Photo Courtesy New York Times

A few days ago the New York Post ran a column  by Iranian-born journalist Amir Taheri highlighting comments made by the Rev. Jesse Jackson describing the radical change of influence Israel would have under a Barrack Obama presidency. Taheri writes,

The most important change [says Jackson] would occur in the Middle East, where “decades of putting Israel’s interests first” would end.

Jackson believes that, although “Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades” remain strong, they’ll lose a great deal of their clout when Barack Obama enters the White House.

“Obama is about change,” Jackson told me in a wide-ranging conversation. “And the change that Obama promises is not limited to what we do in America itself. It is a change of the way America looks at the world and its place in it.”

Soon after, Jackson released a statement suggesting that the New York Post column misrepresented his views on America’s partners…

Thinking ahead to what is on the calender in the next week, here are some excellent books I’ve discovered in recent months.

May 11: Mother’s Day

The Christian Grandma’s Idea Book: Hundreds of Ideas, Tips, and Activities to Help You be a Good Grandma by Ellen Banks Elwell.

The Christian Mom’s Idea Book: Hundreds of Ideas, Tips, and Activities to Help You be a Great Mom by Ellen Banks Elwell.

* In both of these books, Elwell puts her own encouragement and insight into the mixture along with the words of hundreds of other mothers and grandmothers. These books are short on ivory-tower theory, and long in practical advice, sensible living, and Christian encouragement.

May 14 : The 60th Anniversary of the state of Israel

On the Road to Armageddon: How Evangelicals Became Israel’s Best Friend by Timothy P. Weber.

Future Israel: Why Christian Anti-Judaism Must Be Challenged by Barry E. Horner.

* Sixty years. Given the furor Israel faced in even…

This past Tuesday night, close to 600 Jewish women gathered at the Frontenac Hilton for the “Couture & Cocktails” soirée. 600 Jewish women! In St. Louis! This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, turnouts the Jewish Federation of St. Louis has ever seen for one of their events.

The fashionable affair was thrown by the Women’s Connection of the Jewish Federation in honor of Israel’s 60^th anniversary. Once everyone maneuvered the gas main break at Clayton & Warson roads, the gala began with live music by Rick Recht, a Jewish rock star if you will, accompanied by the Beit Israeli Children’s choir. Traditional Israeli food was served (think falafel and tabbouleh) followed by a runway fashion show featuring the chic clothing of Israeli designer, Biya, and dazzling bling from Mavrik Fine Jewelry. All being modeled by some really incredible local Jewish women…and me.

So I’m not just writing about this to share with you…