Sex workers in Fiji: “I will never sell myself again”

A UNAIDS funded report, compiled by the University of New South Wales International HIV Research Group has found that the Fijian military are committing human rights violations against sex workers following the introduction of the country’s new laws contained in the Crimes Decree.

The report describes the various torture tactics used by military in Fiji to curtail the growing sex trade, which has been compared to that of Thailand.

‘Sex Workers and HIV Prevention in Fiji – after the Fiji Crimes Decree 2009’ highlights the firsthand accounts of sex workers who have been abused by the military. more>>

La présidente argentine souffre d'un cancer

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, la présidente argentine triomphalement réélue en octobre, va être opérée d'un cancer de la glande thyroïde le 4 janvier prochain. L'affection a été détectée lors d'un examen médical de routine le 20 décembre dernier selon les porte-parole de la Casa Rosada, le palais présidentiel. Aucune métastase n'aurait été détectée. L'opération consistera en une ablation totale ou partielle de la glande thyroïde et se fera dans une clinique privée de Pilar, à 50 kilomètres au nord de Buenos Aires. Le taux de survie à ce type d'intervention est de 95%. suite>>

Articles liés: Chavez s'interroge à haute voix sur le cancer et l...

Une Afghane coupe le sexe de son beau-père qui tentait de la violer

KABOUL (AFP) - Une femme afghane a coupé le sexe de son beau-père avec un couteau alors que celui-ci essayait de la violer, a-t-on appris samedi de source médicale.

"Son mari n'était pas à la maison. Un jour, le beau-père a essayé d'avoir une relation sexuelle avec elle. Sa bru lui a alors coupé le sexe avec un couteau", a raconté à l'AFP un médecin de la province de Ghazni (est).

L'homme n'a pu être traité à Ghazni et a été transporté vers un hôpital de Kaboul, a précisé ce médecin, qui a requis l'anonymat.

Contactée par l'AFP, la police n'a pu apporter de précisions. suite>>

French Latino - Historia de un Amor

sent by Elie Mangoubi

Enregistrement Clip "Historia de un Amor " avant la représentation du Concert de French Latino à Paris le 30 Juin 2010 au TRITON (Les Lilas)-
Grabacion Clip "Historia de un Amor" antes la representacion del concierto de French Latino en Paris el dia 30 de Junio 2010 en la salla EL TRITON.

ed: il est impossible de séparer cette chanson de Dalida.

A year of revolutionary theatre

Nehad Selaiha gives a bird's eye view of the Egyptian theatre scene in 2011

Theatre has been active in the Egyptian revolution since its eruption on 25 January 2010. During the Tahrir Square 18-day long sit in, which brought Mubarak down, theatre artists made their presence very much felt. With collectively improvised stories, sketches, songs and dances they helped their fellow revolutionaries keep up their morale, fight off the bitter cold and, in between skirmishes, some of them bloody, mourn the martyrs and while away the long days and nights of the long, long suspenseful wait. Mubarak's ouster only marked the end of the first phase of the revolution; it still continues, as the recent bloody events in downtown Cairo amply bear witness. And throughout its inspiring yet painful progress, its ups and downs, young theatre artists have tried to keep pace with the events.

'The same sober, somber mood persisted through the autumn and still colours many of the performances offered at present. It is as if the revolution has to start all over again'. more on ahramonline>>

Monde arabe: "L'orientalisme a été dénaturé"

par Vincent Olivier

"Les valeurs de liberté sont universelles, mais la Tunisie après la chute de Ben Ali a, me semble-t-il, bien plus d'atouts que l'Espagne à la mort de Franco, en 1975", estime l'historien Jean-Pierre Filiu. afp.com/Fethi Belaid

De ce qui fut une source de connaissance sur la sphère arabe, il ne reste que des clichés. L'historien Jean-Pierre Filiu nous appelle à "désoccidentaliser" notre regard.

Selon vous, les révolutions arabes signent la fin de l'orientalisme, création de l'Occident. Pourquoi?

L'orientalisme puise sa source dans l'expédition menée par Bonaparte en Egypte, une aventure scientifique et culturelle hors du commun qui a fourni un bagage historique inestimable. Mais, au xxe siècle, ce travail de recherche exceptionnel a été dénaturé par des idéologues qui l'ont réduit à une série de clichés, tel que "Les Arabes ne comprennent que la force". suite>>

Des musulmans de New York boycottent une déjeuner organisé par le maire

Michael Bloomberg, Robert Chase. Henny Ray Abrams / The Associated Press

NEW YORK, États-Unis - Une quinzaine de dirigeants religieux et civils de la communauté musulmane de New York ont boycotté le déjeuner annuel organisé par le maire Michael Bloomberg, vendredi, pour protester contre la surveillance des musulmans par la police de la ville.
Le programme d'espionnage de la police de New York a été révélé pour la première fois dans une série d'articles de l'Associated Press.

