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May 25, 2012

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Thinking About Faith
Mark Clayton: Is Hillary's State Dept. hacking Al Qaeda? Not quite
David G. Savage: Supreme Court limits protection against double jeopardy
Ashley Powers: A nightmare, then conviction is tossed
Erika Bolstad: Temple cancels Wasserman Schultz speech
Deroy Murdock: WWII hero Karski to receive U.S. Medal of Freedom
Kimberly Lankford: Health Coverage for College Grads
The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman: The former president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, whose members included the likes of Julia Child, is back with contemporary Shavous cuisine: Ruby Fruit Soup, Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cheese, Key Lime Curd, Calsone Casserole Frittata with Wild Mushrooms, Sun-dried tomatoes and Olives, Baked Tilapia with Pepper Cheese Cream and Brown Sugar Shortbread
May 24, 2012
Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Clifford D. May: What Iran's Rulers Want
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
Kimberly Lankford: Switching Medicare Advantage Plans Mid-Year
Bryan McIver, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Understanding hyperthyroidism and its variety of treatment options
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: Baghdad talks highlight Western naivete
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Lisa Gerstner: 4 Money-Etiquette Questions Answered
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Art Markman, Ph.D.: Get smart: How to bulk up your creativity muscles
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
David S. Cloud and Kathleen Hennessey: Obama changes mind on Pakistan invite to NATO summit --- and then gets dissed by country's president
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
Environmental Nutrition editors: The lowdown on a low-acid diet
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
James K. Glassman: 5 Stock Picks Among Online Retailers
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Caroline B. Glick: Embracing dangerous delusions and not our friends
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Janet Bodnar: How to Teach Kids to Handle Credit Cards
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Mary Beth Franklin: Retirement Savings Tips for New Grads
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
Chelsea Sheasley: Social media: Is it too feminine?
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Jackson Holahan: The Aleppo Codex
Jonathan Tobin : Iran Declares Victory in Nuclear Talks
Anne Kates Smith: 7 Stocks That Let You Sleep Tight
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Dennis Prager: God and Man at (and for) Liberty
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
Environmental Nutrition Editors: Get the facts on palm sugar sweetening
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Richard Simon: Purple Hearts for domestic terror victims?
Nando Pelusi, Ph.D.: The privacy paradox: Surrounded by strangers, we risk isolation, anxiety
Chris Farrell: Investing Lessons from the Great Recession
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
Tiffany O'Callaghan: New hormone mimics effects of exercise without the sweat
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Rabbi B. Shafier: Why happiness will always be elusive
Charles Krauthammer: Echoes of '67: Israel unites
Howard LaFranchi: With G8 snub, US-Putin 'reset' off to stumbling start
Jeremy J. Siegel: Investors, Relax About Rising Interest Rates
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Clifford D. May: The Real Palestinian Refugee Problem
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Harvard Health Letters: Palliative care: Underused therapy yields surprising benefits
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
Rachel L. Sheedy and Susan B. Garland : Make the Right Moves to Boost Benefits
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
John Rosemond: Parents, stop destroying the American male
Valerie J. Nelson: Maurice Sendak, author of 'Where the Wild Things Are,' dies at 83
Bob Frick: Angst Over Annuities
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Why did my blood pressure suddenly shoot up?
Lisa Gerstner: Lower the Rate on All Your Loans
The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : Springtime soba with miso sauce offers a coloful mix of fresh textures and flavors
May 8, 2012
Edmund Sanders: Netanyahu suddenly cancels new elections, forms unity government
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: Farewell to European superstate
Anne Kates Smith: 4 Stocks That Mimic Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway
Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson The Rise of Miniature Medical Robots: Fantasy Fast Becoming Reality
Paul Takahashi, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Never suffer night leg cramps
Jessica L. Anderson: Extended-Warranty Warning
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day with the Best Cookie Ever (Includes techniques)
May 7, 2012
Mark Clayton: Homeland Security warns major cyber attack aimed at gas pipeline industry underway
Angus Roxburgh: Putin Decoded: World view of a Russian feeling dissed
Kimberly Lankford: Navigate a Course for Long-Term Care
Kevin McCormally How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.: Harvard Health Letters: How do you treat a Baker's cyst?
Joanne Capano: Healthy Snacks for Children: The Choices May Surprise You
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: Classic Creamy Spinach Dip with a Fraction of the Calories and Fat
May 4, 2012
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Holy 'trivialities'
Jonathan Tobin: Bibi v. Barak will be no contest this time around
Steven Goldberg: Blue Chip Stocks On Sale Worldwide
Art Pine Slow Productivity Growth a Blessing --- For Now
Sue Hubbard, M.D. : The Kid's Doctor: Are Kids Too Wired?
Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D: Foods that are good for your smile
Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H.: Eating Well: Foods that are good for your smile
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Strawberry rhubarb parfaits are elegant yet simple to assemble
May 3, 2012
Michael Freund: Who's Afraid of the Messiah?
Clifford D. May: The Foggiest War
Susan B. Garland: Insurance to Cover Old Old Age
Steven Goldberg 6 Reasons to Bet on a Big Bull Market
Harvard Health Letters: Treating prostate cancer --- no rush to judgment
Larry Gordon: Harvard, MIT partner to offer free online courses
Naomi Nix : Man gets free trip to Chicago after postcard sent by mother in 1957 finally reaches him
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Intensely Italian vegetable frittata is a seriously simple standby


Jewish World Review Sept. 26, 2006 / 4 Tishrei, 5767

Get Out Your Crystal Ball!

