London exhibit explores the ‘triumphant’ Jewish history of cricket

Crickets may not be kosher, but the sport played with a bat and ball certainly is … and has a long Jewish history. Read more

Netanyahu gets an invitation to the White House

U.S. President Joe Biden this week hosts Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The purpose of the visit and speech to Congress is to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary. However, the absence of a formal invitation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until just before the trip added policy dimensions… writes David Wurmser. Read more

From Australia’s Jewish Past: Siba Coppelson – mother of two knights and a most remarkable woman

Siba was born in 1870 in England to Abraham Sloman and his wife, who had emigrated to England from Eastern Europe. Read more

Antisemitic conspiracy theory mars debate about the Voice

Conspiracy theories about ‘the Jews’ are ancient, pervasive and often genocidal in what they advocate. Read more

The showdown in Israel continues as judicial reform advances

Israel’s Supreme Court is either under attack or undergoing necessary reform, depending on who you ask. Read more

Feintooner

This week’s cartoon: Stockholm Syndrome. Read more

Bibi-hatred trumps creating Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine

One wonders what led Israel’s leading left-wing newspaper Haaretz to publish a bizarre article by Rogel Alpher headlined “I oppose peace with Saudi Arabia”  because Alpher fears Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s political position will be strengthened if Netanyahu succeeds. Read more

What is an ethical will?

Ask the rabbi. Read more

Constantine or Licinius

Of all the Roman emperors, I would say that Constantine, more than any other, was responsible indirectly for the two thousand years of Christian oppression of the Jews. Read more

On the other hand

Olim from New Zealand, Australia and Britain will be familiar with that quintessential popular food called fish and chips. Read more

Giselle

A ballet review by Alex First  Read more

The real crisis in the West

Over the past six months, the mass protests in Israel over judicial reform have elicited loud cries in the West that Israel is “in crisis.” Read more

Today’s French Revolution

In July 1789, the Paris Bastille was stormed by rampaging mobs, and the established order of autocratic rule was swiftly swept away. Read more

Herzog’s duty is to stand with Israel’s elected government

When Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrives in Washington next week, he’ll get the kind of red-carpet treatment that is reserved for the friendliest and most important U.S. allies. Read more

The Tales of Hoffmann

An opera review by Murray Dahm Read more

This is living

A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First Read more

Shabbat Mattot & Massei: Where should you live?

As the children of Israel approach the land of Israel, they had to pass through what is now Transjordan. The domains of Sihon the Emorite and Og of Bashan. Read more

The new, the unfamiliar and the old friend

A music review by Fraser Beath McEwing Read more

Away

A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First. Read more

Wagnerian flavour of Tchaikovsky’s ballet music

Perhaps in acknowledgement of NAIDOC Week, the customary acknowledgement of country was replaced with the Rhythmic Acknowledgement, based on rhythmic patterns first documented in the early 1800s. Read more

Shhhh – a Melbourne theatre review by Alex First

Loneliness. Pain. Emotional connection. Desire. Sexual kinks. Consent. Read more

Into the Fray: A Constitution -The “excuse du jour”

An article by Martin Sherman. Read more

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1

A movie review by Alex First. Read more

On the other hand

Where other than in Israel would one get a service call from a cable TV technician by the name of Menachem Mendel? Read more

Feintooner

This week’s cartoon: UK newspeak, doublespeak, and bullspeak. Read more

UN sickening silence on Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres continues to maintain his year-long silence by burying any discussion of the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution (HKOPS) – published on 8 June 2022 – to replace the failed two-state solution unsuccessfully pursued by the United Nations since 23 December 2016: The creation of an independent Palestinian-Arab State between Israel and Jordan for the first time in recorded history. Read more

How does the international date line impact on Jewish observance?

Read more

Idomeneo: an opera review by Alex First

Superb staging is a hallmark of Mozart’s dramatic opera Idomeneo, set on the island of Crete shortly after the Trojan War. Read more

Fast of Tammuz

We have just had the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz. It commemorates the Roman siege of Jerusalem and the moment at which the Romans destroyed the walls and a prelude to the destruction of the Second Temple. Read more

Uncle Sham

As 4 July is celebrated by Americans at home and around the world it is a good time to reflect on whether the “goldene medina” is still the Promised Land for Jews. Read more

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