JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

Rosh Hashana Girl (and Guy) Come to Israel

By Daniel Sieradski · July 1, 2008

Michelle Citrin and William Levin

Dina Kraft, JTA's Israel Correspondent met up in Jerusalem with singer Michelle Citrin aka Rosh Hashana Girl and her creative partner and friend William Levin. They are the team who brought the world the two YouTube hits "Twenty Things to do with Matzah" and "I Gotta Love You Rosh Hashana" – part of their attempt to bring a touch of the young, hip, and artistic to being Jewish today.

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1 Comment | Share This | Judaism, music, Podcast, Ritual |

Pentagon warns about Israeli attack on Iran

By Uriel Heilman · July 1, 2008

Unnamed senior Pentagon officials told ABC News there is an "increasing likelihood" Israel will attack Iran, and soon.

The official identified two "red lines" that could trigger an Israeli offensive. The first is tied to when Iran's Natanz nuclear facility produces enough highly enriched uranium to make a nuclear weapon. According to the latest U.S. and Israeli intelligence assessments, that is likely to happen sometime in 2009, and could happen by the end of this year.

"The red line is not when they get to that point, but before they get to that point," the official said. "We are in the window of vulnerability."

The second red line is connected to when Iran acquires the SA-20 air defense system it is buying from Russia. The Israelis may want to strike before that system – which would make an attack much more difficult – is put in place.

Some Pentagon officials also worry that Israel may be determined to attack before a new U.S. president, who may be less supportive, is sworn in next January.

For more on that, read this piece by JTA's Ron Kampeas.

6 Comments | Share This | Iran, Israel |

Ariel Sharon’s brain

By Uriel Heilman · July 1, 2008

An article in Tuesday's Science Times sheds light on the dilemma faced by Ariel Sharon's doctors when he suffered a minor stroke shortly before his major, incapacitating stroke two and a half years ago. Microbleeds, which likely caused Sharon's massive stroke on Jan. 4, 2006, continue to raise questions for about how to treat patients at risk for strokes.

1 Comment | Share This | Israel, Science |

Sleeping with the Enemy

By Uriel Heilman · July 1, 2008

Israel's Channel 10 TV has a segment (translated by Ha'aretz) about a campaign in the schools of Kiryat Gat, a southern Israeli city, warning Jewish girls against getting romantically involved with Bedouins. Schoolgirls are shown a video titled "Sleeping with the Enemy," which warns against sexually exploitive Arabs.

0 Comments | Share This | Israel |