Israel

Yohanan Plesner: Ceasefire or Continued War: Israel at an Inflection Point

Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, does not want a ceasefire.  His goal, Plesner said, is to touch off a general war from the countries and regions surrounding Israel – Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, the West Bank, and Yemen – in which Iran might also participate as it did for the first time with a missile and drone attack on Israel in April. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Israel, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Their Fight is Our Fight: American Cousins of Hostage Make Aliyah

Larry and Marisa Simpson from San Diego waited their entire lives to be part of Israel and its diverse society. When Marisa found out she is a second cousin of Gadi Moses, 80, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th, the couple realized that it was time to make Aliyah. Though they had never met Gadi, this newfound connection made the events feel deeply personal. [Press Release]

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Israel, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

Herzog, Gadot Launch ‘Voice of the People’ Initiative

The initiative is designed to unify Jewish communities across the globe and confront the rising tide of antisemitism head-on. In a moving conversation with renowned Israeli actress Gal Gadot, President Herzog affirmed the resilience of the Jewish people, echoing Gadot’s sentiment that “We will prevail.” [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Press Release, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Tel Aviv University Develops Methodology for Early Detection of Parkinson’s Disease

Researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) in cooperation with three major Israeli medical centers have developed a new method for detecting protein aggregation in cells, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. The technology can enable diagnosis up to 20 years before the first motor symptoms appear, facilitating treatment or even prevention of the severe disease, which is currently incurable. [Press Release]

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Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, Technology

SF Bay Area Flash Dancers Put on Pro-Israel Performance in San Diego

“One Tribe/ One Star” cofounders Isa Marcus and Laurence Mechali said they formed their dance group in April to show support for Israel which had been suffering the traumatizing after-effects of the Oct. 7 massacre for a half year. [Donald H. Harrison and Nevó Bowne Mathis-Masury]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nevó Bowne Mathis-Masury, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Reserve IDF Officers, Speaking for Themselves, Describe Israel’s Situation

Two reserve Israel Defense Force officers, speaking for themselves only, are touring the United States discussing the statuses of the military war and the propaganda war against Israel.  Maj. Ilan Shulman discussed Israel’s precarious military and strategic situation, and Lt. Col. Amit Grinfeld described Palestinian techniques in creating blatantly false propaganda against Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Let’s Not Help Portland, Maine’s Economy Following its Anti-Israel Resolution

As a Jewish visitor to Maine, I am anxious to seek ways to divest from the city of Portland since its City Council voted to divest from up to 85 companies conducting business with Israel. We must wonder how this measure will harm Israel because Portland does not currently hold investments in even one of these companies. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Business & Finance, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A Profound Choice Faces Israel, Visiting Israeli Professor Declares

One choice, he told an audience at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Wednesday evening, Sept. 12, is to continue its war with the Palestinians. “It means that it (Israel) will become a pariah state and in the long term, perhaps also an apartheid state,” he said.  “It will lose what is left of its authority in the Jewish world. What’s more, it means giving up on the original Zionist dream of creating a safe haven for Jews.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Leap Year ‘Delays’ Rosh Hashanah

Why is Rosh Hashanah so “late” this year? I have many memories of Rosh Hashanah occurring around going back-to-school and the end of summer. But some years it starts in October. Some Jewish years are leap years, in which an entire extra month is added to the calendar. This can result in certain Jewish holidays coming much later than in non-leap years. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Return to Israel after a Vacation a Pleasure Despite All

Life in Israel is anything but sweet at the moment, with a difficult political situation, war in Gaza, over one hundred hostages still being held by Hamas and the heat of high summer. And yet, coming back to our home after being away for over a month was sweet and enjoyable. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Sept. 11 Memorial in Jerusalem Conflated with Oct. 7th Remembrance

The ceremony was held at the 9-11 Living Memorial where the names of all 2,977 of those victims are permanently engraved in an amphitheater dominated by a large empty tomb topped by a sculpted American flag with a representation of a flame at its tip. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA