Author?

For some reason, the author of this article is not named. Based on the highlighted paragraph, I’m guessing it was the distinguished Walter Clay Lowdermilk, one of the unsung heroes of the Jewish people’s restoration of and to the Promised Land.

in reference to:

"A central feature of the plan derives from a survey that I conducted in 1938 and 1939 for the U. S. Department of Agriculture and from the proposal, growing out of that survey, of a Jordan Valley Authority to achieve the fullest development of the surface and underground waters of the valley for the entire original Mandate under the League of Nations, including what is now the Kingdom of Jordan as well as Israel."
- 50 Years Ago: The Reclamation of a Man-Made Desert: Scientific American (view on Google Sidewiki)

Eco Jews

Great idea, but why hasn’t it been updated since 2008!?

in reference to: Eco Jews | JTA - Jewish & Israel News (view on Google Sidewiki)

No peaceful uses for the atom

The issue of energy has been on the agenda since the artificial oil crisis of 1973. What has Israel done in the 37-odd years since then to reduce its dependence on energy imports? My objection to any such proposal is that there is apparently still no way to operate a nuclear power plant in an entirely safe manner, while disposal of nuclear waste is still hugely problematic. It’s ironic that the same forces which have prevented the development of alternative energy sources and energy conservation are now advocating nuclear power as a “green” option.

Remember the motto: There are no peaceful uses for the atom.

in reference to:

"A nuclear option to produce electricity, with its attendant hazards, could nevertheless present Israel with the best option for generating non-emissions-producing electricity in significant quantities."
- Landau to announce plans for first Israeli nuke power plant (view on Google Sidewiki)

Rule #1 of Jewish demographics

Rule #1 of Jewish demographics is that there are always more Jews than anyone estimated or anticipated. Because of their history, Jews have an understandable reluctance to be counted or surveyed. This has been immeasurably complicated by the fluid definitions of Jewishness emerging since Jews became emancipated.

in reference to:

"“Two-and-a-half million,” the KGB head replies. “But if we let them leave, there will be 6 million.”"
- Fishing for Jews in Russia’s muddy waters | JTA - Jewish & Israel News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Google Sidewiki entry by Russell

For me, the obvious question is why the eruv needs to consist of “a network of poles and strings”? Why not simply paint the boundary lines on the pavement (with the assistance of the local council, of course)? Oh, that’s right, I forgot, Moses himself set out the manner in which an eruv must be delimited. He didn’t write it down, of course, but a handful of later sages managed to interpret what he didn’t say...

in reference to:

"The eruv, which usually consists of a network of poles and strings, defines an area within which religious Jews are allowed to carry items outside their homes on Shabbat. From the standpoint of Jewish law, it essentially makes this area "private" rather than "public.""
- Rift has roots in eruv dispute - Haaretz - Israel News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Within a single generation

You said “Israel would be among the world's richest nations if Arabs and ultra-orthodox Jews could be brought into the economy, Israel's top treasury official said on Wednesday.”
Yes, they need to be brought into the economy, and the way to do this is to shake them out of their little taxpayer-subsidised cocoon. Level the playing fields by simply using the principle of absolute equality; do away with subsidising their private school education system, their reliance on social welfare, their virtual exemption from national service/conscription. Most importantly, make coalition deals that privilege the Haredi sector at the expense of the general public against the law. We can bring them into the economy within a single generation, simply by doing away with their special treatment on all fronts.

in reference to:

"Israel would be among the world's richest nations if Arabs and ultra-orthodox Jews could be brought into the economy, Israel's top treasury official said on Wednesday."
- Treasury chief: Boosting Arab and Haredi employment would make Israel rich - Haaretz - Israel News (view on Google Sidewiki)