Michel Bloomberg n'a pas parlé directement de ce boycottage durant le déjeuner, un événement qui sert depuis longtemps de vitrine à la diversité de la ville. Les commentaires évasifs du maire au sujet du boycottage des leaders musulmans a déçu Hussein Rashid, un professeur d'études islamiques qui a participé au déjeuner et qui espérait que M. Bloomberg saisisse l'occasion pour parler des préoccupations de la communauté musulmane. suite>>

Where are the Sephardim? Israeli Arabs Teach Arabic to Jewish Students

by David Shasha

 
*It is taken as a given that Jews and Arabs are primordial enemies. This
state of affairs extends to language and culture as well. Israeli Jewish
children studying Arabic is here deemed a revolutionary affair.*

*The fact that there are Jews who speak Arabic – and have spoken Arabic for many centuries – does not seem to be evident to anyone here. *
 
*From the Palestinians who have to deal with Israeli racism in its many and varied forms to the officials of the Abraham Fund who act as if the issue of Arabic language study is something startling, it remains a fact that
tens of thousands of Jews came to Israel from the Arab world only to learn
that their traditional culture and their native language was not wanted.
In fact, the use of Arabic by Israeli Jews marked the speakers as
"primitive" and "barbaric."*
 
*After Arabic was taken from the Sephardim under the pressure of social
stigmatization, we now discover that it is desirable that all Israeli
Jewish schoolchildren learn the language.*
 
*Only in an Ashkenazi-controlled world could such a bizarre state of
affairs be possible.*

*And while Arab Jews are forcibly kept from participating in the world of
Jewish institutions such as the Abraham Fund, their native language is now
part of the attempt to bring Palestinians and Israelis together. The
fundraising potential of such initiatives, to which Sephardim are not privy, is likely to be substantial.*
  
*But, as I have said so many times in the past, this language study
completely ignores the rich civilization in which Jews, Christians, and
Muslims participated for many centuries. The idea is to continue to see
Arabs as Other and to build bridges to their culture, when in fact
Sephardim and Palestinians share a historical culture.*
 
*So even when Arabic becomes a desirable thing for Israelis, the Arab Jews are locked out of the process while the Ashkenazim continue to assert their complete and unchallenged authority. Such hegemonic racism remains deplorable and will continue to ensure that there is no real cultural bond created between Israelis and Palestinians.*

  *DS *

*Israeli Arabs Enter Jewish Classrooms*
 By: Josef Federman, Associated Press

YOKNEAM, Israel—In an educational revolution of sorts, a growing number of Israeli schools are taking a novel approach to the instruction of Arabic: They're hiring Arab teachers. continued>>

The Soaring Survivor: Gary Lenzner

sent by Elie Mangoubi

This is the amazing story of holocaust survivor Gary Lenzner who at the age of 85 years old went skydiving with this Grandson, Bryan Wasserman, to prove to Hitler that he had survived despite living as a homeless teen in Berlin and in concentration camps for over four years.

Film and Original Score By Josh Friedman Productions: www.JoshFriedman.com

Song of the week Bei Mir Bistu Shein

sent by Joe Rossano

"Bei Mir Bistu Shein" Yiddish בײַ מיר ביסטו שיין, "To Me You're Beautiful") is a popular Yiddish song composed by Jacob Jacobs (lyricist) and Sholom Secunda (composer) for a 1932  Yiddish musical

The song became famous with English lyrics but retaining the Yiddish title, "Bei Mir Bistu Shein". It also appeared with a Germanized title "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen".There have been several songs with the tune in the Soviet Union In particular, in 1943, a Russian-language song for the music was produced with satirical anti-Nazi lyrics titled "Baron Fon Der Pshik" ("Барон фон дер Пшик") by Anatoli FidrovskyIn Nazi Germany it was also a hit until its Jewish origins were discovered when it was promptly banned http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bei_Mir_Bistu_Shein
Here are two renditions of that popular song of the 30s and 40s, recorded at different times. You're probably familiar with the one sang by the Andrew Sisters, and here's the new Russian rendition we all were waiting for. Received it from a dear friend


 The Andrew Sisters - Bei Mir Bist Du Shein 

Сопрано 10 - «Bamir»

Bonne semaine

Jojo

How Women Saved the Music Industry in 2011

Rihanna, Adele and Katy Perry are among the female stars who helped dig the business out of a seven-year sales slump.

