Donald H. Harrison

Syrian businessmen linked to purchase of devastating Beirut explosives

The purchase of the ammonium nitrate that fuelled a deadly explosion at Beirut’s port in August last year has been linked to three Syrian businessmen with alleged ties to Bashar Al-Assad’s regime. Media reports and UK government filings connected Syrian-Russian dual nationals George Haswani and brothers Imad and Mudalal Khuri with the 2013 purchase of

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Middle East

Art as Liberation: The Mexican Muralists at the Whitney Museum

Vida Americana is an exhilarating, expansive and immensely satisfying exhibition at New York’s Whitney Museum. Like a great and varied feast, this is a show that one must take one’s time to fully appreciate and digest; an exhibition that includes photography, film, sculpture, charcoal sketches, colored pencil and graphite, watercolors, lithographs and oil paintings, from the easel to the epic in scale. Not only are the greatest Mexican artists of the twentieth century represented here – including Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros (‘Los Tres Grandes’) – but also many of the notable American artists who they had a profound influence on, such as Jackson Pollock, Jacob Lawrence, Marion Greenwood and Charles White, among others. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir

Book Review: ‘Inflitration’ by Joshua Kenaz

The death a few months ago of Israeli author, Joshua Kenaz, led to renewed interest in his work, and impelled me to read this book (published by Am Oved in 1986). For me, reading a novel in Hebrew involves embarking on an enterprise that I know in advance will tax my patience and ability to persevere, especially as in this case the book comprises some six hundred pages of closely-printed Hebrew text. However, I decided to stick the course and acquaint myself with the writing of someone who is considered to be a bulwark of contemporary Israeli literature. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

National Trust to Honor Rosenwald Schools

January 13, 2021 was an extraordinary day in the history of the United States.  President Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time.  The House acted with blazing swiftness, something they almost never do. It had only been one week from when a huge mob of demonstrators attacked, penetrated, and threatened the Capitol.   As Congress voted to impeach President Trump for inciting insurrection, President Trump continued his presidential duties. He signed last-minute legislation that would positively impact the fight against antisemitism, for women’s and human rights, education, the environment, and more. One of the bills the President signed was HR 3250. It is known as the Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act of 2020. [Jerry Klinger]

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Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, USA

Streaming Jewish Programs (January 17-23, 2021) 

SAN DIEGO – Following are Jewish-interest programs intended for academic and lay audiences that may be accessed via the Internet All times are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Trump signs bill upgrading Carter sites in Plains to national historic park

ATLANTA — President Donald Trump has signed the bill that will upgrade the status of locales in Plains tied to former President Jimmy Carter. What was formerly called the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site is now the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. The park will include the farm where Carter grew up, the train depot

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USA

Legislator from Santee under fire for comments about Capitol assault

Days after insurrectionists violently took over the nation’s capitol, threatening lives of legislators and resulting in five deaths including a police officer, statements made by East County Assemblyman Randy Voepel are drawing sharp criticisms, including calls for his resignation or expulsion from the Legislature. [Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine]

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Miriam Raftery, San Diego County, USA

Now what happens to Donald Trump?

Despite a second impeachment, President Donald Trump could still seek and hold federal office in the future, including president in 2024. On Wednesday, the Democrat-led House of Representatives approved a single article of impeachment, accusing the president of inciting the violence that led to the Jan. 6 death of one Capitol Hill police officer and

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USA

Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner Earned Between $36M To $157M In 2019 Income While Working At White House

President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, reported between $36,151,214 – $157,020,085 in income on their personal financial disclosures for 2019. The bulk of the couple’s wealth comes from their real estate investments. Included in Ivanka Trump’s earnings was $3.9 million in hotel-related revenue from the Trump Hotel in Washington D.C.

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USA