Throughout Jewish history, some of us have been prone to suspend our critical judgment and believe in false messiahs.  Many of us, after all, followed Shabtai  Zvi, the 17th century rabbi and self-declared (and ultimately false) messiah. Unfortunately, our recent history is no better. So many of us suspended critical thinking and skepticism and...
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On September 10, 2009, on the eve of the anniversary of that fateful day eight years ago when 3,000 Americans had lost their lives, EMET will once again be hosting a seminar entitled: The Saudi Penetration into America’s National Infrastructure. This star-studded conference will be held from one p.m. to four p.m. in the...
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The freedom of the city is not negotiable. We cannot negotiate with those who say, “What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is negotiable.” U.S. President John F. Kennedy, addressing a concerned nation during the Berlin Crisis 48 summers ago, spoke those words in standing firm against Soviet designs on the city. The speaker...
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I do not generally use this space for spiritual musings. However, this past Thursday marked Tisha B’Av, the ninth of the Jewish month of Av. This is a date on the Jewish calendar that my people commemorate not only the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE and the Second Temple in 70...
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After a long and heroic struggle with cancer, my husband’s kid brother, Alan Stern, died on Wednesday. Twenty-five years ago, he was told that he only had six months to live. I remember riding with Alan, and his amazing wife, Annie, during those days after the initial diagnosis in our car back from the...
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“To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved” – George MacDonald From the commitments exchanged between a man and his wife, to those that are exchanged between nations, trust is the cement that adheres all human relationships together. When assurances are given in good faith, the most valuable currency that could...
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“Dictatorial regimes and their behavior are a phenomenon that must be confronted constantly… It is very important to explain and stress over and over again that people fighting for human rights are not doing this just for themselves, but they are opposing the humiliation of individuals wherever they may be”—Vaclav Havel, Former Czech President...
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An Analysis of President Barack Obama’s Cairo Speech of June 5, 2009 By Sarah N. Stern and Kyle Shideler President Barack Obama’s much anticipated Cairo speech had within it some high points and some rather disappointing ones. It carried a positive tone of respect to the Muslim world which can only help to build...
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“There’s no use trying,” she said; “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen…. “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” Lewis Carroll, “Alice in Wonderland” As I write these words, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is about to enter into the oval...
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Wednesday, the Endowment for Middle East Truth held a staffer briefing, sponsored by the Adelson Family Foundation, as part of the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Policy Seminar Series. She thanked the Adelson Family Foundation for enabling this to come about. Sarah Stern introduced Farid Ghadry, Ali Alyami, and Walid Phares as three...
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