International efforts to end Israel-Hezbollah fighting moved into high gear after the tragic killing of civilians in Kana, but there remain fundamental differences between Israel and Lebanon over what needs to be done next.
In an unexpected way, Hurricane Katrina — which devastated New Orleans almost a year ago — has energized Jewish life in Baton Rouge, a city of 500,000 people and two synagogues.
Summer youth programs to Israel managed to go on this year despite the conflict, but even that was a disappointment to those who knew what was supposed to be.