You could say the music business had a banner year. Really. For the first time since 2004, overall album sales were up, to the tune of 4 percent. Of that, digital album purchases increased by nearly 20 percent and track sales by 9 percent, and while CD sales were down 5 percent, it was a far less toxic number than the double-digit declines of the past decade. Who's to credit? Adele, for one. In 2011, the British singer sold 5 million copies of her Grammy-nominated sophomore effort, 21 -- 33 percent of them digital -- which seems to indicate the album format isn't doomed. "Adele's achievement across so many genres and platforms dispels the death-knell notion," says Jim Donio, president of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, which tracks the market. continued>>

The most bizarre Egyptian quotes of 2011

A prime minister admits getting killed; a salafist compares bikinis on the beach to the brakes on a car; an ex-general in the army wants protesters to fry in Hitler's ovens; a Mubarak-lover actress prefers pizza to revolution...

“I’m quite fanatic about my scotch in the evening, so I don’t like anybody telling me that I can’t drink.” Not possible economic reforms or bank restrictions, but alcohol was the first thing to cross the mind of Coptic telecommunications tycoon Naguib Sawiris when asked about potential Muslim Brotherhood rule.

“I fought in battles, killed, got killed (???) and have done everything.” Egypt’s first post-revolution prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, admitted dying “once” in his renowned argument on live TV with revolutionary writer Alaa Al-Aswani. No wonder he was the shortest lasting premier in Egyptian history.

“I am sure that the overwhelming majority of Egyptians know who Hosni Mubarak is,” the toppled president said hours before that very same majority embarked on exuberant celebrations across Egypt and in many other countries to celebrate his overthrow. Apparently, he was right.

“Whenever I wanted to ease the tensions of protesters in Tahrir Square, I spread rumours that, for instance, the former interior minister was arrested. I know how to calm down the square, and how to inflame it.” Ironically, the confession of SCAF member Hassan El-Roweiny is similar to the military council’s description of what alleged “hidden hands” have been doing.

“What is your feeling when you see Egypt and its history burn in front of you? Yet you worry about a vagrant who should be burnt in Hitler’s ovens,” said Egyptian army adviser Abdel-Moneim Kato, who came across as a Nazi. Unashamedly.

“It was a black day for all Egypt when the Central Security Forces collapsed.” In one of his so-called poems, the “multi-talented” wannabe Ahmed “Zebidar” (a tacky Egyptian pronunciation of the English word spider) expressed his admiration for the Central Security Forces, the deposed regime’s number one oppression tool.

“What does a civic state mean? It means your mother would wear no veil ... And liberality means there is no difference between a man and a woman; manhood would be forbidden in the first place.” Salafist preacher Hazem Shoman provides “contemporary” Salafist definitions of secularism and liberality.

“ElBaradei is not one of the opposition. He has his own group, which is related to the Brother Muslimhood, or has links with the Brother Muslimhood and Brother Muslimhood asked me that they want to open a dialogue with me without Mr ElBaradei.” Mispronouncing the name of the most potent political force in the country three times in a single sentence, former Vice-President Omar Suleiman expectedly failed to talk the revolutionaries out of deposing Mubarak.

more nonsense here>>

ed: as expected, Egyptian men  come right on top when it comes to inane statements..

Les requêtes Google, signes d'une année 2011 agitée

Il faut dire que la plateforme de Mark Zuckerberg, tout comme le réseau de « microblogging » Twitter et le site Youtube, ont joué un rôle important dans le « printemps égyptien ». A maintes reprises, ces différentes plate-formes de partage de contenus ont permis aux manifestants d’organiser leur mouvement, notamment en diffusant des appels à la manifestation, ou encore des vidéos amateurs pour témoigner des violences exercées sous l’ordre de l'ancien président Moubarak,. A travers les requêtes égyptiennes, c’est donc une année de bouleversements qui s’inscrit : ainsi, le nom de Hosni Moubarak est, en tant que personnalité, celui qui a été le plus demandé dans Google en 2011. suite>>

Centro Primo Levi: Ether and Sky

ESSAYS EIGHTY YEARS IN PRINT Anna Foa, The indices of the Rassegna Mensile di Israel   This meeting is to present the comprehensive indices of the Rassegna Mensile di Israel. The indices cover a time span of 80 years, from 1925 to 2004 and allow for a reconstruction of the life of the publication as well as of the entire history of Italian Judaism in this period. I would like to mention in particular the demanding nature of the work accomplished by the authors in putting together the index of the subjects, for which, as they write, "it was necessary to find new definitions of the subjects in order to reflect the diverse research paths undertaken by scholars in various historical and scientific fields." It was in 1925 that Dante Lattes and Alfonso Pacifici - who had brought to life the weekly Israel ten years earlier - founded La Rassegna Mensile di Israel. Originally published only sporadically, it became a proper monthly starting in1930. At that point, only Dante Lattes remained as editor. Lattes and Pacifici are two key figures of Italian Judaism. Both were originally Tuscan, one a student of Elia Benamozegh in Livorno, the other a disciple of Samuel Margulies in Florence. In addition, both were Zionists of that special religious Zionism that characterized the Italian experience. Read ESSAYS THE ITALIAN JEWISH ARCHIVES Micaela Procaccia, Introduction written for J-Italy     Despite the losses suffered over the course of two thousand years, the archival wealth of the Italian Jewish communities - for its antiquity, continuity and richness of text, is among the most well-preserved. Alongside that which has been preserved by Jewish institutions, the Italian State Archives contain rich and valuable documentation produced in large part by Jewish groups interacting with regional authorities. These holdings often cover chronological gaps in the community records, allowing for a more complete history of thousands of years of coexistence. While not exhaustive, the State Archives expand the margins of research considerably.[...] The possibilities for research within the holdings of these archives are infinite. The close knit ties between the history of the Jews in Italy and Italian history generally make these documents useful to researchers of diverse interests and disciplines ranging from the history of banking and migration, to that of the Church and the constitution. Read

ONLINE RESOURCES Indices Rassegna Mensile di Israel Judaica Europeana/Stella di Davide Tricolore J-Italy National Archive Network/Shoah Foundation Unified Catalogue of the Italian Archives CDEC Historical Archive of the Jewish Community of Rome English language resources on Giorno della Memoria National Museum of Italian Jewry and the Shoah Italian Jewish liturgy

PROGRAMS  GIORNO DELLA MEMORIA Centro Primo Levi, Consulate General of Italy, Italian Cultural Institute, Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimò, Italian Academy at Columbia University. Beginning on January 27th a series of programs will explore lesser known aspects of the Nazi-Fascist persecution. In conjunction with the exhibit The Italian Genius, organized by the Italian Cultural Institute, programs held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Italian Academy at Columbia University will address the participation of the scientific world in the definition of skewed notions of "fitness" and "normality" that led to tragic political and human consequences. On January 30th, Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimò will screen the world premiere of a film dedicated to the story of the DP camp of Cinecittà in Rome. On January 23rd a presentation of the Italian online history journal Quest will feature the Italian years of Saul Steinberg and his escape from Fascist persecution. See calendar

NEWS IF THIS IS A PLANET The Italian Jewish author and scientist lived through the worst that mankind has wrought. Now his name lives on beyond his work, and beyond the earth, in a 17-km-wide celestial body -- discovered in 1989 -- that has now officially been named planet Primolevi. Piero Bianucci (La Stampa) Ever since it was discovered in 1989 between Mars and Jupiter, the minor planet 4,545 existed without a proper name. It has one now, and it is indeed worth a closer look. The celestial body has been officially named Primolevi - one word, according to astronomy registry rules -- after the renowned Italian author and chemist, who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp. Read STORIES A TRANQUIL STAR Primo Levi (translation by Ann Goldstein, W.W. Norton) Once upon a time, somewhere in the universe very far from here, lived a peaceful star, which moved peacefully in the immensity of the sky, surrounded by a crowd of peaceful planets about which we have not a thing to report. This star was very big and very hot, and its weight was enormous: and here a reporter's difficulties begin. We have written "very far," "big," "hot," "enormous": Australia is very far, an elephant is big and a house is bigger, this morning I had a hot bath, Everest is enormous. It's clear that something in our lexicon isn't working.  Read

Sefarad, the Sephardic Newsletter

sent by Yitzchak Kerem
selections by Aimee Kligman

**********SEPHARDIC MUSIC*************************

  

Lolik Levy, "Hashoshana Porachat Shuv, Lolik – Bashirim Mibeit Ima, Kantes Djudeo Espaniyoles" (The Rose Blooms Again, Lolik – Songs from My Mother's House, Judeo-Spanish Songs). CD. Lolik had a bad traffic accident in 2003 and now has made a comeback. Please support him and his efforts to further Sephardic culture and tradition.

Ronit and Lolik Levy, Sirkin 6, Givatayim, Israel, tels: 972-52-2585806, 972-3-5719595 Fax: 972-3-5718384 celebrity3343@hotmail.com 

A Film by Roy Sher, live recordings soundtrack My Sweet Canary, a journey through the life and music of Roza Eskenazi (Tel Aviv: Adama Music, 2011). www.mysweetcanary.com

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Licha Eli Teshukati, Selection of Piyyutim from annual Hilula of Rabbi Yosef Genasia z"l (Kiryat Arba: Institut Gai Yinassse, 2011). [Hebrew] Dr. Yosef Sharvit, Institut Gai Yinassse, Sulam Eldad 51, Kiriyat Arba 90100, Israel tels: 972-2-9963342/972-50-8739193

