Just days after the New York Dyke March formally banned “Zionist” participants, LGBTQ+ Jews and allies are left asking a painful question: Is there still space for us in the progressive movement we helped build? [Yuval David]
OpEd: Dyke March Discriminated against Jewish LGBTQ Activists Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Some Yemeni Jews, quite familiar with the Torah, had memorized Exodus 19:4, which states, “You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings to bring you to Me.” Taking the metaphor literally, they expected giant eagles to carry them to Israel, not airplanes, with which they were wholly unfamiliar. [Donald H. Harrison]
Immigration Drama Follows Jews from Yemen to Israel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Fiction, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
American Jewish University (AJU) announced on Wednesday, April 2, the launch of ETH 105: American Jewish Ethnic Studies, a free, online college-level course designed to fulfill ethnic studies requirements in California. [Press Release]
American Jewish University Offers Ethnic Studies Course for High Schools Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
For a year and a half Israelis have suffered from two disputes that have divided the population, one a change in the power of the High Court (Hebrew acronym: Bagatz), and the other the rescue of our hostages and ultimate victory against Iran-backed Hamas. [Steve Kramer]
OpEd: Israel’s Two Major Conundrums Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer
Republican in central Florida appeared to threaten Democratic members of Congress, one of whom tried to single out Israel in congressional legislation. In a separate episode, an Arab leader in Australia distorted Israel’s role in its current conflict with Hamas. [Bruce S. Ticker]
OpEd: Crude Language and Political Stunts Mar Both Sides of Middle East Debate Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Although Mary grew up with a secular upbringing in Budapest, she responded “in the camps I prayed. I prayed and I knew God was listening. My mother, a non-religious woman, told me that this is the story of our people- we suffer but have lived through it and have gotten this far- we will continue to survive and live a beautiful life when we’re out of here.” [Ilanit Zakowski]
Words of Survivors Will Live on, Though Survivors Will Pass Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, Ilanit Zakowski, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
There are four main problems with AB101’s poor legislation: the two versions of the model curriculum in circulation, the lack of state standards, the guardrails that have no teeth, and the lack of funding as required by law. [Times of San Diego, Marsha Sutton]
OpEd: Abandon California’s Ethnic Studies Requirement Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Israel, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
David Friedman served as US ambassador to Israel from 2017 to 2021. He was intimately involved in Israel-Arab affairs, met and held talks with leaders of both sides, and was one of the architects of the Abraham Accords. He demonstrates in his brilliant 2024 book One Jewish State why a two-state solution is based on flawed premises and will ultimately fail to solve anything. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Book by Former Ambassador Lays Out the Argument for One Jewish State Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
I looked forward to living a life of freedom and interest in a country I could call my own, and where I would no longer be part of a minority. I moved to Israel, which I perceived as a country where my life would be free of the constraints of having to conform to a set of values which I did not share. And where the sun shone most of the time. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Dream for Israel is Turning into a Nightmare Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
While they share Jewish roots with American Jews, there can be cultural differences, different social customs and ways of practicing Judaism. Most Israeli Americans are Conservative or Orthodox, not Reform or Reconstructionist. [Barrett Holman Leak]
Contemporary Torah Lesson: Parshat Pekudei Read More »
Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Throughout the event, participants could hear protesters screaming and attempting to get a police reaction outside. This was disruptive to the event, intimidating to participants, and undermined the program’s learning goals. Approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled conclusion, the CSU San Marcos administration abruptly called for the event to end and directed the 32 attendees to evacuate, citing an inability to maintain the security perimeter. [Karen Parry, Hillel of San Diego]
The IHRA definition brings much-needed relevance to the conversation, equipping organizations and governments with a practical framework to identify and respond to antisemitism in all its modern forms. StandWithUs is spearheading the initiative to bring IHRA to San Diego, one of the few large cities in the USA that has not yet adopted the definition. [Dan Pritsker}
OpEd: Standing Together Against Antisemitism: A Victory in El Cajon Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The event was cut short as we had to be evacuated from the building. This involved having us in groups of four leave from the back door and to be driven to the parking lot where our cars were parked due. [Miriam Gershenson]
Protesters at Cal State San Marcos Force Evacuation of IDF Talk Read More »
Israel, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAMuslims and Arabs in Maine, Michigan and Los Angeles over the weekend seemed to blame Israel, America and others for everything, but they don’t accept responsibility in the never-ending Israel-Hamas war. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Pro-Palestinian Forces Blame Everyone But Themselves Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors