Six Syrian rebels hospitalized in Israel returned to Syria

Published on February 27, 2013

Six wounded Syrian rebels who were treated in an Israeli hospital after being wounded in their country's civil war were repatriated.

Chanukah lessons in a post-Sandy world

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on December 5, 2012

Late last month, I was in Breezy Point, the isolated beachfront neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., that has become an iconic image for the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

Syria approves new constitution amid bloodshed

Published on February 27, 2012

Syrian artillery pounded rebel-held areas of Homs as President Bashar al-Assad's government announced that voters had overwhelmingly approved a new constitution in a referendum derided as a sham by his critics at home and abroad.

Israel arrests two Hamas officials at Red Cross office

Published on January 23, 2012

Israeli police detained on Monday two senior Hamas members who had been sheltering for more than 18 months in the compound of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in East Jerusalem.

‘We’re here to make other people’s lives easier’

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on January 5, 2012

Many people avert their eyes when they walk by the homeless. Hanne Mintz opens her hand, her heart and her home.

Martin Fletcher’s ‘List’ offers hope amidst tragedy

Published on November 4, 2011

Martin Fletcher may already be familiar to you from his long career as a television news correspondent. Or you may recall that Fletcher is the author of two books of nonfiction: “Breaking News” (2008) and “Walking Israel” (2010), which won the National Jewish Book Award. Last month saw the release of “The List” (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, $25.99), marking Fletcher's entry into the ranks of professional novelists, too.

Red Cross discusses prisoner swap with Israel, Hamas

Published on October 13, 2011

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has offered to facilitate the exchange of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for Palestinian prisoners and is discussing this with Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers, an ICRC spokesman said on Thursday.

78 Million Reasons to Love the People of Japan

By Ilana Angel
Published on August 19, 2011

Hamas rejects Red Cross demand to prove Shalit is alive

Published on June 23, 2011

The International Red Cross on Thursday urged Hamas to provide proof abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit is still alive, a request which the Islamist group quickly dismissed.

In helping Palestinians, IDF paramedics defy stereotypes

Published on May 26, 2011

Yana Kisluk tosses her long ponytail over one shoulder and adjusts her M-16 over the other.

Deceiving the audience and the self

By Tom Tugend
Published on April 26, 2011

“The Führer Gives the Jews a City” must rank as the oddest film fragment in cinematic history.

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.

Magen David Adom and the Case for Diplomacy

By Hillel Neuer
Published on June 29, 2006

After 75 years, humanitarianism prevailed over rejectionism. Last Thursday, in the early morning hours, delegates to the 29th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, assembled in Geneva from 192 states and 183 relief societies, voted by overwhelming majority to recognize the Magen David emblem and admit Israel's relief society.

Their Spirit Survives

By Richard Sherman
Published on September 15, 2005

It was hard to be in Los Angeles in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, perhaps the biggest natural disaster in our history. I had some previous Red Cross training, and, with some additional fast-track prep on disaster response, I was on my way to Louisiana -- first by plane to Houston, then by car to Baton Rouge.

Lodging on one of the first nights was the floor of a church gymnasium. At times, I felt like I was part of a sad "Amazing Race," hurrying throughout Louisiana to provide some assistance to some of Katrina's victims.

City’s Plight Brings Flood of Memories

By Rabbi Anne Brener
Published on September 8, 2005

In New Orleans, the Jews are the only ones buried in the ground. Others, if their mourners have any means at all, are laid with the expectation of eternal rest in stone crypts to protect them from rising waters. My mother used to say, "Someday, we Jews'll all be floatin' down the river."

Just as in California, where we know that one day "the big one" will come, in New Orleans, we knew that someday the water would overtake us. But the denial overtakes the wisdom, and we stay and build lives. I think of Pompeii. New Orleans was so beautiful.

American Red Cross Seeks Image Rehab

By Marc Ballon
Published on October 14, 2004

Howard Parmet, community outreach consultant for the American Red Cross (ARC) of Greater Los Angeles, wants to build bridges to a Jewish community that has largely shunned the organization because of a belief that it is anti-Israeli at best and anti-Semitic at worst. Parmet wants to rehabilitate the organization's image, dispel misperceptions and recruit legions of local Jewish volunteers.

The Circuit

By Gaby Wenig
Published on September 23, 2004

When the spring mission of the Men's Division for Israel Bonds went to Israel in June they made a pit stop at Magen David Adom (MDA)'s Blood Center in Ramat Gan so that all the mission participants could donate blood.

Principled Stand

By Sharon Samber
Published on November 1, 2001

Israel's exclusion from the global Red Cross organization appears to have been the pivotal factor in the resignation of the head of the American Red Cross.