Alexander Gelfand, "Los Music of Istanbul's Sephardic Jews, How a Panoply Sounds Scattered to a New Diaspora", Forward, September 1, 2011. www.forward.com/articles/142089

****************SEPHARDIC FILM*********************

Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive, Jack Valenti Pavilion, The Hebrew University, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel 91905, Tels: 972-2-5881465/2513 FAX: 972-2-5812061

jfa@savion.huji.ac.il deborahst@savion.huji.ac.il www.spielbergfilmarchive.org.il 

1) Aliya Veklita Leachar Kum Hamedina (Immigrationand Absorption after the Foundation of the State of Israel). About Yemenite immigration to Israel and the maabarot transit camps in the 1950s. 67 minutes.

2) M'Paatei Hamaarav (Edge of the West).  About Daily Life of Jews in Morocco in 1961. Produced by Arnon Tzafrir. 48:40 minutes.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

******************************CALLS FOR PAPERS************************

From: Society Sefarad 

Jerusalem                                                                                        

Dear Colleagues,

            We take this opportunity to remind you that we are organizing a conference in Evora, between 20-23 May 2012, which will bear the title: "The Encounter of the Jews of Sefarad with Islam and Muslims".

We invite you to join us. A member who wishes to participate should send us his/her title and a short abstract (5-7 lines) no later than 31st January 2012. A letter with all the details concerning the conference is attached to this mail.

            Furthermore, members of the Society who have not yet sent us their C.V, list of publication and recent picture or members who wish to send us more recent forms, are invited to do so in order for us to update our website accordingly.

Best regards,

Lior Pereg,

Secretary

Society for Sefardic Studies
The Mandel Institute of Jewish Studies, room Nº 2303
Mount Scopus, 91905, Jerusalem              
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel    
Tel. 972-(0)2-5881765,  Fax. 972-(0)2-5881619

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The Second International Conference

Evora, Portugal     May 20-23, 2012

Dear Members,

 We kindly remind you that the Second International Conference of our Society will be held in Evora, Portugal in May 20-23, 2012. The theme of the conference is The Encounter of the Jews of Sefarad with Islam and Muslims. We are glad to inform you that the University of Evora is co-organizer of the conference. We expect the conference to be a great success and extremely interesting and we will be delighted if you join us.

 Please let us know at your convenience, but not later than 31 January 2012 if you intend to attend the conference. If so, we would ask you to send us the title of your conference in the language you intend to speak and a brief abstract of your lecture.  (5-7 lines)

 The Organizing Committee will send you soon details about accommodation and any other relevant information.

 The Organizing Committee:

Prof. J. Tavim (Chairman), Prof. Y. Assis, Prof. M.F. Lopes de Barros,  Dr. L. Liba Mucznick and Dr. R. Sperber

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From: Scholars Conference [asc@sju.edu]

Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to pass along the attached announcement in reference to the 42^nd Annual Scholars' Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches. The date and venue are set – please note: it will be in May (vs. our traditional March meeting). Likewise, we encourage you to forward this announcement to any of your colleagues that may find it of interest.  

As always, we appreciate your continued support. If you have received this e-announcement in duplicate, we apologize for any inconvenience. As a longtime supporter, we may have various e-mail addresses on file and did not want you to miss this notice.  Again, we look forward to welcoming you next year!

Best Regards,

Sharon

Sharon Steeley
Associate Director, Annual Scholars' Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches
Saint Joseph's University
POB 10
Merion Station, PA 19066

SAVE THE DATE

******

The 42nd Annual Scholars' Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches

May 12 – 14, 2012

******

"70 Years Later:

The Lingering Shadow of Wannsee"

*****

Monroe Community College

Rochester, New York

****

Call for Papers to Follow

Watch your e-mail and snail mail for

further details & information

*****

Charles Clarke, Host Conference Chairman

Richard Libowitz, Executive Director

Marcia Sachs Littell, Emeritus Executive Director

                                                        

Israël installe ses industries de pointe au cœur de New York.

Le 19 décembre dernier, le maire de New York Michael Bloomberg a annoncé la création d’un nouveau campus de plus de 350 000 mètres carrés spécialisé dans l’ingénierie et les sciences appliquées au cœur de la ville de New York. La Cornell University basée à New York et le Technion, Institut israélien de Technologie, ont été sélectionnés pour superviser la nouvelle institution.

