Blog

My running commentary on events: local, national, and international. Areas of special interest include Israel, Iraq, and dissidents in the Muslim world.

Murders of settlers are attacks on all Jews

April 9, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

In the wake of the murders of five members of the Fogel family — father Udi, 36, mother Ruth, 35, sons Yoav, 11, and Elad, 4, and their 3-month-old sister Hadas — last month, some have begun to write about the horrific and calculated killings...

Read More

Jacob Benaroya Sephardic Center to open Sunday: Ashkenazim and Sephardim separate and together at Cong. Ahavath Torah

April 9, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

20110407_jacobbenaroyainterior.jpg

Twenty-eight years ago, there were only a few Sephardic families in Englewood. Albert Allen, a member of Cong. Ahavath Torah who had emigrated from Egypt, was concerned that the community’s children would grow up losing sight of unique...

Read More

Rothman slams incitement, meets with missile defense machers

April 9, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

20110407_rothmanmissileheads.jpg

A congressional letter by Reps. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) and Steve Austria (R-Ohio) went out to President Obama last week urging him to press the Palestinian Authority to end “all … incitement” against Israelis and to return to the...

Read More

TABC boys take grand prize in Yeshiva Science Olympiad: For second year, local yeshiva leads in applied and theoretical science contest

April 9, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

20110331_tabc4-1-11.jpg

Students from Torah Academy of Bergen County in Teaneck won first place in last month’s Yeshiva Science Olympiad, part of a national science competition designed to test students’ abilities in science, technology, and engineering. This is the...

Read More

Teens channel energies into alternative energy: Students take on Siemens ‘We Can Change the World’

March 26, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

20110324_siemensgirls.jpg

Eliana Appelbaum, Ariella Appelbaum, Elana Forman, and Yakir Forman have channeled their energies into creating more energy.

The Appelbaum twins, both 16, and their friend Elana, also 16 — all sophomores at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School...

Read More

Inside the Beltway: Oren, JWVets visit local pols in D.C.

March 26, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

The New Jersey Department of Jewish War Veterans made its annual visit to Capitol Hill earlier this month, where members of the group met with Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) to lobby for a Jewish chaplains’ memorial in Arlington National...

Read More

Rep. Rothman to Obama: Press Abbas to end incitement, resume talks: J Street objects to legislators’ call for Palestinian accountability as one-sided

March 26, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) and Steve Austria (R-Ohio) are calling on President Obama to press Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to return to peace negotiations and to end anti-Israel incitement by the Palestinian Authority....

Read More

She Lived

March 24, 2011

picture-20.png

One thought recurs when I consider the life–and death–of Elizabeth Taylor: she really lived.

She may not always have been happy, she certainly was not always healthy, and she may not have been a perfect judge of character in her...

Read More

HaZamir: Teenagers reach for heights in music and spirit: ‘Chai anniversary’ concert set for Lincoln Center

March 20, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

20110317_hazamir-3-18.jpg

If Shachar Avraham had to give up something, it would not be HaZamir.

The 16-year-old junior at The Frisch School in Paramus has sung in HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir for four years. He says that not only is it a...

Read More

Local organizations promote Israeli goods to counter boycott: ‘Buy Israeli Goods’ day set

March 20, 2011

From The Jewish Standard

by HEATHER ROBINSON

In the face of an international campaign designating March 30 as a day to boycott Israeli products, national and local Jewish organizations are organizing supporters to fight back with their wallets.

Pro-Israel and Jewish groups in the United...

Read More