USA

California Bill Calls for Better Documentation of Hate Crimes

The California State Assembly passed legislation Tuesday that aims to significantly strengthen California’s response to the recent surge in hate crimes and hate-motivated violence. Authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), Assembly Bill (AB) 57 would implement specific recommendations from the State Auditor to enable law enforcement to better prevent, respond to, and document hate crimes. The measure passed the State Assembly 77-0 with bipartisan support. [News Release from Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel]

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USA

U.S. formally ends Trump’s ‘remain in Mexico’ asylum policy

Published by Reuters By Ted Hesson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has formally ended the Trump-era “remain in Mexico” policy, which forced tens of thousands of Central American asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for U.S. court cases, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo sent to agency leaders on Tuesday. The administration

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USA

Thai museum unveils 1,000-year-old artefacts returned from US

Published by Relaxnews Two ancient sandstone artefacts believed to have been stolen from Thailand during the Vietnam War were unveiled Monday at a Bangkok museum, greeted with a fanfare of traditional dancers and an elaborate worship ceremony. The temple support beams — which were returned Friday — boast exquisite carvings of the Hindu deities Indra

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USA

Newark honors city’s first 3 Black firefighters, all veterans, as trailblazers

Published by NJ.com David Lee Bolden didn’t beat around the bush when asked why he wanted to become a Newark firefighter 65 years ago. “I needed the job,” said Bolden, 92, matter-of-factly. “And also, to help the city.” He kept it modest. But on Friday, Bolden and two others were recognized by city officials as

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USA

After 100 years remembering, last survivors mark race massacre in Tulsa

Published by Reuters By Makini Brice TULSA, Okla. (Reuters) – Lessie Benningfield Randle, 106, can still remember a house engulfed in flames and the bodies stacked in truckbeds, one hundred years later. “I was quite a little kid but I remember running and the soldiers were coming in,” Randle said in an interview with Reuters

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USA

Good News from Israel (May 30, 2021)

Highlights of Good News from Israel for the May 30, 2011 edition include:
–Israeli wound treatment uses patients’ own blood to save their lives.
–Israeli-invented pill camera to be given to 11,000 UK patients.
–Media reports of Israel’s civil war are fake news.
–Israeli technology is out of this world.
–20 Israeli companies have partnered to make Israel’s roads safer.
–Almost every week there’s a new Israeli billion-dollar company.
–Israelis smash swimming and singing records at Euro events.
–Birthright has resumed free Israel tours for American Jews.
[Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Goodbye Columbus, Schweitzer, and Lindbergh

For many years, performing any of Richard Wagner’s orchestral works was verboten in Israel.  Wagner was a virulent antisemite and Hitler’s favorite composer.  In a country that had taken in so many victims of the Holocaust, performing any of Wagner’s works would have been like pouring  burning oil onto an open flesh wound. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Netanyahu, Blinken Paper Over Differences During Jerusalem Meeting

After their meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made what were supposed to be “soft” public statements. The politely worded remarks deliberately slid past serious policy differences, but those differences cannot and should not be hidden. Moreover, they should form the basis of conversation between the two allies in the future. [Shoshana Bryen]

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

U.S. Justice Breyer touts compromise, democracy, adherence to precedent

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung (Reuters) – Justice Stephen Breyer on Friday spoke of the need for the U.S. Supreme Court to respect its own precedents, talked up democracy and touted bipartisan collaboration in Congress as he addressed school students amid speculation about his possible retirement. Breyer, at 82 the nine-member court’s oldest justice,

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USA

Money is cheap, let’s spend it -White House $6 trillion budget message

Published by Reuters By Andrea Shalal, Jarrett Renshaw and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Friday unveiled a $6 trillion budget proposal that would ramp up spending on infrastructure, education and combating climate change, arguing it makes good fiscal sense to invest now, when the cost of borrowing is cheap, and reduce deficits

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USA

Fabiola Santiago: Tone-deaf racial comments aside, Coral Gables does the right thing honoring Harriet Tubman

Published by Miami Herald Election politicking behind them (or so was claimed), the newly installed city of Coral Gables mayor and commission finally did the right thing Tuesday and reversed a wrong. They voted unanimously to join the county and nine other municipalities in supporting the designation of South Dixie Highway in Miami-Dade County as

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USA

A Memorial Day Weekend Tale of Two Jewish American Military Heroes

As part of our JWB Jewish Chaplains Council® National Jewish Community Observance of Memorial Day, on Thursday, we were honored to visit the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal, while the ship was in port in New York City. The USCGC Nathan Bruckenthal is named for the first Jewish Coast Guardsman killed in combat since the Vietnam War. Petty Officer Bruckenthal, described to us by the ship’s captain as “a nice Jewish kid from Long Island,” served his country as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was killed during a successful attempt to thwart a seaborne IED (improvised explosive device) attack on a major installation in the Arabian Gulf.  He sacrificed himself to protect others [Rabbi Irving A. Elson and Doron Krakow]

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Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, USA