International

Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 14, 2019

Items in this column include:
* Attorney Joe Leventhal becomes a candidate in 5th City Council District
* Georgette Gomez jumps into race to succeed Congresswoman Susan Davis
* Brushing up on your Jewish knowledge with a game of ‘Jew-perdy’
*A Backyard Challah Bake
* Camp Mountain Chai increases summer sessions from three to four
* Three ‘self-compassionate resolutions’ for the New Year
* And Finally, Some Fun With Numbers

Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 14, 2019 Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

New York City adds an office to fight bias crimes

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — We will learn eventually if New York’s $1.7 million investment to contend with bias-related incidents will work, but the outbreak in attacks against Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn exposes ongoing drawbacks in the system. Deborah Lauter, who heads the newly created Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, hopes

New York City adds an office to fight bias crimes Read More »

Bruce Ticker, USA

Netanyahu is THE issue in Israel’s election

Likud means united, and so far party figures have remained firm in their public comments. Bibi is their leader.

As we get closer to the election, and Likud does not pull clearly ahead in the polls, there are reports of individuals in Likud maneuvering for what’ll be after Bibi. 

There are hints of friction between Bibi and Donald Trump, especially in connection with Trump’s efforts to converse with Iranian leaders. For some years, Iran has been at the top of Bibi’s list of antagonists, and any weakening of American resolve would be troubling.

Netanyahu is THE issue in Israel’s election Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Victoria, what you’ve ‘learned’ in college about Israel is not true

I learned how Israeli forces slaughtered over 30 children in a protest for Palestinian rights. I read about the closure of the Gaza Strip, and how Palestinians have to apply to work or seek specialty medical care in Israel, and oftentimes have their application denied. And in one night of reeducating myself, I became a pro-Palestinian Jew.

S: Congratulations, another self-hating Jew – and in only one night, without ever visiting the area. Israel hasn’t slaughtered over 30 children. The IDF is second to none in restricting its soldiers’ behavior towards non-combatants. It’s the Palestinian Arabs who don’t hesitate to push their children in front of them, instead of putting themselves in front of the kids for their protection. The parents also allow, even encourage, their teenagers to participate in dangerous riots at the border. This is totally immoral. 

Victoria, what you’ve ‘learned’ in college about Israel is not true Read More »

International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Steve Kramer, USA

Did New York Times intentionally whitewash 9-11?

(I)t is with great surprise—as we recall the attacks upon our nation on September 11, 2001— that The New York Times wrote:

18 Years have passed since airplanes took aim and brought down the World Trade Center. Today, families will once again gather and grieve at the site where more than 2000 people died.

Notice the politically correct nomenclature the writer chose, “airplanes took aim,” and not Jihadi terrorists.

Did New York Times intentionally whitewash 9-11? Read More »

International, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego: September 12, 2019

Subjects in this column:
* 2020 may be the year of local exhibits on the Holocaust
* Rabbis weigh in on the controversy over kosher slaughter of animals
* How mayoral candidates are spinning the latest poll

Our Shtetl San Diego: September 12, 2019 Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food

Congregations to commemorate Pittsburgh massacre

#ShowUpForShabbat was initiated by AJC following the cold-blooded murder of 11 Jewish worshipers on October 27, 2018, during Saturday morning services. Exactly six months later, on April 27, the Chabad House in Poway, near San Diego, California, was attacked, leaving one Jew dead, also at a Shabbat service.

“The sanctity of Jewish houses of worship, the sense of American Jewish security, changed dramatically after these fatal terror attacks,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “But the outpouring of support from political and religious leaders, as well as participation in #ShowUpForShabbat, was energizing, demonstrating Americans’ determination to come together to fight hate, in this case hatred of Jews.”

Congregations to commemorate Pittsburgh massacre Read More »

Jewish History, USA

Netanyahu maneuvering in run-up to election

the current prime minister of Israel is doing his utmost to show himself to the electorate as a statesman with an international profile. That’s why he went to see the British prime minister Boris Johnson, who could only give the visitor half-an-hour of his time. This doesn’t seem to have been enough for Netanyahu to remember his host’s name. I saw him refer on television to his visit to Prime Minister Boris Yeltsin….

Today, Netanyahu is seeing Russia’s Vladimir Putin who may want Netanyahu re-elected. There’s much to suggest that Putin secretly approves of Israel pounding Iranian positions in Syria because he doesn’t want anybody else than himself to breathe down the neck of President Assad.

Netanyahu maneuvering in run-up to election Read More »

International, Middle East, USA

GI Film Festival Preview: ‘That’s Mine’

Suppose you were a military careerist, one who has risen to the rank of colonel with responsibility as a brigade commander. Suppose also that you were coming up for a promotion that would put an entire armored division under your command.

In the case of Roni (Shimon Mimram), the promotion is conditioned upon him extending the period of his military service – ordinarily a requirement that would cause him no qualms.  But over the last two years, Roni has been replaying in his head a conversation he had with his son Roy. (Or Ben-Melech)

GI Film Festival Preview: ‘That’s Mine’ Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, Theatre, Film & Broadcast