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, [...]

Ayanna Nahmias, Editor-in-Chief Last Modified: 13:22 PM EDT, 29 February 2012 CAIRO, Egypt – Minutes ago Egyptian officials announced that they would lift the travel ban on 7 of the 16 Americans who have been accused of inciting violence among Egyptian protesters during recent rallies. Since their detention, relations between the United States and Egypt [...]

Enkutatash is the Ethiopian New Year which will be celebrated by the Gregorian calendar on 11 September 2010. The current year according to the Ethiopian calendar is 2002, which began on September 11, 2009 of the Gregorian calendar. The year 2003 will begin on September 11, 2010.

Melkam Addis Amet! Happy New Year to all!

“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.

Like the Bene Israel and Cochin Jews of India, the Lemba people did not fit neatly into most peoples’ perceptions of “what Jews look like.” As previously discussed in this blog, the Jewish diaspora is as varied as the people of the earth, however, in addition racism plays a large part of the discomfort people have with the concept of Jews of Color. The identification of the Lemba as Jews would have probably passed largely unnoticed except for their sub-Saharan ancestry.

“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

Ayanna Nahmias, Editor-in-Chief Last Modified: 01:46 AM EDT, 18 December 2009 ISRAEL – “The Idan Raichel Project is the self-titled debut album by Idan Raichel. Raichel composed and arranged many of the tracks, performs vocals and plays the keyboard, while collaborating with other vocalists and musicians. Hit singles include Boi (בואי / “Come”), Im Telech [...]