By Jonathan Tobin



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Time to take the 5767 Jewish pundit quiz on the coming year's news


http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Did you enjoy 5766? For Jews around the world, it was the usual assortment of bad — and even worse — news.


It was a year of war and suffering in Israel. Hamas won an election, and low-level warfare in Gaza was followed by large-scale war in the north with Hezbollah. Elsewhere, the bloody stalemate in Iraq continued, as did the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. Ariel Sharon was felled by a heart attack, and Ehud Olmert was elevated to the prime ministership only to find that the job wasn't as much fun as he'd thought.


Here at home, we experienced some shifts in opinion as President Bush's poll numbers continued to dive, while heretofore Jewish Democratic icon Joe Lieberman was cast out by his own party.


So as we pause to catch our collective breath, the arrival of a new Jewish year has us all wondering about what's in store for 5767. Can things get worse? Of course, they can!


Yet even as we cope with Katyushas, terrorism and cut-throat politics, we shouldn't lose what's left of our sense of humor. But before the Almighty writes down just how much worse (or better) it will be for us in the proverbial Book of Life, I present (with apologies, as always, to former New York Times columnist William Safire) the annual "Jewish Pundit Quiz" for 5767.


For the record, in last year's quiz, I managed to get at least one big answer wrong, though a few right.


Not only did I incorrectly predict that Ariel Sharon would still be prime minister, Ehud Olmert wasn't even listed among the alternatives. On the other hand, I did correctly forecast the fall of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), another round of Palestinian violence and no light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq. Save this column, and see how you or I do in 5767.


So guess — or should I say prognosticate — along with me about the coming year. My answers are at the bottom of the column.


And remember, if you are worried about the outcome, teshuva ("repentance"), tefilla ("prayer") and tzedeka ("acts of justice and charity") may avert the severe decree.


L'Shanah Tovah Tikasevu!


1. The outcome of the 2006 congressional elections will be a:


a. Democratic sweep of both the House and the Senate.

b. Republicans hold onto control of both houses of Congress.

c. Republicans hold onto the Senate, but a Democrat takeover of the House.

d. Democrat takeover of the Senate while Republicans hold onto the House.


2. The winner of the bellwether Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race will be:


a. Republican incumbent Rick Santorum.

b. Democratic challenger Bob Casey.

c. Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli.


3. Polls will show the issue that most influences Jewish votes for Congress this year will be:


a. Support for Israel.

b. Fear of the influence of the Christian right.

c. Opposition to the war in Iraq.

d. Concern about the war on Islamist terror.

e. Activism against genocide in Darfur.


4. The most influential Jewish member of Congress in 5767 will be:


a. Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wisc.), who will use his new status as a member of the majority to launch investigations that will embarrass the White House and prop up his own bid for the presidency in 2008.

b. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Ind.-Conn.), whose re-election as an independent after losing the Democratic nomination will unexpectedly put him in the catbird seat after the midterm election ends in a virtual tie between the two parties in the Senate.

c. Sen. Arlen Spector (R-Pa.) whose return to the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee will again be crucial in possible court appointment fights.

d. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), whose influence will rise after his fund raising efforts lead to a new Democratic majority in the Senate.


5. The prime minister of Israel at the start of 5768 will be:


a. Ehud Olmert of Kadima.

b. Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud.

c. Amir Peretz of Labor.

d. Ehud Barak of Labor.


6. During the course of 5767, Israel will find itself in conflict with:


a. Hezbollah, as the U.N. peacekeeping force fails to enforce the cease-fire.

b. Hamas, as the need to distract Palestinians from their suffering under Islamist rule necessitates an increase in terrorism.

c. Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, whose new coalition with Hamas and Islamic Jihad will give cover to the terrorists and leave peace talks stalled.

d. Syria, whose meddling in Lebanon and alliance with Iran will continue.

e. All of the above.


7. By the start of 5768, efforts to prevent the Islamic regime in Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons will:


a. Be resolved after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities render the issue moot.

b. Still be stalemated after efforts to enact U.N. sanctions are sabotaged by the French.

c. Have succeeded as the West unites to enforce tough sanctions causing Iran to fold.

d. Have failed after Iran announces that it has created its first nuclear weapon years earlier than expected due to help from Russia.


8. The most significant trend in American Jewish life in 5767 will be:


a. The legalization of slot machines in synagogues solves Jewish fundraising shortfalls, while the exponential growth of addiction to gambling creates a host of new problems.

b. The acceptance of gay rabbis and commitment ceremonies by the Conservative movement of Judaism.

c. The need to confront a rising tide of anti-Semitism on our own shores as anti-Israel activities on college campuses spills over into popular culture.

d. The rejection of pro-Israel causes by younger American Jews, who are turned off by "parochial" issues, and prefer charities and activism focused on the plight of non-Jews.


Tobin's answers: 1. c, 2. a, 3. b, 4. c, 5. a, 6. e, 7. b, 8. d

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JWR contributor Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. Let him know what you think by clicking here.

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