The first scores are in from the 2014 World Cup!Pope Francis 1, United States 0.OK, maybe that’s not a real match result. But in recent Middle East news, the score does reflect the relative success of the papal visit to Israel, particularly in comparison...

Can a Jewish community education and engagement program exist and prosper within a local Jewish Federation?The answer’s easy: Of course it can. But there are plenty of other questions to ask and answer.The Jewish Light reported April 30 that the Central...

Much has been made of the recent release of the annual Freedom of the Press Survey and accompanying map. The news about Israel is better than it’s been but not as good as it could be.The watchdog agency Freedom House looks at press freedom around the...

Like a ravenous Russian bear emerging from hibernation, Russian President Vladimir Putin is gobbling geographic territory and political turf.But to what end? Is the Russian President intent on reclaiming his satellites, or trying some sleight of hand...

Do you think the notion of “majority rules” should apply to who gets to utter public prayer and what kind of prayer is uttered?We don’t. We thought the First Amendment’s Establish-ment Clause was specifically intended to preclude such results.Apparently,...

In light of recent actions in the Middle East, it might be fair to ask if the real Mahmoud Abbas will please identify himself.Reflecting on yet another “collapse” of the Israel-Palestinian peace talks, a commentator on the PBS program “Washington...

A cruel hoax with serious repercussions represents a political football.How’s that for stringing three cliched phrases together and saying nothing? Strangely, however, in context they are wholly apt in describing the aftermath of recent reports that...

Right about now, virtually everyone in the world could stand to attend a seder.The story of Passover, of overcoming slavery, persecution and hate, is fully universal, never grows old  and bears regular repeating given the events of our times.But it’s...

A great divide exists in this country about free expression and the practice of religious principles. The question is whether there’s any constructive commonality that can provide bridges of understanding and acceptance. In recent days, the answer has...

The French elections over this past weekend were not only upsetting to the ruling Socialist Party of French President François Hollande, whose party suffered an overall setback in the voting, but are a cause for alarm over the strong showing of the ultra-rightist...

Notwithstanding assertions to the contrary, President Barack Obama is taking the practical and reasonable steps required in retaliation to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military aggression. The American government has acted in three ways – unilaterally,...

• Nullify federal gun-control laws? Sure• Oppose universal health care and medical assistance to the poor and needy? Check• Ensure permissible discrimination against gay couples? Not a problem• Protect, respect and improve life for women in Missouri?...