Egypt
Menachem Begin: A New LifeFriday, May 3, 2013 by Asaf Romirowsky | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
Ensuring that another Holocaust would never take place was Menachem Begin's paramount concern, even when he was Prime Minister of Israel, pursuing Yasir Arafat in his Beirut bunker.
Rejoice When Your Enemy Falters?Friday, March 22, 2013 by Shlomo M. Brody | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
Proverbs says, "When your enemy falters do not rejoice and when he stumbles do not feel glee." Does that apply even if your enemy is really, really evil?
The Jewish Egyptian RevivalWednesday, March 13, 2013 by Diana Muir Appelbaum | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
Passover marks the day on which God liberated the Israelites from Pharaoh’s rule. But three millennia after the Exodus, emancipated Jews expressed their national identity by building synagogues in the Pharaonic style.
Shabbat Shirah: Song Takes WingMonday, January 21, 2013 by Jerry Friedman | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
Complementing the Song of the Sea, which will be read this Shabbat in synagogue, the Rabbis suggested a home-based ritual to celebrate Shabbat Shirah: feeding the birds.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
Why did God kill all the first-born of Egypt? (Click here for source sheet.) Download | Duration: 00:11:17Va’era: Confronting Leviathan
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
Moses, snakes, and serpents—and what all that has to do with the story of creation. (Click here for source sheet.) Download | Duration: 00:11:46
Justice in a Gray WorldMonday, December 31, 2012 by Robert Nicholson | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
The Law In These Parts, a new documentary that places the blame for Palestinian woes on Israel's military lawyers, exhibits scant awareness of history—and limited knowledge of law.
America and the Muslim Brotherhood: A RomanceThursday, December 20, 2012 by Alex Joffe | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
One of the most consistent and depressing aspects of U.S.-Middle Eastern relations is the determination of our intellectuals and officials to defend Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.
Chemical Warfare in the Middle East: A Brief HistoryThursday, December 13, 2012 by Alex Joffe | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
At this time of Hanukkah’s memories of Syrian tyrants past, the Syrian tyrant present, Bashar al-Assad, has reportedly assembled chemical weapons for use against the rebellion.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
Pharaoh's heart is pounding—not the last time this will happen to a biblical king. (Click here for source sheet.) Download | Duration: 00:10:23
Editors' Picks
Iran and the Brotherhood Eric Trager, Washington Institute. Iran is becoming increasingly unpopular in the Arab world—except among Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.
Is Israel the New Saudi Arabia? Karl Vick, Time. High-quality oil shale under exploration south of Jerusalem, coupled with offshore gas reserves already under development, could turn Israel into an energy giant.
Anarchy in Sinai Zvi Mazel, Jerusalem Post. Despite the Egyptian army’s campaign to impose order in the Sinai peninsula, last week's missile attacks on Eilat demonstrate that the area remains "for all intents and purposes a war zone."
Still Blaming the Jews Richard Wolin, Chronicle of Higher Education. German Egyptologist Jan Assmann claims that Judaism disrupted the ancient Middle East by inventing "religious exclusivity"—and calls his theory "a historical analysis of anti-Semitism."
Meshaal, the Moderate? Alan Johnson, Prospect. Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal rejects peace with Israel, refusing to "relinquish an inch" of land. But Egypt has guaranteed his re-election in the hope of avoiding war.
Hitting the Gas David Wurmser, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. In addition to giving Israel energy independence for the first time in its history, Israel's maritime natural gas reserves may make it a major gas exporter to Asia over the coming decades.
Strangers in the Land Aaron A. Burke, Martin Peilstöcker, Popular Archaeology. For over 300 years, Egyptians and Canaanites fought for control of Jaffa. But their violent interactions went hand-in-hand with cultural exchange.
Were the Israelites Enslaved in Egypt? Michael Carasik, Jewish Ideas Daily. The Bible gives no fewer than four different reasons for the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt. But if there really was slavery, why does the Bible have so much trouble explaining it?
Losing Washington's Attention George Friedman, Stratfor Global Intelligence. Focused on the domestic economy, the United States has lost interest in the Middle East. And, facing external threats beyond its control, Israel has followed suit.
Locust Cheeseburgers Natan Slifkin, Times of Israel. As Pesach approaches, Egypt is once again beset by a plague of locusts. But if they descend upon Israel, they might end up on at least one man's menu.