Foreigners still caught in Sahara hostage crisis

Published on January 18, 2013

More than 20 foreigners were still either being held hostage or missing inside a gas plant on Friday after Algerian forces stormed the desert complex to free hundreds of captives taken by Islamist militants.

Santa Claus in Jerusalem?

Published on December 24, 2012

Santa Claus hands his bell to five year old Ryuya Ando, who energetically shakes it. Ando’s parents, United Nations employees from Japan, get in line for a Christmas tree.

Israel, Japan mark 60 years of relations

Published on May 16, 2012

Israel and Japan marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Self-styled historian seeks clues to Japan’s Holocaust survivors

By Elyse Glickman
Published on April 11, 2012

Akira Kitade is a former Japanese tourism executive who still relishes the opportunity to show a newcomer the cultural sights of Tokyo. He also delights in showing off photos of his new grandchild and extended family.

In Japan, pride in the Jewish response to tsunami

Published on March 7, 2012

As I sit here in Tokyo with the first anniversary of the tsunami fast approaching, I recall my surprise the first time a Japanese person thanked me, as a Jew, for Israel’s immediate response to the disaster.

78 Million Reasons to Love the People of Japan

By Ilana Angel
Published on August 19, 2011

Months later, Jewish groups and Israel are helping a tsunami-devastated Japan

Published on May 23, 2011

In northeastern Japan, the area hardest hit by the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, a team of Israeli post-trauma experts guided local teachers and officials through their lingering pain.

Justin Bieber’s Musical Father Figure, Dan Kanter [UPDATED]

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on May 18, 2011

Israeli military aid delegation to Japan returns home

Published on April 12, 2011

The Israel Defense Forces' aid delegation to Japan returned home, leaving medical equipment behind for local doctors to use. The delegation, which brought 62 tons of medical supplies and 18 tons of humanitarian aid to the city of Minami-Sanriko, hard hit by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in March, landed in Israel on Tuesday.

Federations raise $1,349,000 in Japan relief

Published on April 11, 2011

Jewish federations throughout North America have raised $1,349,000 to help Japan recover from last month's massive earthquake and tsunami. The federations' Japan, Hawaii and Pacific Relief Fund, opened immediately following the earthquake and resultant tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, has collected the money to support relief and recovery efforts in the damaged areas.

Japanese deputy FM tours Israeli field hospital

Published on April 5, 2011

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Makiko Kikuta toured the Israeli army's medical clinic in the city of Minami-Sanriko. Kikuta said that the good relationship between Israel and Japan will be strengthened due to the arrival of the medical delegation to help in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in March.

Radioactive iodine from Japan detected in Israel

Published on March 30, 2011

Traces of radioactive waste from a damaged nuclear reactor in Japan have been detected in the air in Israel. The Soreq Nuclear Research Center on Tuesday detected traces of Iodine-131 in an air sample. The concentration of 0.00005 becquerel per square meter is very low and presents no danger to humans or the environment, according to Israel's Atomic Energy Commission.

Paper Cranes:  Talking to Children About Japan

By Sarah Tuttle-Singer
Published on March 25, 2011

The more you watch, the worse you feel

By Marty Kaplan
Published on March 21, 2011

As if the triple whammy of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster weren’t enough to enthrall and terrify us, the war in Libya is now providing cable news viewers a fresh hell to follow 24/7.

Israel sends medical delegation to Japan

Published on March 21, 2011

Israel has sent a medical delegation to Japan to help victims of the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami. Two doctors and an Israel Defense Forces Homefront Command officer arrived Monday in Japan to determine what is required to send a full-scale medical delegation and the necessary equipment to the devastated area, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

News Nincompoops Narrate Nuclear Nonsense

By Albert Fuchs, M.D.
Published on March 17, 2011

Israel reconsidering nuclear power plans in light of Japan crisis

Published on March 17, 2011

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with CNN that Israel is reconsidering its plans for a nuclear energy facility in light of what happened in Japan. The interview is set to be aired later on Thursday.

Japan turns to U.S. in face of worsening nuclear crisis

Published on March 16, 2011

Japan said Wednesday that further assistance from the United States was needed to help keep the nuclear cores at a power plant from overheating, after last week's quake and tsunami knocked out the plant's cooling systems.

Netanyahu pledges support to Japan

By JewishJournal.com
Published on March 16, 2011

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered "any assistance" and stated that the "citizens of Israel stand beside you at this difficult time" in a letter to his Japanese counterpart, Naoto Kan.

Japan disaster and Itamar killings put Jewish giving on the spot

Published on March 15, 2011

Almost as soon as the catastrophe in Japan began unfolding last Friday, Jewish groups scrambled to figure out how to get help to the area. In Israel, search-and-rescue organizations like ZAKA and IsraAid readied teams to head to the Japanese devastation zone. In Tokyo, the Chabad center took an accounting of local Jews and began organizing a shipment of aid to stricken cities to the north. In the United States, aid organizations ranging from B’nai B’rith International to local and national federation agencies launched campaigns to collect money for rescue, relief and rebuilding efforts in the Pacific.

Japan braces for potential radiation catastrophe as 140,000 could be affected

Published on March 15, 2011

Japan faced a potential catastrophe Tuesday after a quake-crippled nuclear power plant exploded and sent low levels of radiation floating toward Tokyo, prompting some people to flee the capital and others to stock up on essential supplies.

Third explosion rocks earthquake-damaged Japan nuclear plant

Published on March 14, 2011

A third explosion in four days rocked the earthquake-damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in northeast Japan early Tuesday, the country's nuclear safety agency said. The blast at Dai-ichi Unit 2 followed two hydrogen explosions at the plant - the latest on Monday - as authorities struggle to prevent the catastrophic release of radiation in the area devastated by a tsunami.

Chabad ships food to quake-ravaged Japanese city

Published on March 14, 2011

Chabad-Lubavitch centers in Tokyo and Hong Kong have shipped tons of food into one of the Japanese cities hardest hit by last week's earthquake and tsunami. The Tokyo-based Chabad-Lubavitch of Japan and the Hong Kong-based Chabad-Lubavitch of Asia have shipped bread, rice, noodles, soups, canned foods, flour and oil to the city of Sendai, Chabad.org reported.

Israeli team leaves for Japan aid mission

Published on March 13, 2011

A civilian Israeli search-and-rescue team left for Japan in the aftermath of a major earthquake and tsunami.

Israel team of volunteers to help with search and rescue efforts in Japan

Published on March 11, 2011

ZAKA International Rescue Unit said Friday it will send a team of trained volunteers from Israel to help the search and rescue efforts in Japan, following the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that rocked the country earlier that day.

Japan earthquake relief: How you can help

By JewishJournal.com
Published on March 11, 2011

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Japan, the organized Jewish world is lining up support for the rescue and relief effort in the region.

Tragedy in Japan Trumps TV’s Funniest Moments

By Misha Henckel
Published on March 11, 2011

Jewish groups mobilizing response to massive Japan earthquake and tsunami

Published on March 11, 2011

Jewish organizations are mobilizing their responses to the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on Friday.

Fiddler on the Roof—in Japanese

Published on December 27, 2007

Japanese video—- ‘Improve your matzoh handling technique’

Published on March 23, 2007

Breaking matzoh clean

Go Go G-dzilla

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on June 15, 2006

For fans craving city-stomping action, "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" will rear his scaly head this summer in a rare big-screen appearance, incinerating steel and citizens alike with his nuclear halitosis.

Shadows Obscure Illegal Aliens’ Hopes

By Andy Glass
Published on May 26, 2005

In speaking about illegal aliens, President Bush says the time has come to bring "millions of hard-working men and women out of the shadows."

However, Republican leaders in Congress claim that Bush's proposals would reward lawbreakers. They soon plan to pass legislation tightening the legal and physical screws on illegal immigrants. The idea is to make the bill veto-proof by tying it to emergency funding for U.S. troops in Iraq.

For me, the issue is of more than passing interest. It was to California, long an immigration battleground, that I came to the United States in 1941 as the only child of illegal aliens.

Finding Father in ‘Souvenir’

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on June 12, 2003

While Louise Steinman was growing up Reform in Culver City, her father seemed unknowable. A taciturn, workaholic pharmacist, he never spoke of his combat experiences in the Pacific. But Asian food was banned from the house and his four children weren't allowed to cry in front of him. "Reminds him of the war," his wife said.

Land of the Rising Fun

By Michael Goldstein
Published on February 20, 2003

With less than 5,000 Jewish residents, Japan certainly is not a Jewish country. Yet, Japan is a special destination for the Jewish traveler, at once safe and familiar, exotic and different.

Jew-mo!

By Ari B. Morguelan
Published on December 7, 2000

Woody Allen once said the shortest book ever written was the one on Jewish athletes. Well, here is the shortest chapter in that book: Since May 1987, Argentinean native Imach Marcello Solomon (a k a Hoshitango) has been wrestling his way up in the competitive sumo leagues in Japan.