« Grâce à ce partenariat exceptionnel et à une proposition révolutionnaire de Cornell et du Technion, l’objectif de New York de devenir le leader mondial dans l’innovation technologique est désormais à portée de main », a proclamé Bloomberg. « Lorsque les gens regarderont derrière eux dans une centaine d’années, je crois qu’ils se souviendront de ce jour comme d’un moment-clé dans la transformation de l’économie de la ville, » a déclaré Robert K Steel, adjoint au maire. suite>>

Behind the Israeli gender segregation story

This is a story about modesty rules and gender segregation but it’s even more about local politics. I spent some time looking at videos of these men taunting girls for not being modest. What’s interesting is how in some of the videos, grown women who are not dressed modestly (according to ultra-Orthodox standards) are left alone while tiny little girls who have their legs and arms covered are yelled at for immodesty. Why is that?

read the entire story>>

Be Merry / Canoodling with kadaif

The delicate nature of kadaif noodles - flexible and long, like the hair of a noble white horse's tail - is what sets them apart from other kinds of dough for making pastries and desserts.

Ground chicken, pistachios, and roasted sweet potato knafeh.

By Limor Laniado Tiroche


Kadaif noodles were served ceremoniously at festivities and weddings, coated in thick clarified butter and either baked or fried, filled with goat cheese, seasoned with rose water or a mixture of nuts, and accompanied by heated honey and kaymak, a rich cream topping. In Syria the pastry was traditionally filled with mashed ripe bananas. more with recipe>>

Désinformation du lobby pro-israélien : assez !

Ca y'est, ces pleutres de JSSNews ont réussi à vraiment me mettre en colère ! Alors que je sortais un joli scoop argumenté de 5 pages sur l'affaire Hamouri, qui démontrait les féroces fourberies d'Amos Lerah, ce grippeminaud préfère se cacher derrière son collègue Victor Perez plutôt que d'affronter ses contradictions. Et pour se sortir de la délicate situation dans laquelle ils étaient, cette truandaille n'a rien trouvé de mieux que d'attaquer le papier de Thierry Reboud, qui s'était aussi offusqué de la grossièreté de la manoeuvre de désinformation au sujet du jeune Salah Hamouri.

Terminons donc le travail.

Tout d'abord, opérons un retour méthodique sur la chronologie des événements. lire la suite sur agoravox>>

Mossad chief: Nuclear Iran not necessarily existential threat to Israel

Tamir Pardo says Israel using various means to foil Iran's nuclear program, but if Iran actually obtained nuclear weapons, it would not mean destruction of Israel.

A Shahab missile. Even a hundred of them wouldn’t bring Israel down, one reckless voice said. Photo by: Reuters

On Tuesday evening, Pardo addressed an audience of about 100 Israeli ambassadors. According to three ambassadors present at the briefing, the intelligence chief said that Israel was using various means to foil Iran's nuclear program and would continue to do so, but if Iran actually obtained nuclear weapons, it would not mean the destruction of the State of Israel.

"What is the significance of the term existential threat?" the ambassadors quoted Pardo as asking. "Does Iran pose a threat to Israel? Absolutely. But if one said a nuclear bomb in Iranian hands was an existential threat, that would mean that we would have to close up shop and go home. That's not the situation. The term existential threat is used too freely." more>>

ed: can we now stop the hysterics over Iran's nuclear program?

2011 : l'année où les femmes ont transformé leur nudité en arme politique

Manifestation anti-prostitution à Kiev, en Ukraine. Crédit Reuters

Entre l’effondrement de la Grèce et un printemps arabe qui tourne au vinaigre, la fin tragique de trente années d’incontinence européenne et le passage à un ordre mondial chinois ou la déculottée d’un DSK, les pannes de secteur d’un Hollande et les frapandingueries d’une Eva Joly, qu’ils soient terrifiants, pitoyables ou cocasses, ce n’est pas le choix qui manque. Mais c’est à la fois un calendrier qui montre des femmes nues et une dépêche toute fraîche qui retiennent mon attention. En effet,voici une bonne nouvelle pour l’Iranienne Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, coupable d’adultère et –ce qu’elle a toujours niée –de participation au meurtre de son mari : elle ne sera pas lapidée ,comme il avait été prévu, mais pendue . suite>>

Amin Maalouf’s Disordered World Is Swansong of Old Middle East

Disordered World: Setting a New Course for the Twenty-first Century By Amin Maalouf. Translated by George Miller. 288 pages. Bloomsbury USA. $24., Getty Images

“I belong to a species which is headed for extinction, and I will refuse to my dying breath to consider as normal the emergence of a world in which communities which have lasted for millennia are forced to abandon their homes."

read the review>> 

Singer Susan Gaeta in concert Jan. 28

Singer Susan Gaeta will be in concert Jan. 28 in St. Augustine. The vocalist and guitarist will perform Sephardic music at Temple Bet Yam.

Musician Susan Gaeta is an important member of a new generation of musicians who are exploring the rich and varied traditions of Sephardic music.

