PHOTOGRAPHS: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM; WWW.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
IT’S ALL IN THE GENES
According to Dr Moshe Szyf, a pioneering
genetics scientist and pharmacology professor based at McGill University in Canada,
Jewish guilt could be in your genes.
Dr Szyf’s research is proving that negative
life experiences can alter the genome of
future generations. For Jews, the implication
is that the way they cope with life today may
be based on the trauma suffered by their
ancestors though millennia of pogroms and
persecution.
Dr Szyf’s theory postulates that although
genes in a human are inherited and identical, their epigenetic markings can be altered
by external factors during a lifetime, and
that these modifications can affect future
genes.
The factors that affect these markings can
be physical, such as the life habits that cause
cancer, or social, such as psychological
trauma.
Some of the qualities often associated with
‘Jewishness’ – from feelings of guilt to the
importance of education – may also be
genetically imprinted from generation to
generation.
JIHADIS WIPING OUT JEWISH HERITAGE
Islamic State (IS) is inflicting such massive damage on Jewish sites and artefacts in the
Middle East, that the extent of the damage may not be known for years. According to
Filip Vukosavovic, curator of the Bible Lands Museum, in Jerusalem, and a leading expert
in the field of archaeology, “The level of devastation of history and culture will not be
known until scholars are allowed to go and examine the area for themselves.”
He said the problem extended beyond IS, which showed its disdain for culture when
it ransacked Mosul’s central museum in February, to other groups fighting in Iraq and
Syria, and that he was “terrified” for the Jewish heritage of these countries.
The ancient Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue near Damascus was destroyed last year in an act
attributed variously to government forces or rebels.
The shrines of prophets Daniel and Jonah, which have significance for Jews as well as
Christians and Muslims, are believed to have been destroyed.
Iraqi media reported that unspecified militants had taken over a synagogue in Amarah,
south of Baghdad, causing widespread damage and turning the building into its headquarters. And a third-century synagogue at Dura-Europos in eastern Syria is believed to
be in the hands of IS and in danger of being destroyed.
However, Dr Vukosavovic said he believed that cases of known harm were just the tip of
the iceberg, and the extent of the damage was unthinkable.
Bar Ilan University archaeologist Dr Aren Maier said of ISIS: “It’s much more than just
destroying culture – they are destroying whatever they can’t sell.” He reported that the
antiquities market was “flooded” with illicit excavations from Iraq and Syria, many of
which were carelessly dug up, often causing damage to other artefacts, and sold by militants to raise money for arms.
“Mesopotamia is one of the richest areas from an archaeological point of view, and
there is so much to be found there and so much to be destroyed, so it’s a very sad
time,” said Dr Maier.
PAYPAL BUYS ISRAEL CYBER
SECURITY FIRM FOR £40M
The online payment service PayPal has announced it
plans to open a major cyber security hub in Tel Aviv, after acquiring Israeli firm CyActive for a figure believed to
be around £40 million. PayPal’s purchase of the Beersheva-based company, which protects against malware and
predicts future hacking techniques, is part of the company’s plan to expand its existing operations in Israel.
James Barrese, PayPal’s chief technology officer and
senior VP, wrote in a blog post: “The creation of the security centre is an extension of the capabilities we have
already developed through the success of our fraud and
risk detection centre in Tel Aviv.”
In a statement, CyActive co-founders Liran Tancman and
Shlomi Boutnaru wrote that they were delighted PayPal
had chosen Israel as the location for the security centre.
“PayPal is a company that shares our values, and views
security as a top priority. We are excited by the prospect
of dramatically expanding our global reach and believe
our combined efforts will help to build a leading security centre for PayPal.”
PayPal, which is set to spin off from parent business
eBay to form its own independent company, made £5.2
billion last year.
SECRET NAZI LAIR FOUND IN ARGENTINE JUNGLE
A team of Argentine archaeologists investigating a series of stone ruins in
the jungle, close to the border with Paraguay, believe they have discovered a
secret Nazi lair. The structures, now covered by thick vines, contain stashes of
German coins from the l