By Ronald S. Lauder NEW YORK — On 27 January 1945, the most horrific single manifestation of not only the Holocaust but of any genocide in history came to an end when soldiers of the Red Army liberated the few remaining inmates of the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau where over 1,100,000 men, women and […]
Auschwitz marks 75th anniversary of liberation in 2020 Read More »
International, Jewish History
First Senate bill in new session will protect U.S. interests in Middle East The Republican Jewish Coalition applauds the introduction of the first Senate bill of the 116th Congress, the “Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019” (S.1). It was introduced yesterday by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Risch (R-ID), Cory Gardner
Editor’s E-Mail Box: January 4, 2019 (4 items) Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Doron Krakow NEW YORK — My son, Aaron, began his IDF service on Dec. 23. The rest of the family arrived in Israel a few days earlier and spent those days together with Aaron up north near Kibbutz Afikim which has been his home since August. We were joined by a couple of his
Reflecting on a son’s enlistment in the IDF Read More »
Middle East, USAA report by Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) In December BDS continued to be a prominent political and campus issue, fully integrated into larger questions of antisemitism, free speech, and the nature of the university. At Temple University faculty member Marc Lamont Hill was fired from a job as a CNN commentator
National fight over BDS outlined Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Four boys’ names from Hebrew Bible make San Diego County’s top 10 in 2018 Four names from the Hebrew Bible made the top 10 for boys born in San Diego County during 2018, according to records on file with the county Health and Human Services Agency. These were Noah in second place with 202 instances,
Editor’s E-Mail Box: January 3, 2019 (4 items) Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Barbara Bry announces candidacy for San Diego Mayor in 2020 election Barbara Bry, one of two Jewish members of the nine-member San Diego City Council, has announced her candidacy for mayor of San Diego in the 2020 election. The incumbent mayor, Kevin Faulconer, will be termed out. “Instead of making decisions designed to preserve a
Editor’s E-Mail Box: January 2, 2019 (7 items) Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, John McCormick, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA
By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The current exhibition of Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863) at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art – the first of its kind to be mounted in North America – is indeed an extraordinary revelation. Delacroix was one of the great creative minds of the nineteenth century: an artist who embodied
Art Review: Delacroix at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Individuals who feel uncomfortable in their marriages often assume that the grass is greener elsewhere. It doesn’t need much of an upheaval for a partner to act on that fantasy and leave the existing union in the hope of greater success elsewhere. I can think of no better metaphor
Shifting alliances precede Israel’s upcoming elections Read More »
Middle EastMy Brilliant Friend, Book 1: Childhood and Adolescence by Elena Ferrante, Europa Editions, 2018. By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — This novel, the first of a quartet, has become an international bestseller and has been widely praised in literary circles. So I was overjoyed when I was able to pick up a copy someone
Book Review: ‘My Brilliant Friend’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International
Brazil to move its embassy to Jerusalem Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro will move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced during a meeting with Jewish leaders in Rio de Janeiro. Netanyahu explained, “Mr. Bolsonaro said, ‘I will move the embassy to Jerusalem. It’s not a question of if, just a question of
Editor’s E-Mail Box: December 31, 2018 (3 items) Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Chaos in both of my countries. Israel’s government collapses, and calls an election for April 9th. The US government is wrapped up in a dispute about the wall, pull out from Syria, and several other claims about the President. Israel’s election came under dispute about a bill for drafting Haredim,
Israel, U.S., amid similar political soap operas Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
Bennett and Shaked bolt Jewish Home party to create party called ‘The New Right’ Jewish Home party leader and Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, also of the Jewish Home, announced the formation of a new political party ahead of the upcoming national election in April, calling it “The New Right.” Addressing
Editor’s E-Mail Box: December 29, 2018 Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
By Gary E. Jacobs SAN DIEGO — As 2018 draws to a close, and I reflect on my first six months as board chair of JCC Association of North America, let me share some of the highlights of my year. Together, these are the things that provide meaning and measure as to why the JCC
2018 was an active year for North American JCC’s Read More »
International, Middle East, San Diego County, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — To tip or not to tip? That is the question. And that is a subject that has occupied my thoughts inordinately for the last few days as the result of something that I witnessed with my own eyes. Until recently my Other Half (OH) and I regarded one
Bad service, no tip, and now what? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Travel and Food