Sephardic music originated among Jews in pre-medieval Spain, and retains a strong Spanish flavor. When Spanish Jews were forced into exile in the 15th century, the music picked up influences from the places to which they were dispersed, such as Portugal, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Greece.

Gaeta sees herself as a creative bridge between the traditional music and its modern future. She will give a concert beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in Temple Bet Yam, 2055 Wildwood Drive, near State Road 207, in St. Augustine. more>>

Hanukkah happiness at the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie

Photo by Steve Solomonson
Mazel tov! Pint-sized Hanukkah observer Nathaniel Cohen and dad Victor create a masterpiece fit for the family album during a Festival of Lights party at the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie on Dec. 25.

Four-year-old Dovid Gilbert gleamed with pride as he lit a candle on the menorah to usher in the fifth day of Hanukkah — with a little help from grandpa Jeffrey Rich.

The sweet tot illuminated the time-honored taper on Dec. 25 as part of a Festival of Lights celebration at the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie when other faithful around town were observing that other holiday marking another ancient miracle. The frolic featured all the bells and whistles associated with a grand time, including live music, dancing, festive fare, and arts and crafts.

Bergen Beach tyke Nathaniel Cohen, 2, and his dad Victor had fun coloring holiday-themed pictures and spinning the dreidel, but his mother Samantha said that her son’s real joy during the holiday was lighting the menorah — what else? more>>

Tension vive dans un quartier juif ultra-orthodoxe en Israël

Dans la ville de Beit Shemesh, une ville de 80 000 habitants, plusieurs centaines de juifs ultra-orthodoxe réclament une stricte séparation entre hommes et femmes.

Israël: un Juif orthodoxe insulte une soldate, inculpé de harcèlement sexuel

JERUSALEM - Un tribunal de Jérusalem a inculpé jeudi pour harcèlement sexuel un Juif orthodoxe soupçonné d'avoir insulté une jeune soldate qui avait refusé de s'asseoir à l'arrière d'un autobus, a-t-on appris de source judiciaire.

Le tribunal de police de Jérusalem a inculpé Schlomo Fuchs, un père de famille âgé de 44 ans, de harcèlement sexuel pour avoir insulté à plusieurs reprise la jeune soldate, la traitant notamment de putain, parce qu'elle avait refusé de prendre place sur les banquettes arrières du véhicule comme il le lui enjoignait.

Le phénomène croissant de discrimination des femmes met en danger la société démocratique, a notamment souligné la juge du tribunal, Eilat Diskin. suite>>

Women say security violations and assaults won't hold them back

A protester holds a sign that reads "We will not be stripped again," in Tahrir Square. (Daily News Egypt/Hassan Ibrahim)

CAIRO: Virginity tests, sexual assaults, brutal beating, stripping and the continuous violations of the military police against women will not hinder their perseverance in going out and demanding their rights, victims and activists asserted on Thursday.

“SCAF, we will strip you. I’m from Upper Egypt and I’ve set my mind on it,” said Samira Ibrahim, who was subjected to a forced virginity test in military prison along with six other activists last March. On Tuesday she won the landmark court verdict ordering the military to immediately stop these forced tests.

“We’re staying on the streets until our demands are met. The people will win at the end,” she said.

“We’ve been arrested beaten and assaulted, we don’t care anymore. First we used to be scared but now we’re not; they’ve broken out innocence,” added the 25-year-old. more>>

Egyptian security forces raid offices of U.S., other democracy groups

Mohammed Asad/AP - Egyptian soldiers and police stormed non-governmental organization offices throughout the country on Thursday, banning employees inside from leaving while they interrogated them and searched through computer files, an activist and security official said.

Egyptian authorities stormed the offices of three U.S. democracy-building organizations and at least three other nonprofit groups Thursday in a dramatic escalation of a crackdown by the military-led government that could imperil its relations with the United States. The move represented the most definitive sign to date that Egypt’s military intends to run the country’s post-revolutionary transition on its own terms and without interference from Washington, its biggest benefactor.
The Obama administration demanded an immediate explanation from Egyptian officials and said the computers and other items taken during the raids ought to be returned promptly. Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the State Department, warned that economic aid could be withheld if Cairo’s leaders do not respond appropriately.

“We were very clear that this issue needs immediate attention, and we look forward to hearing back from the Egypt government,” Nuland told reporters. She called the raids “inconsistent with the bilateral cooperation we have had over many years.” more on wapo>>

The real 'invented' people

by MJ Rosenberg

Newt Gingrich's controversial statement begs the question: Who invented a nationality? The Palestinians or the Israelis?

It is hard to believe that anyone who defends Israel's legitimacy as a state would buy into former Speaker Newt Gingrich's argument that Palestine is an "invented nation".

