Donald H. Harrison

20 innovative congregations receive grants from Union for Reform Judaism

NEW YORK (Press Release) – Out of nearly 170 applicants, 20 Reform congregations in North America were selected to receive a URJ Incubator Grant of up to $5,000 from the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) to implement new programs to further engage current members and attract new members. The grantees include URJ-member congregations of varied […]

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Travel and Food

Lieberman, on announcement of retirement, wins plaudits from across the aisle

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — After Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) announced on Tuesday that his current Senate term would be his last, Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matthew Brooks responded by lauding the Senator’s accomplishments and expressing gratitude for friendship across the political aisle.   “Senator Lieberman is a true mensch and a great American. 

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USA

Morris Casuto to receive lifetime achievement award from Peacemakers

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Press Release)– Celebrating honorable acts of peacemaking, the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) will host its annual Peacemaker Awards on Thursday, March 10,  at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The inspiring event recognizes individuals and organizations for their creative and effective solutions to conflict. Honorary Chairs for the event are Murray and

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San Diego Calendar, San Diego County

Palin defends her use of ‘blood libel’ in Tucson shooting reaction

NEW YORK (WJC)–The prominent US Republican politician Sarah Palin has defended her reference to “blood libel” that aroused controversy last week when she used the term to condemn links between her fiery rhetoric and the deadly Arizona shootings. “Blood libel obviously means being falsely accused of having blood on your hands. In this case, that’s

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USA

Man accused of vilifying Jews goes on trial in Perth

PERTH, Australia (WJC) — The trial of a man who posted a video on the internet accusing Judaism of being a “religion of racism, hate, homicide and ethnic cleansing” has begun. Brendon Lee O’Connell, 38, who is defending himself, described the proceedings at the Perth District Court as a “kangaroo court” and told Judge Henry Wisbey he

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Travel and Food

San Diego Jewish Film Festival preview: ‘Matchmaker’

Matchmaker, directed by Avi Nesher, Hebrew with Engl.ish subtitles, 112 minutes. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Yankale the Matchmaker (Adir Miller) is a Holocaust survivor who can’t persuade Clara (Maya Dagan), who was even more scarred by the Shoah than he, to marry him.  But that doesn’t discourage him from offering his matchmaking

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Donald H. Harrison

Bill would declare ‘no-gun zone’ in 100-foot perimeter around members of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D-California)  introduced legislation on Tuesday to protect Members of Congress and their constituents from potentially violent situations at scheduled events where an elected representative is engaging in official acts, representational duties, or campaign activity.  Specifically, the “Freedom to Serve Without Fear” Act, would make it unlawful for any person to knowingly

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USA

Senators ask Clinton to oppose Palestininan resolution at U.N. on negotiations

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday  wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging the administration to oppose a U.N. resolution that is being drafted by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in an effort to unilaterally dictate terms to Israel, enabling the PA to

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Middle East

Court holds U.S. cannot prosecute cases of sexual abuse that occur in other countries, without some connection to the U.S.

NEW YORK — The 2nd Circuit U.S. Appeals Court has set aside the conviction on one count of a  father who sexually abused his teenage daughter before and after a flight between Belgium and Israel, saying that the United States had no jurisdiction over the case.  However,  other convictions on counts in which the father was charged with sexual

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USA

Admiral who headed Shin Bet named chair of University of Haifa executive committee

HAIFA (Press Release) –Admiral (ret.) Ami Ayalon has been appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee of the University of Haifa, Israel. Ayalon, 65, has previously served as commander of the Israeli Navy; director of the Israeli Security Agency (the Shin Bet); member of Knesset; and cabinet minister. He is currently chairman of AKIM Israel, the

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Science, Medicine, & Education

U.S. health care system staggers along without proper analysis

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The New York Times has published yet another item that describes confusion in the highest American government circles dealing with health care.  The story is one of hope and guesswork by competing experts.   You’ve heard of a pass and a prayer, or a Hail Mary. The image carries over from football

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Ira Sharkansky, USA

Chomsky student creates computer model that may disprove teacher’s language theories

TEL AVIV (Press Release) ― Although we’re convinced that baby is brilliant when she mutters her first words, cognitive scientists have been conducting a decades-long debate about whether or not human beings actually “learn” language. Most theoretical linguists, including the noted researcher Noam Chomsky, argue that people have little more than a “language organ” ― an

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Science, Medicine, & Education