PEN America president’s resignation is in service to BDS movement

He argued that by defending Jewish writers against coordinated cultural boycotts, the organization was unethically restricting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which he views as constitutionally protected political speech. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Online antisemitism contends Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi is Jewish or controlled by Jews

Following Argentina’s victory over Algeria, posts targeting Lionel Messi falsely claimed that he is Jewish, controlled by Jews or benefiting from alleged Jewish influence over FIFA and the World Cup. The posts drew on the longstanding antisemitic trope that Jews secretly control institutions and manipulate outcomes from behind the scenes. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Press Release, Sports & Competitions

JCRC Bay Area remonstrates with Congressman Ro Khanna

JCRC and our partners have discussed pressing issues related to antisemitism with the congressman. We shared increasing concerns that his repeated use of the phrase “Epstein class,” and attacks on AIPAC as a shadowy organization, are being used by antisemitic individuals and groups to further conspiracy theories that harm the Jewish community. [Press Release]

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California, Israel, News Media, Press Release, Travel and Food, USA

Today’s Jewish birthday: Gertrude Goldhaber

Gertrude Goldhaber (July 14, 1911 – February 2, 1998) was a German-born Jewish-American nuclear physicist. She earned her PhD from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and though her family suffered during the Holocaust, Gertrude was able to escape to London and later to the United States. [Wikipedia]

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Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Jewish biography: Marc Bloch, social historian

Bloch transferred Durkheim’s anti-dogmatism to historical science, abandoning the description of “great men” in favor of the analysis of collective thinking. Bloch was deeply influenced by Durkheim, who also believed that links between historians and sociologists were more significant than their differences. (Alex Gordon)

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish birthday: Naomi Shemer

Naomi Shemer (July 13, 1930 – June 26, 2004) was an Israeli songwriter, composer, and performer, widely described as the “first lady of Israeli song”.She became one of the most influential figures in modern Hebrew music, writing numerous songs that became cultural touchstones, most notably “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” (“Jerusalem of Gold”), which gained prominence after the Six-Day War and is often regarded as a second national anthem. [Wikipedia]

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Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

What did Marilyn Monroe read?

Monroe’s trove is a spellbinder with opportunities for many discoveries about intellectual growth, social connections, political views and the literary milieu between author, publisher, and reader. Monroe, an autodidact, self-directed her education aided by purchases, gifts from authors and friends, and World Literature extension courses at UCLA. She visited Powell Library before it was called the Powell Library. Marilyn did not graduate high school, she wanted to “better” herself. [Oliver Pollak]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Oliver Pollak, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Federation to sponsor trip to Israel with an extension in Hungary

This community trip to Israel hosts an exclusive extension opportunity to Budapest, where stunning beauty, rich Jewish life, and exclusive Federation access create an experience unlike any other. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food