The Nahmias Cipher Report

Ayanna Nahmias, Editor-in-Chief Last Modified: 10:04 AM EDT, 26 March 2012 NEW DELHI, India – Three years ago, on 13 April 2009, Shri M. Hamid Ansari, the current Vice President of India, released a book titled, “Challenges and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy” authored by Ambassador Rajiv Sikri of the International Institute for Strategic Studies [...]

Ayanna Nahmias, Editor-in-Chief Last Modified: 23:09 PM EDT, 19 March 2012 UNITED STATES – When people think of Jews, the general consensus is that the community is monolithic and closed, and that all Jews unilaterally support the State of Israel and its policies. As one of our readers reminded us, Jon Stewart, who is Jewish, [...]

Thousands of Israelis, many of whom originally from Ethiopia, take part in a demonstration against the discrimination of Ethiopian-Jews in Israel. the protesters march from the Israeli Parliament to the city center in Jerusalem, on January 18, 2012. Keren Manor

This year Rosh Hashana commenced on the evening of 28 September 2011 which is actually the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar in the year 5772. Rosh Hashana (Hebrew: ראש השנה‎, literally means “head of the year,” and is commonly referred to as the “Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is [...]

When a woman attempts to leave an unhappy marriage, depending upon where she resides it could result in her death, loss of her parental rights, disfigurement, impoverishment, ostracization or other dire consequences. When my father began to physically abuse my mother she was caught in an untenable situation because he had vowed that he would kill her rather than let her go and if she somehow managed to escape she would do so without her children.

A mother’s love enables many women to endure unimaginable degradation and hardship to protect their children and to remain in situations often to their own detriment. In America we are familiar with these stories but they are easily tuned into and out of in favor of the latest gossip story or ‘reality’ TV series. A story currently playing out in public is the scandalous case of Tamar Epstein and Aharon Friedman.

Since we strive to highlight the commonalities between Abrahamic religions and hopefully introduce the readers to alternative views of each faith; I would like to extend warm regards to friends and family of both the Jewish and Muslim faiths.

שנה טובה ומבורכת , שנת בטחון וללא פיגועים !!! to all my Jewish friends, family and readers.

To Arabic speaking friends and family kul ‘am wantum bikhair.

“The real differences around the world today are not between Jews and Arabs; Protestants and Catholics; Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The real differences are between those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it; between those who look to the future and those who cling to the past; between those who open their arms and those who are determined to clench their fists.” ~ Bill Clinton

Some people who read this post may believe that it is impossible for this to happen in 2010; however, I can attest to the veracity of one aspect of this story. Recently my mother attended a school sponsored event in Potomac, Maryland. Upon her arrival the hostess glanced at her and imperiously informed her that the kitchen was in the back. My mother with aplomb, informed the lady that she was attending the event on behalf of her grandson who was a student attending the school. Upon hearing this, the woman grudgingly accepted my mother’s proffered hand before stepping aside to let her pass. As my mother entered, the woman wiped her hand on her dress.

“A fresh start is nearly impossible wherever there’s a history of violence.” Radio Netherlands Worldwide began the new year with a “program that shows people around the world can make new beginnings with old enemies. Stories include: a Palestinian and an Israeli teenager who overcame their fears to become best friends; a Muslim and a Hindu filmmaker whose relationship was tested and strengthened while working in conflict-torn Kashmir; a man in Zimbabwe who now preaches against the intertribal violence he once took part in. We also feature an essay from Sri Lanka about overcoming caste divisions, and another from a survivor of Sarajevo with her reflections on the war crimes trial of Radovan Karadzic.” Source: The State We’re In, 2 January 2010