The singular triumph of the Zionist movement is that it invented a state and a people - Israel and the Israelis - from scratch. The first Hebrew-speaking child in 1900 years, Ittamar Ben-Avi, was not born until 1882. His father, the brilliant linguist Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, created a modern language for him to speak by improvising from the language of the Bible.

The founder of the Israeli state was Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), an assimilated Viennese writer who was convinced by the Dreyfus trial in France - and the horrendous right-wing anti-Semitism that resulted from it - that Jews had to get out of Europe.

In 1897, he wrote the book that would essentially inaugurate the Zionist movement. It was called Der Judenstaat (meaning "the Jews' state" or "the Jewish State"), which was his proposal for moving the Jews out of Europe and into their own country. more on aljazeera>>

American Girl Target of Extremist Jews in Israel

An 8-year-old American girl has unwittingly found herself on the front line of Israel's latest religious row. Naama Margolese is afraid of walking to her religious Jewish girls' school for fear of being harassed by ultra-Orthodox extremists.

Moroccan sexologist calls for speed dating

A Moroccan sexologist has called for single women and men to participate in speed dating in order to help curtail the rising number of single women and the rising marriage age in the country.

Mustafa Rasi, a prominent sexologist, argued that speed dating could help solve the problem of marriage in the country and claimed there was nothing prohibiting the practice in Islam, as long as it is done in the right manner.
Rasi, in an article published by al-Massae newspaper, said that young people “waste” time during the pre-marriage stages that often includes a number of meetings between the couple, their families and lengthy discussions over what a marriage between the two would look like. more>>

10 best dressed women of 2011

by María S. Muñoz


At the end of the year, best-dressed lists are a must. This is Bikyamasr.com’s ranking of the most stylish women of 2011.

1. Kate MiddletonKate with her naturalness, poise and a great body, has become a fashion icon. Her tailored suits, skirts and exquisite gowns are some of the signs of her style, always elegant and chic. Sarah Burton, Erdem and Issa London are among the Duchess favorite designers. (ed: or is it that England is so relieved that young William's taste in women does not run in the Camilla lane?)

2. Blake Lively

She seems to always get it right. The actress, who shot to fame with the television series Gossip Girl, is a new standard of style. Thanks to her role as Serena, Blake was able to approach the world of fashion. Today she is the new face of Chanel and her outfits are an inspiration to many women. (ed: would she have made the list had she not had a new nose?)

3. Florence Welch

Apparently 2011 has been a good year for the flame-hair British singer Florence Welch. Her first Vogue cover this month sold out everywhere. At only 25-years-old Florence is the muse of some of the most prestigious designers such as Gucci. For the red carpet Florence wears Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Zuhair Murad or Givenchy among others. (ed: Florence  has one of the most amazing voices in today's music; clearly this is just cream on the cake)

4. Olivia Palermo

Model, actress and socialite, Olivia is the perfect definition of an ‘it girl’. Femenine and elegant her look is flawless; preppy and classic at times and edgy at others. We can see her wearing the latest model of Chanel as well a customized vintage dress. No matter what she wears, she is always in the best-dressed lists. A real lady. (ed: I wonder if she's done anything about the bad breath and body odor issues she had)

5. Carlota Casiraghi

The aristocrat is undeniably beautiful. Her style is youthful, trendy and elegant. Her looks seem inspired by her grandmother, the beautiful Grace Kelly and by her mother Caroline of Monaco. (ed: she looked positively stunning at Albert's wedding, maybe even upstaging the bride!)

6. Poppy Delevigne

This blond English model is now the image for Mango. During 2011 she rarely missed an event and she did not pass unnoticed in any of them. Her style is casual and trendy and she knows how to combine colors and clothes of all kinds. Poppy shines with her own light by night and by day.  (ed: you should see her in shorts!)

7. Alexa Chung

Alexa has shown that within fashion everything can be mixed with a good result. Her style is boho-chic with a touch of vintage. Alexa’s urban look has made her the queen of the street style. In her closet, Oxford shoes, shorts, lady dresses and vintage jewelry. (ed: then why team up with a blah label?)

8. Emma Stone

It has been this year when the actress has made clear that she has come to stay in the world of ‘it girls’. Her style is romantic and fresh. She loves little lace dresses and Lanvin designs. (ed: Jim Carrey loves her - see creepy video)

9. Andrea Dellal

Mother of four, the former Brazilian model is now a businesswoman and one of the best-dressed celebrities in the red carpet events. She is pure glamour. (ed: how much cosmetic surgery?)

10. Kate Moss

She is ‘The Celebrity’. Despite all the scandals she has starred in, she continues to shine with her rocker style and class. She looks perfect with just a pair of worn out jeans and a plain t-shirt. (ed: totally amazing, considering the amount of cocaine she consumes)