The archaeological dig for the City of David in Jerusalem thrills the busloads of elderly Jewish American tourists. But the dig puts Palestinian homes at risk and adds more fuel to the Israel vs. Palestine fire.
Judaism
Daily Proposition: Make a Yiddish grandmother chicken soup
While observant Jews are selling their beer for the week to mark Passover, why not celebrate your tenuous Jewish credentials (or make some new ones) with a nice pot of Yiddish grandmother chicken soup?
Why don’t Jews write fantasy novels?
In no other field of modern literature have Jews contributed so little than to the genre of fantasy, says Michael Weingrad. So why is there no Jewish Narnia?
Hockey: Why I’m a Christian even though I don’t agree with other Christians
MP Joe Hockey gives a damning view of literal interpretations of the Bible in Christianity in last night’s speech to the Sydney Institute. We need to embrace the diversity of religions and not commit acts of war because of it, he says.
QUIZ: Are you a true Jew?
Gawker put together a silly quiz to test how ‘jewy’ you are, with bagels, Larry David and blintzes. But there’s a serious side, with children of converted progressive Jews being discriminated against like Harry Potter Mudbloods.
J Street pushing a policy that leads to disappointment
This week’s J Street’s conference saw Zionists, students, pensioners, 1948 Jewish fighters, anti-Zionists and Nazi hunters congregate in Washington DC in an effort to widen the debate over the Middle East.
The frenemies bringing Israel down
Recently Israel has got public endorsement from controversial supporters like Holocaust denier BNP leader Nick Griffin and Polish politician Michal Kaminski, who has made questionable comments about Jewish massacres. This is a publicity disaster for Israel, writes Miriam Shaviv.
Letter from...: Aceh Part II: the only Jew in the village
Jakarta may now control their lives but an independent streak still runs through the veins of the Banda Aceh province, with a growing number of writers, discussions of morality and pirated DVDs.
Reports of Ahmedinejad’s Judaism are greatly exaggerated
The weekend’s much-hyped reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has Jewish roots are incorrect, says Meir Javedanfar, who says his bloodline may in fact flow back to the Prophet Muhammad.
revealed 
Is anti-semitic Ahmadinejad actually Jewish?
A chance snapshot of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s identity card has revealed a curious fact: he was born with a Jewish surname. Are his attacks on Israel and the Jewish world all a rouse to cover his true roots?
Spit and tell: diversity amongst ultra-Orthodox Jews
ABC journalist Anne Barker was reporting a story in Jerusalem, when she was spat on by a group of ultra-Orthodex Jewish men. Was it because she was a woman, a journalist, not Jewish, or not dressed modestly enough?
Reaction to Pilger award reveals Zionist lobby’s fear of dissent
The Sydney Peace Foundation awarded its annual prize to journalist, author and documentary maker John Pilger, and Jewish leaders again are on the offensive.
Future looks foggy for America’s pro-Israel lobby
America’s pro-Israel lobby — once a permanent fixture of the country’s political landscape — is facing an uncertain future as young non-Orthodox Jews become increasingly disengaged with the state of Israel and its policies. Can they learn to love a country but not its government?
Madonna writes her own news
Madonna is a regular fixture in the news, but this time she’s the one writing it, with an upcoming article in Israel’s biggest daily. And it’s not about her arms!
Dear Jon Stewart: change your name
In an open letter to Jon Stewart, Ron Rosenbaum urges the Jewish comedian to change his surname back to ‘Leibowitz’, calling his current moniker a “faint but unnecessary relic of anti-Semitism”.
New game show: Who Wants to be a Religious Zealot?
A new Turkish game show challenges a Muslim imam, a Greek Orthodox priest, a rabbi and a Buddhist monk to convert one of 10 atheists to their religion of choice, with new converts winning a trip to Mecca, Jerusalem or Tibet. Plus eternal salvation, presumably.
Koogle: the kosher search engine
A new search engine, Koogle, has been created to allow ultra-Orthodox Jews to surf the Internet without encountering material such as news and pictures of “immodest” women, and stops users from making any online purchases on the Sabbath.
Palestine, Israel and the need for freedom of speech
Holocaust denial warrants condemnation, but too often any criticism against Jews or Zionism is automatically slammed.
