Whole barbecued pigs, cheerleaders and elegies to skinny-dipping farmers’ daughters. That was the organized noise Sunday night at the opening bash of the Republican National Convention at Tropicana Field, the home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg. For those seeking Jewish content, a noted rabbi was set to kick off the formal proceedings on Tuesday, and scattered through the rain-drenched towns of Tampa Bay were a number of events addressing the pro-Israel community’s …More

We suppose it was only a matter of time, but Howard Stern has finally weighed in on President Barack Obama’s recent endorsement of same-sex marriage. And the self-anointed King of All Media is pulling no punches. "I wish the president actually had gone further. I wish he said he was going to back some legislation on the national level," Stern told a group of reporters during a press conference about his new job as judge on “American’s Got Talent.” Obama stopped short of recommending …More

President Obama enjoys the support of three-fifths of American Jews, according to the latest American Jewish Committee survey, a significant improvement over where he stood half a year ago in the organization’s polling. The poll, released Monday, shows Obama with 61 percent of the Jewish vote, as opposed to 28 percent for Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who is the likely Republican nominee. That’s an improvement for the president over an AJC survey in September, when Obama scored 50 …More

Speculation has been swirling for months on how the Jewish vote will swing come November. Concerns about Barack Obama’s stance on Israel and sometimes-rocky relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu have fueled a dialogue in the media and Jewish community, raising questions about who will get the final support of American Jewry. It’s a discussion not without merit, as a possible Republican endorsement would mean a break from the Jewish tradition of supporting Democratic candidates. Now, a poll by the …More

Though he has donated $16.5 million to Newt Gingrich’s super PAC, Jewish casino mogul Sheldon Adelson admitted that the candidate is nearing the end of his run. "It appears as though he's ... at the end of his line," Adelson said to a small group attending JFNA’s Tribe Fest, The Jewish Journal reports. "Mathematically it appears he can't get anywhere near the numbers and ... unlikely there'll be a brokered convention." Gingrich has only 135 of the 1,144 delegates needed to gain the GOP nomination. …More

Presidential-hopeful Rick Santorum is under fire this week, following news that he once accepted money for a speaking gig from the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America. The group reportedly paid Santorum $6,000 in 2010, which was disclosed Wednesday as part of a release of the Republican candidate’s financial statements. Messianic Judaism, which includes Jews for Jesus, is a Christian organization that follows Jewish customs, like hosting a seder or observing the Sabbath. However, the umbrella group has …More

Israelis and Palestinians in neighboring towns have joined together to protect their local garbage site. [Ynet] Protestors in Tel Aviv took to the streets to fight the objectification of women, in an initiative known colloquially as “Slutwalk.” [Haaretz] A Jewish geologist from Texas traveled to prehistoric sites in Israel. [Haaretz] An agreement between Israel and the EU should make air travel between the regions easier once it takes effect in 2017. [Israel Hayom] Legendary bagel businessman …More

An Illinois congressional candidate running as a Republican in the upcoming primary has said that the “Holocaust never happened.” Sixty-four year-old Arthur Jones is an insurance salesman who organizes family-friendly neo-Nazi events to commemorate Adolf Hitler’s birthday in his free time. The businessman hopes to win the Republican ballot and run against Democratic Congressman Dan Lipinski in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District. “As far as I’m concerned, the Holocaust is …More

This year’s AIPAC Policy Conference can be summed up in one word: Iran. From the information sessions to the chatter in the hallways to the featured speeches, Iran dominated discussion. Over the last ten years Iran has been developing a nuclear program that most Western leaders claim is a breach of international law. They accuse the regime of trying to build nuclear weapons. Iran claims they are pursuing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, specifically for the development of medical isotopes. However, …More

Tuesday morning’s plenary featured speeches by republican presidential candidates Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich. Current US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta also addressed the audience. Speaking first was former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. Considering today is Super Tuesday, there was a surprising lack of campaign rhetoric in Santorum’s address. Instead, he wasted no time in diving into the issue of Iran’s nuclear program. Discussing his time as a Pennsylvania senator, …More

Three Republican presidential candidates addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference Tuesday morning, but only two took part in question-and-answer sessions following their comments. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who was the only candidate to appear in person at the conference amid 10 primaries and causes on “Super Tuesday,” did not have a question-and-answer period following his remarks. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Speaker …More

Though Sunday and Monday featured the highly anticipated speeches of US President Barak Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there will be no lack of action in Tuesday morning’s plenary. The final session will play host to the Republican Party’s candidates for the Presidency. Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, and former Pennsylvania Senator, Rick Santorum, will all get the opportunity to address the AIPAC audience. All are …More