News

With all the troubles facing Israel and the Middle East, newsreaders could easily miss—or ignore—an argument over posters. But, quite often, “little” issues highlight big human interest stories. One Jewish outreach group’s clash with the United Nations over a Jewish history display might do exactly that.

“The unthinkable is happening” said one Indian power plant operator in reaction to the severe drop in water levels on the Ganges River that closed his plant for ten days (BBC, March 27, 2016). For the second year in a row in India, monsoon rains have been scarce, snowmelt limited, and ground water levels have fallen. The falling river level has caused power plants to go offline, stranded river barges and caused shortages of drinking and washing water (ibid.).

“Lulu, a six-year-old Argentine child who was listed as a boy at birth, has been granted new identification papers by the Buenos Aires provincial government listing her as a girl” (Christian Post, March 22, 2016).

Iran has become emboldened since the recent nuclear deal and is challenging U.S. foreign policy. “Iranian Army Commander Maj. Gen. Ataollah Salehi… announced that Iran intends to deploy warships and destroyers in Latin America… to expand its military cooperation with countries opposing the US” (Israel National News, April 3, 2016).

Many years ago, when my son was about two years old, I used to carry him around on my shoulders and attempt to teach him important things about life. One night I pointed to the bright, full moon and told him, “God made the Moon.” In his small, new voice he would repeat, “God bade boon?!” I thought that what he said was priceless, and I would prompt him to say it to others by asking him, “Who made the Moon?” “God bade boon!” he would respond with full assurance.