By Deborah Fineblum (July 7, 2021 / JNS) It’s been three years since Hanna and Shamshy Schlager traded their home in New York for a new one in Modi’in, Israel. It’s been a good three years, they’ll tell you, a time of growth, not the least of which was adding a third child to their […]
Nefesh B’Nefesh Launches New Institute for Aliyah and Strategy Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Dmitriy Shapiro (July 7, 2021 / JNS) A bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Israeli officials celebrated Independence Day on Tuesday at a small event hosted by the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was on hand to welcome the visitors—the first official congressional delegation to
At US Embassy in Jerusalem, Bennett Reiterates Return of Bipartisan Support for Israel Read More »
Middle East, USA
Former Labor Party leader and Jewish Agency chairman Isaac Herzog was sworn in as Israel’s 11th president on Wednesday, saying he would work to repair divisions within Israeli society. [JNS]
Isaac Herzog Sworn in as Israel’s 11th President Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East
The Israeli company Watergen has implemented a pilot project, installing a GEN-M water generator at Rocky Ridge Gas & Market (RRGM), located in the Hard Rock Community of the Navajo Nation. The project was facilitated by store owner Germaine Simonson, Tó Nizhóní Ání (TNA), StandWithUs, Bright Path Strong (BPS), and 4D Products & Services (4D), in coordination with Arlando Teller, former Arizona State Representative and current Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Arizona State Representative Alma Hernandez (LD3) assisted with the launch of this joint effort as well. [StandWithUs news release]
Israeli Company Installs Water-From-Air Test Project for Navajo Nation Read More »
Business & Finance, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA
Activities and staffing are returning to pre-pandemic levels at various San Diego County synagogues, with Temple Emanu-El in the San Diego State University area hosting a Palestinian refugee who is highly critical the Palestinian Authority’s human rights record. Tifereth Israel Synagogue in the San Carlos neighborhood, meanwhile, has announced it has hired a new executive director. [Donald H. Harrison]
S.D. Synagogues Welcome Palestinian Speaker, Executive Director Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel’s parliament failed on Tuesday to renew a disputed law that bars granting citizenship or residency to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank or Gaza who are married to Israeli citizens, dealing a setback to the new coalition government. An early-morning vote in the Knesset (parliament) tied at 59-59, short
Israel’s new government fails to renew disputed citizenship law Read More »
Middle East
Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel reported on Monday a decrease in the effectiveness of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in preventing infections and symptomatic illness but said it remained highly effective in preventing serious illness. The decline coincided with the spread of the Delta variant and the end of social distancing restrictions in Israel.
After more than a year absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park reopened to visitors over the July 4th weekend. So named because relations among nations should be “pacific” or “peaceful” — and not a reference to the ocean that washes San Diego’s shores — The House of Pacific Relations includes the House of Israel (HOI), which marked the reopening with a flag raising ceremony. [Donald H. Harrison]
Flag Raising Marks Reopening of House of Israel in Balboa Park Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Rumsfeld was an admirer and strong supporter of Israel and a critic of PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who he felt had not really transformed from a terrorist to a statesman. However, what is one area where Rumsfeld did not support Israel? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Donald Rumsfeld Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
A party was held for Isaac Herzog on Monday, July 5, the day he officially retired as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and two days before he assumes office as the next president of the nation of Israel, succeeding Reuven Rivlin. Among those joining the celebration were Metadel Sisai, 14, an immigrant from Ethiopia, and Oliana Goodim, an 11 year old immigrant from the Ukraine. ““Even if your new surroundings seem unfamiliar to you, just remember it is your home in the same way that Israel is our home,” the two youngsters advised the incoming President. [Based on material from Jewish Agency for Israel]
Herzog Steps Down from Jewish Agency, Becomes Israel’s President on Wednesday Read More »
Middle East
– There are a lot of questions in the air, along with hopes of some stability in both politics and health. It’s not easy to summarize, but here we go: Most of our news is about the upturn in revealed cases of COVID-19. We’re at several hundred per day, but with few hospitalizations and deaths. There’s some cases of infection among those who’ve received two inoculations, but most of those are not serious. Most infections seem to have begun with people arriving from overseas, infecting kids in schools, and then onward. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Renewed COVID-19 Concerns Focus on Israel’s Main Airport Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
In the July 4, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–An Israeli TB diagnosis patch could save up to 1.4 million lives a year.
–Israeli experts are helping rescuers in the Miami building collapse.
–Israeli scientists have developed a material two atoms thick.
–Two Israeli startups make record-breaking public launches.
–Israeli teenagers win gold at European gymnastics competition.
–Israeli mother donates her kidney to save a Gaza boy.
[Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (July 4, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Lifestyles, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
The Israel advocacy organization, StandWithUs, congratulates National Education Association (NEA) members who overwhelmingly defeated a motion attacking Israel at their 2021 Representative Assembly. New Business Item 29 (NBI 29) failed with 23% of the RA voting in favor, and 77% voting against. [StandWithUs Press Release]
StandWithUs Applauds Defeat of Anti-Israel Resolution at NEA Representative Assembly Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
As vaccination rates increase and the coronavirus pandemic seemingly is being brought under control, group trips to Israel from San Diego are again being organized. One of the first to be publicized is a joint trip planned for May 15-29, 2022 and sponsored by the San Diego Outreach Synagogue and the Desert Outreach Synagogue, to be led respectively by Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss and Rabbi Jules King. [Donald H. Harrison]
Planning for Locally-Based Israel Trips Resumes Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA