news about Israel
Rabbi Robert Scheinberg wrote:
"Shalom -- I'm not a Middle East expert. I don't even play one on TV.
But being an actively involved Jew demands that I know what's going on in Israel, and that I get it from a variety of reliable, fair, non-sensationalistic sources.
Thankfully, the Internet makes it easy to be well-informed. Some have asked me what news sources I recommend for learning about what's going on in Israel. Here's a list of some of my recommendations, with some of my own idiosyncratic comments. If I left off your favorite news source or you disagree with my comments, let me know. But please take some time to become better informed about the situation - don't let the New York Times and CNN be the totality of your education. After all. . . it's free. . ."
You can also get articles from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a clipping service recommended by Rabbi Scheinberg.
| New Jersey Jewish News | Published by United Jewish Communities (UJC) of MetroWest NJ, NJJN provides coverage of local, national and world events; explorations of the world of Jewish culture and the arts; and a wide array of other articles |
| New Jersey Jewish Standard | The Jewish Standard "is not affiliated with any program, organization, movement, or point of view, but is dedicated to giving expression to all phases of Jewish life." |
| Ha'aretz | This is the English language edition of Haaretz, sometimes described as Israel's 'newspaper of record.' (It presents a diversity of opinion with an editorial voice that is somewhat left of center.) Hebrew edition is http://www.haaretz.co.il/. |
| Committee for Accurate Reporting in the Middle East (CAMERA) | "Founded in 1982, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America is a media-monitoring, research and membership organization devoted to promoting accurate and balanced coverage of Israel and the Middle East." |
| Jerusalem Post | Israel's English-language daily newspaper. Slightly right of center. |
| Kol Israel | A tremendous diversity of news and information sites from throughout the middle east. |
| Jewish Online Radio | Hundreds of hours of audio lectures on Jewish topics, by teachers across the Jewish spectrum, available for mp3 download. Specially recommended are entertaining and informative lectures by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin; Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, and Rabbi Daniel Gordis. |
| Prof. Eli Segal | Web site of Professor Eliezer Segal of the University of Calgary. See especially his Dr Seuss-style Passover haggadah, his entertaining essays on Jewish holidays, and his "Interactive Talmud" page, which is one of the best introductory web sites about the Talmud. |
| Jerusalem Report | A Time- or Newsweek-style weekly magazine published in Jerusalem; worth subscribing to. Some of the contents are available on the Web. Ideologically centrist and diverse (some say it's a little left of center). Ehud Ya'ari, the diplomatic/military affairs correspondent, is a very well-respected voice. |
| Radio Reports from Israel | Listen to Israeli radio, live -- stations in Hebrew, English, Arabic, Russian, and other languages |
| Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI) | A site that provides English translations of articles in the Arab-language press in the Middle East. Often very troubling reading. (Remember the article a few years ago in a Saudi government newspaper about how the Jews use the blood of Muslim adolescent boys to make Hamentashen? This site is how the American press found out about the article.) |
| My Jewish Learning | Incredibly comprehensive introduction to Judaism site -- highly recommended on any topic! |
| Reform Voices of Torah | The Union for Reform Judaism's Torah portion page, coordinated by USH member Audrey Merwin. Includes audio files of each week's dvar torah, read by Audrey! |
| Adult Jewish Learning podcasts | Downloadable mp3 Audio provided by the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning in NYC: discussions led by major Jewish leaders, writers and teachers, on a variety of subjects including God, Kashrut, the minimum wage, dating ethics, Israel, Jewish-Muslim dialogue, etc. |