Former State Senate President pro tempore James R. Mills, who died March 27 at the age of 93, was a pragmatic politician who knew that he could get what he wanted if he enabled his colleagues to do the same. [Donald H. Harrison]
Remembering Jim Mills Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, USA
Arden Cho says she experienced a racist attack in which a man threatened to kill her. The “Teen Wolf” star was walking her dog Wednesday night when the man screamed “I’m going to motherf—g kill you c— and your f—g dog,” she said in an emotional Instagram post. Cho, 35, said the man shouted other
‘Teen Wolf’ star Arden Cho says man threatened to kill her, screamed racial slurs Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Amy Tennery (Reuters) -Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Robert Manfred said the league was relocating its 2021 All-Star Game and MLB Draft from Atlanta, following outcry over Georgia’s new voting restrictions. The removal of the lucrative All-Star Game marks one of the most significant and high-profile protests after Georgia last week strengthened identification requirements
MLB moving All-Star Game, draft out of Georgia following outcry over voting law Read More »
Sports & Competitions, USA
At the beginning of March, another swastika was found scribbled on a dormitory wall. This was the third such incident, but this time J. Luke Wood, vice-president of student affairs and campus diversity, was on it from the start. On March 11, about a week or so after the swastikas were discovered, he sent out a tweet condemning anti-Semitism and expressing solidarity with SDSU’s Jewish faculty, staff, and students. But that was only the beginning On March 30, President de la Torre, Vice-President Wood, and Christian J. Holt, Associated Students President, distributed a campus-wide email announcing “San Diego State University’s enhanced partnership with two local organizations, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Hillel, that share our goal of creating a more inclusive community for Jewish students, faculty and staff.” [Peter C. Herman, PhD]
SDSU Responds Appropriately to Antisemitism Read More »
San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
This graphic novel is a relatively gentle introduction for children to the Holocaust, wherein two Polish Jewish children escape from their ghetto to the woods, where they are found by a Gentile farmer who has been working with the resistance. In fact, the farmer has been hiding from a German search party three Partisans who blew up a train that was headed with weapons and supplies to the Russian front. Among the brave Partisans is none other than the children’s aunt, who had left home before the Jews of their town had been moved and restricted to a ghetto. [Donald H. Harrison]
Adventure story is gentle introduction to the Holocaust Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History
A recent article (by Elaine Samuels, on Facebook and in the Israel Telegraph online) recounted the trials and tribulations she experienced in her efforts to learn and speak Hebrew. This triggered long-dormant memories of my attempt to learn Hebrew. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
An Immigrant’s Struggle to Learn Hebrew Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
While a peace accord was reached in February 2020 to end civil war in South Sudan, the agreement remains extremely fragile and needs international support to hold together. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
‘Never Again’ Seems To Never Apply Anymore Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, USA
Radical Loving: One God, One World, One People, written by Rabbi Wayne Dosick, begins with the statement, “What an incredible time it is to be alive!” Immediately the reader is asked to question the author’s opinion “Is it really?” We turn the page and so begins an anecdote of a village of rice growers and how wonderful their lives are. Then in an instant, a terrible storm causes a flood that completely destroys their village and their food supply of rice fields. Thanks to one of the village elders, the people were warned ahead of time and were able to escape to higher elevation and were saved. The anecdote ends of course with a message: “The village and the fields can rise up again. And the villagers can forever tell the tale.” Rabbi Dosick is calling on the world to band together and to not forget that we are “One World, One People” and stronger together. We the readers are the villagers and as my Aunt Nancy has told me, my generation and the next,will be retelling our tale of the 2020 pandemic to our grandchildren for years to come. [Heather Z. Rothstain]
Rabbi Dosick provides advice on ‘Radical Loving’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USA
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa lost control. That happened In November 2017 during his senior year at Arvada West High School. On March 22, he would once again lose control, this time in a Boulder supermarket. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Colorado Shooting Suspect Has History of Mental Instability Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
They only number about 0.7% of the general population of the United States, and yet they are everywhere. Maybe you’ve noticed them. Something about that woman on the bus seemed a little off. Maybe that young man’s voice in the market seemed curiously high. Or maybe they sat right next to you in shul, or across the dinner table, suffering in silence, and you had no idea. [Eric George Tauber]
Being Seen on Trans Day of Visibility Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Jewish Religion, USA
Elsewhere in today’s report on San Diego Jewish World is a story from the Anti-Defamation League reporting that nearly two-thirds of American Jews, based on a survey, have experienced or heard some form of antisemitism in the last five years. On our television screens, meanwhile, is the ongoing trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd – a case study in White violence against Black people. And, in the San Diego Union-Tribune this morning was a story from New York City about an unprovoked attack on an Asian-American woman which other people witnessed without intervening. [Donald H. Harrison]
Addressing hate and division in our society Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Well over half of Jewish Americans have either experienced or directly witnessed some form of antisemitic incident in the last five years, according to a new poll released by ADL (Anti-Defamation League). The 2021 poll found that 63 percent of respondents have either experienced or heard antisemitic comments, slurs or threats targeting others, an increase from 54 percent a year earlier. [ADL press release]
Nearly 2/3rds of U.S. Jews have felt antisemitism Read More »
USA
By Alex Joffe, Ph.D NEW YORK — BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) activities in March reflected both its use as an individual instrument and as a political wedge issue. Cornell West’s allegation that he was denied tenure at Harvard over his support for BDS appears to be an individual effort to profit from BDS support.
The fights for and against BDS Read More »
International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
In the March 30, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–Israelis were able to celebrate Passover again with their families and friends.
–On World Water Day a JNF video shows desert city Beersheva is now a water city.
–Three Israeli nanosatellites have been launched into a synchronized orbit.
–Israel is developing the world’s smartest microprocessors.
–Two more Israeli companies have become worth more than $1 billion.
–Israel’s Linoy Ashram won two world medals in rhythmic gymnastics.
–Israel broke two matzah world records without breaking a single matzah. [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (March 30, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food