish population could live. Read more

The E.U. Boycott: an Unlikely Precursor to Peace Talks…write Gabsy Debinski

Israel has been hit with a huge blow in the last 24 hours, with the EU issuing a directive banning its 28 members from providing funding to areas outside Israel’s pre-1967 borders.  Read more

Palestine – European Union Can’t Be Judge And Jury…writes David Singer

The decision by the European Union (EU) to boycott Jewish organisations and institutions based in the West Bank and East Jerusalem will bring much joy to the Arab world’s on-going vicious hate campaign of denigration and demonization of the Jewish State. Read more

Europe Hypocritically Lashes Out Against Israel…writes Isi Leibler

The European Union has disposed of any pretense of even-handedness with Israel, and has effectively repudiated the concept of disputed territories, which will be one of the principal issues of contention at the forthcoming peace talks sponsored by US Secretary of State John Kerry. Read more

Now playing on the Reality TV: The Fayyad Plan—A + B + C(EU) = 100%

The big show we’re all watching stars US Secretary of State John Kerry, skeptical but concerned about his attempts to restart negotiations between us and the Palestinians…write Ari Briggs and By Jan Sokolovsky. Read more

We are not amused…writes Michael Kuttner

Israel has received official visits from a large number of heads of state during its 65 years of re-established independence. Read more

Claims Conference: Has it No Shame? …asks Isi Leibler

For more than a decade, there have been passionate pleas for the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, the organization responsible since its inception for the distribution of over $70 billion of restitution payments, to review its management, governance and oversight procedures and prioritize the distribution of discretionary funds so that aged Holocaust survivors desperately in need of assistance could live out their remaining years with a modicum of dignity. Read more

The Twenty-Percenter – Beyond Jewish stereotypes –

A column dedicated to the centrality of “marginal” Jews to the Diaspora experience….

Trying to get upstairs to a session on social justice at Limmud Oz this year was like being a homing salmon swimming upstream…against a torrent of angry bears all rushing headlong towards the latest visiting overseas luminary  holding court on “The Situation” in Israel. Read more

The shuk comes to Caulfield

It’s a highlight those who have travelled to Israel know all too well… The sights, smells, sounds and treasures of “the Shuk”. Be it Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehudah or Tel-Aviv’s Carmel markets, it’s an experience so quintessentially Israeli that any trip to the Middle East would be sadly incomplete if one were to return without at least one bargain discovered and haggled over at the shuk. Read more

Palestine – Jordan/West Bank Bi-National State Under Discussion…writes David Singer

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have been discussing the creation of a bi- national State in the West Bank and Jordan according to Professor Richard Falk  – United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories occupied since 1967. Read more

Not Everyone – Just You

This Tuesday is Tisha B’av – 9th of Av, the day we mourn the destruction of the first and second Temples…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

No end in sight for an unstable Egypt…writes Gabsy Debinski

Disturbing footage of the brewing violence in Egypt has proliferated in the past week. Read more

En route to becoming a banana republic…writes Isi Leibler

In recent months there has been mounting indiscriminate criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s policies by government officials. Read more

The Whole Megillah

A well stocked orchestra plus two choirs and four vocal soloists hardly left room for conductor, David Robertson, to thread his way to the podium to launch Verdi’s Requiem…writes Fraser Beath McEwing. Read more

Labelling Jews Again…writes Michael Kuttner

During the last 2,000 years Jews have at various times been forced to wear distinctive clothing marking us as Jews plus badges or labels usually of the yellow variety. Read more

Meeting Shimon Peres

Incoming UIA WA Chairperson, Melanie Greenfeld, reports on her recent visit to Israel where she was invited to attend the Keren Hayesod World Conference and the Presidential Conference in Jerusalem… Read more

Palestine – Accentuate The Positive Eliminate the Negative…writes David Singer

Jordan’s Minister of Culture Barakat Awajan recently received Palestinian Minister of Culture Anwar Abu Aisha in Amman and reportedly took the opportunity to highlight these fundamental facts… Read more

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