OTTAWA – The desire to seek vengeance was the initial, primal reaction to the public execution, three years ago in Pakistan, of his son, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. But instead of violence, Judea Pearl sought peace. “In caveman times, you kill the enemy and you kill the threat,” Mr. Pearl said from his home in Los Angeles. “In … Read More
It’s a common Hebrew expression: “holech al gadol,” which translates directly to “going for big.” In casual usage, the words describe an ambitious person but they also apply in a larger sense to 21st century Israel. Look just about anywhere in this country — from the heart of the Negev desert in the south to the R&D heartland of Haifa … Read More
HAIFA, Israel – Professor Uri Sivan wants to show Israelis that small can be beautiful. He is one of the world’s leading researchers in nanotechnology — the science of developing materials and creating machines by manipulating molecules. From his office atop Mount Carmel at the Haifa Technion, he hopes to change the way we live. In February, the Technion, known … Read More
METULLA, Israel_ Lying on his bed, Oren Zamir can take in the comforting mementoes of his sporting life: team pictures, a Toronto Maple Leafs flag and mounted hockey sticks. Out the window of his bedroom, though, are soldiers, a fence separating two countries and a yellow Hezbollah flag. This is where a hockey star sleeps, a place where contrast and … Read More
Bob Metcalfe died Wednesday doing his life’s work: volunteering and serving those less capable. He collapsed at a meeting of Sage, the Kiwanis-backed service club for seniors and an organization the former Rotarian joined five years ago. The Second World War veteran’s legacy will also live on with each of us. He’s the tall soldier with a beret depicted on … Read More
JERUSALEM – Adolfo Roitman, one of the world’s leading Bible scholars, thought he knew everything about the Dead Sea Scrolls. After all, he’s the curator of the Shrine of the Book, which houses the priceless artifacts at the Israel Museum. But a group of Christians and Jews from Ottawa taught him something new: The scrolls are an instrument of interfaith … Read More
Sean Egan is a man who never shies away from a challenge — especially when it concerns his own body. As a young man, he was a boxing and kickboxing champion in both Ireland and France. As a graduate student in the United States, he completed a 160-kilometre walk in just over 25 hours and made a 520-kilometre journey from … Read More
The corridors of North Grenville District High School in Kemptville seem just like any other high school hallways. Lockers line the wall, the floors are scuffed and the sounds of chattering teens fill the air. Yet walking down one of those long hallways you can’t help but feel there’s something missing. It’s eerie. Sensing a visitor’s discomfort, Grade 11 student … Read More
In The Assassination of Richard Nixon, Sean Penn gives a masterful performance as a working-class misfit, disillusioned with American society, who decides he must kill the president of the United States. Neils Mueller’s directorial debut comes through with a depressing biopic that dives into a topic deeply ingrained in the American psyche. Presidential assassins have fascinated the U.S. for nearly … Read More
OTTAWA – Until this weekend, Francois Lessard thought he knew a thing or two about death. A former police reporter, he had often been forced to carry out the gut-churning task of calling bereaved family members in their time of sorrow and asking for quotes and photographs. Yesterday, he found himself on the other side. “Before, I understood how people … Read More
OTTAWA – Tragedy by fire seems to be in Richard Egan’s blood. Seared into the Ottawa man’s consciousness is a 125-year-old story: Religious strife, territorial battles and family revenge led to the bloody lynching of his ancestors, the infamous “Black Donnellys” of Lucan, Ont. The mass murder was sealed with the torching of the Donnelly home: Out of the ashes, … Read More
Sixty years ago, she was a weak, weary 15-year-old Polish girl, recently liberated from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp after losing her family. Last night, proud and strong, Anna Heilman captivated a capacity audience at Ben Franklin Place with her harrowing tale of survival and heroism. “Only when I got out of there did I understand what happened,” she said in … Read More
I remember the boots. They were red. There were about 20 pairs of them, lined up in a neat row. But I could hardly distinguish their true colour — the bright burgundy boots of the soldiers were splattered with thick red blood. The boots were all I could see; they poked out from beneath the single white sheet, stained with … Read More
Many Ottawans may not remember the name Andy Andrews, but few can forget the images he left behind. Over the course of six decades, if there was something significant happening in Ottawa, Mr. Andrews would be there, pipe in mouth and camera in hand, recording history. He was a fixture in the Ottawa photography community. From his historic pictures of … Read More
OTTAWA – Jacqueline Benoit and her 12-year-old daughter, Devyn, enjoyed an early Christmas celebration at their home in the Glebe last Thursday. To the tune of her favourite music, Devyn opened her presents as she and her mother danced with their three-year-old dog, Jax.In was also a celebration of their one-year anniversary with Jax, a black and white border collie … Read More