· August, 2009

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from August, 2009

Israel: Advocating Breastfeeding in Public

  31 August 2009

A Mother in Israel weighs in on breastfeeding in public. “The idea that public breastfeeding should be prohibited because it makes people uncomfortable is as absurd as keeping pregnant women in the house because people might think about how they got that way.”

Israel: Influence of Hippies on Israeli Culture

  31 August 2009

“Israel's always had a little more than its share of hippie tendencies,” writes My Urban Kvetch's Esther Kustanowitz, “From communal living arrangements (kibbutzim, moshavim, the army) to sandals and other footwear… Plus, unkempt beards, long hair, songs about peace.”

Israel: For the Love of Food

  31 August 2009

With the Jewish High Holidays approaching, food seems to be on everyone's minds. The Jewish blogosphere is ripe with sumptuous tidbits and contemplations about the cultural implications of food, food and identity, and the history and culture of our favorite culinary delights.

Israel: Social Media Advances Jewish Identity

  30 August 2009

How can social media enhance identity? eJewishPhilanthropy reports: “For a people who have fretted over a loss of identity for generation after generation… innovations like Twitter and Facebook are nothing less than, dare we say, a godsend.”

Israel: When Translations Go Wrong

  30 August 2009

Literal translations aren't always your best bet when moving between Hebrew and English, explains How to Be Israeli. She writes that the movie title “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” which is Biblical in tone in the native English, is translated in Hebrew as “Achi, Efo Atah?” which sounds a lot...

Israel: Hollywood in the Holy Land

  30 August 2009

September is a major month for Hollywood in the Holy Land. Israel will welcome Madonna, Leonard Cohen, Faith No More, Julio Iglesias, MGMT, and Dinosaur Jr. Both Madonna and Cohen's shows have sold out their 45,000+ seats. Israelity has the scoop.

Bahrain: One Ramadan and One Eid

  30 August 2009

The beginning of the holy month of Ramadan depends on the actual sighting of the new moon, resulting in different dates for its start among the various Muslim sects. This year Sunnis and Shi'ites in Bahrain kicked off the month on the same day - and one blogger celebrates this rare unity.

Arab World: Welcoming Ramadan

  30 August 2009

Ramadan is an important month in the Muslim calendar. Bloggers writing in Arabic celebrate the month, already in its first week, in this post, where we share some of the artistic creations used to greet their readers on the month.

Jordan: Congrats Maktoob

  28 August 2009

Jordanian Qwaider addresses Arab blogging portal Maktoob, which has just signed a deal with Yahoo! saying: “Well done my friends. Not only because someone like Yahoo recognized you. But because you have actually made it.”

Iraq: Death Of Shi'ite Leader Abdul Aziz Al Hakim

  27 August 2009

Sayyed Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (the largest political party in the Iraqi Council of Representatives), died of lung cancer on August 26 in Tehran, Iran. His death is expected to have repercussions for politics in Iraq. Bloggers around the region have responded to the news.

About our Middle East & North Africa coverage

Mariam A.
Mariam A. is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.