The two-state solution is in Israel’s best interest

by Moshe Azoulai

May 23, 2012

I am very proud of the role my father played, as small as it may have been, in the establishment of the State of Israel. In 1943, at the age of 16, he left Alexandria, Egypt, for Palestine to join the Hagana. Read More

Dist. 10 race demands community’s attention

CRC forum to feature four candidates vying for Rep. Payne’s seat

by Gordon Haas

May 16, 2012

On June 5, primary day, District 10 in New Jersey will be having two parallel elections. The first primary is for the late U.S. Rep. Donald Payne’s unexpired term (November 2012-January 2013); the other is for the Democratic congressional candidate (January 2012-January 2015) for the new Legislative District 10. Voters will be asked to select a candidate to fill Payne’s unexpired term, and then also to select a candidate for the full, two-year congressional term. Read More

The 2012 election: ‘A pox on both your houses!’

by Dr. Gilbert N. Kahn

May 16, 2012

This year’s political election cycle is still in its pre-convention stage and the one recurring thought is “can it possibly get even uglier?” The personal attacks, the disdain for collegiality, and the unwillingness to engage in civil dialogue make it clear why one of the critical questions for this fall’s election is whether or not segments of the electorate — from Christian evangelicals to previously invigorated young people — will even participate. Read More

In Israel, gay rights is ‘a vision that unites us’

by Michael B. Oren

May 16, 2012

Today, Israel’s LGBT community is part of the fabric of Israel’s diverse and vibrant society. Together we are soldiers, professors, legislators, jurists, factory workers, health-care providers, and educators. Together, we are not gay or straight or bi or transgender, but merely, proudly, Israelis. And together we want peace. Read More

Why the Jews — and the world — need Israel

by Sarit Catz

May 9, 2012

Last month we celebrated Israel’s 64th birthday. Sixty-four is not a round number, but it’s still a milestone birthday, thanks to the Beatles who famously asked, “Will you still need me / Will you still feed me / When I’m 64?” Well, maybe we don’t need to feed Israel any more. Not literally. Israel is an incredibly productive member of the world community. Read More

For the U.S., is it ‘Do as I say, not as I do’?

by Jared Silverman

May 9, 2012

Almost everyone has heard the expression “Do as I say, not as I do.” It is used to rationalize an action by the speaker which the speaker has told the listener is inappropriate. It is used to justify a double standard by which the speaker is exempted from the standard imposed on the listener. The United States is beginning to find itself in the position of the speaker in this expression. Read More

Finding vision and action among Israeli Arabs

by Phyllis Bernstein

May 9, 2012

Gerhard Richter, considered by some the world’s greatest living painter, has said, “Art is the highest form of hope.” On a recent three-day trip to Israel organized by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues and the Jewish Federations of North America Social Venture Fund, 25 North American Jews witnessed this hope first-hand in Umm El-Fahem, Israel’s largest all-Muslim city. Read More

Anti-Israel criticism often masks anti-Semitism

by Joseph Hollander

May 7, 2012

Having just celebrated Israel’s 64th Independence Day, those who care about Israel are confronted by some very troubling statistics just released about anti-Semitism in Europe. A recent study undertaken by the German-based Friedrich Ebert Foundation found that anti-Semitic criticism of Israel comes close to majority support in most European countries. I fear that these concerns could ultimately be valid in America as well. Read More

Out of order? A defense chief’s dissent on Iran

by Dr. Gilbert N. Kahn

May 2, 2012

It went public when Chief of Staff Lt. General Benny Gantz gave an interview to Ha’aretz for Yom Ha’atzmaut. In it, Gantz challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak on their Iran policy. Read More