International

After a century, Gernsheim’s music makes a comeback

Composer, conductor, pianist and teacher, Friedrich Gernsheim, (1839-1916), is little known today. Yet, during his lifetime, he was spoken of in the same breath as Brahms, Bruch and Reger. In fact, his works were published by the same publishers who published their compositions. [Eileen Wingard]

After a century, Gernsheim’s music makes a comeback Read More »

Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Jewish Motorcycle Philanthropists Support The Butterfly Project

Last month I had the delightful opportunity to interview two bikers who were planning to participate in the Ride2Remember, a motorcycle ride created to pay tribute to Holocaust survivors and memorialize those who perished. This year, the Jewish Motorcyclist Alliance dedicated its contribution to The Butterfly Project (TBP), cofounded by San Diegans Cheryl Rattner Price and Jan Landau. {Eva Trieger}

Jewish Motorcycle Philanthropists Support The Butterfly Project Read More »

California, Eva Trieger, Holocaust, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Saperstein Honored at Biden’s United We Stand Summit

Rabbi David Saperstein, Director Emeritus of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), was honored as a “Uniter” at Thursday’s historic United We Stand Summit, hosted by President Biden at the White House. Rabbi Saperstein was recognized for his work with the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network as one of the preeminent heroes from across America doing extraordinary work to stand together against hate, build bridges and heal divides in their communities. [United We Stand news release)

Saperstein Honored at Biden’s United We Stand Summit Read More »

USA

Israeli Athlete Survived the Holocaust and the Munich Olympics Massacre

ESPN and ESPN+ will premiere at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 20, The Survivor, an hour-long documentary on the murder of 11 Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympics. Reporter Jeremy Schaap interviews Shaul Ladany, a teammate of the slain athletes, who has been dubbed an “ultimate survivor.”  Along with his family, he had earlier in his life survived the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]

Israeli Athlete Survived the Holocaust and the Munich Olympics Massacre Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

History: Bavaria’s Revolutionary Jewish Prime Minister

This man fulfilled the typical dream of Jews who wanted to remake the world and their country of residence ‒ he became prime minister of a European state. Unlike Disraeli, he was not a baptized Jew.  Born May 14, 1867, in Berlin to a Jewish family, Kurt Eisner became prime minister of Bavaria at age 51. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D]

History: Bavaria’s Revolutionary Jewish Prime Minister Read More »

Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History

Satire: If Queen Elizabeth Were Jewish

I am finding the 11 days of mourning ceremonies between the death of Queen Elizabeth II and her burial next Monday archaic, pompous, and tedious. If only she were Jewish, we would be spared the redundant rituals, and much time and money could be saved not only by the United Kingdom but also by all the countries dispatching their leaders and reporters to cover the event.     [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

Satire: If Queen Elizabeth Were Jewish Read More »

International, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Au Revoir to France, Shalom to Israel

The first thing that hits you as the plane starts the descent towards the airport in Israel is the difference in the colors on the ground. If you have just left one of the countries of Europe, as we did, there is a noticeable difference in the shades of green that you perceive. The brilliant emerald green of the fields of rural France (or Germany or England or wherever), even in the summer of 2022 when temperatures rose to unprecedented heights and there were restrictions on water usage, remained in one’s visual memory, only to be erased (or at least put in the shade) by the greys, browns and dusty dark greens of the Holy Land. And, of course, the ever-present white of the stone buildings. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

Au Revoir to France, Shalom to Israel Read More »

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Travel and Food

Girls School Athletic Trainer Bashes Israel, Loses Job, Claims Discrimination

Natalie Abulhawa had multiple advantages going for her after she filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against a Main Line school: her own disingenuous voice, the aid and comfort of excuse-laden Arab-American spokespersons; and kid-glove treatment in a Philadelphia Inquirer story filed by an Arab-simpatico reporter. [Bruce S. Ticker]

Girls School Athletic Trainer Bashes Israel, Loses Job, Claims Discrimination Read More »

Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Gov. Newsom Signs Gabriel Bill to Fight Internet Hate

Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed Assembly Bill (AB) 587 into law. Authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, this bill requires social media companies to publicly disclose their policies for online hate and extremism so they can be held accountable for their enforcement. The bill had previously passed the State Senate and Assembly with bipartisan support. [JPAC press release]

Gov. Newsom Signs Gabriel Bill to Fight Internet Hate Read More »

California, USA

Terror, the Queen, and the deadline for Parties to Run in Israel’s Election

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — They seem to be on an upswing, but Palestinian attacks against Israelis are a continuous phenomenon. For a summary of attacks since May 2016 and through July 2022, provided by the Israeli government, in English, you can look here. A graphic display appears below. The first graph shows the

Terror, the Queen, and the deadline for Parties to Run in Israel’s Election Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, Opinion

The Authoritarian Personality and Rise of Right-Wing Extremism

By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — If nothing else, the Republican Party has steadily removed any doubt that it has embraced an extremism that threatens the future of American Democracy. We can clearly perceive the imminent danger that the Party poses in several crucial ways, perhaps the most salient being the refusal of candidates to

The Authoritarian Personality and Rise of Right-Wing Extremism Read More »

Opinion, Sam Ben-Meir, USA