International

Music Was The Flashlight: A Profile of Yale Strom

Strom is known in the modern Jewish world, and certainly around San Diego, for his accomplishments as a violinist, composer, filmmaker, writer, photographer, and playwright. He’s conducted significant research in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans among the Jewish and Roma communities, as well as toured with his klezmer band Hot Pstromi Trio. They compose their own New Jewish music combining klezmer with Chasidic nigunim, Roma, jazz, classical, Balkan and Sephardic motifs. [Danielle Levsky]

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Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Varied Lives of Israeli Expatriates in Southern California

Spending time in Orange County gives one a new perspective on life as it is lived by former Israelis in America. Like all other ethnic groups, they tend to gather together in groups, associate socially with one another, speak their own language and maintain their traditional habits. So, although it came as something of a surprise to find that our son and his partner seem to associate almost entirely with former Israelis, what was surprising was to discover how varied their lives are. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Lifestyles, Middle East, USA

3 Subjects Worthy of Deep Study: Torah, JCC’s, Mideast History

The great Jewish texts and sources are an enormous trove of knowledge, insights, traditions, and wisdom. His months at Pardes will barely scratch the surface and are tantamount to studying the initial pages of the first volume of a 32-volume encyclopedia—just enough to know that he’ll hardly know anything. But through these months, he will have evolved both respect and appreciation for the works’ scope and breadth. [Doron Krakow]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

British Deception Helped Defeat Nazis, Save Jews

The dead body of a British officer found floating in April 1943 in the waters off the coast of Southern Spain, near Huelva, may have been a key reason Hitler was unable to finish murdering the last Jews of Europe.
A valise, chained to the body’s wrist, contained top-secret military documents with plans to invade Greece by British and Allied forces.  Nazi spies working with Spanish police copied the documents and sent them to Berlin. [Jerry Klinger]

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History

U.S. Overriding Israel’s Fears in Latest Deal Making Effort with Iran

The United States, France, Germany, the UK, the EU, Russia, and China are about to resume “negotiating” the JCPOA, better known as the “Iran Deal,” concerning Iran’s nuclear weapons capability.  Who’s missing from these meetings? Those countries most at risk from Iran’s warmongering: Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states.  Not only is Israel not invited or even consulted, but the Biden Administration has given a clear warning to Israel to desist from taking any further actions against Iran which might exacerbate tensions, such as cyber warfare, assassinations, or “accidents” which occur in Iran. Evidently, the current US government doesn’t want any impediments to its “longer, stronger” deal with Iran – as if that were possible. [Steve Kramer]

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International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

Wait! Are Those Turkeys Kosher?

Some of the rabbis of the previous centuries identified the turkey as the הוֹדוּ תַּרְנְגוֹל “Indian chicken,” and thought the bird originated in India. Jews were not the only ones who thought this way. The French referred to turkey as poulet d’Inde (“Chicken from India”), as did the Polish, Ukrainian and Russian countries. It was assumed that the rabbis in India permitted it. However, this was an assumption that could never be proven since it was based on a false assumption: Turkeys did not exist in India! [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Judaism, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

Comparisons Between Black Americans and Palestinians Are Inaccurate

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — The Black community will protest police and vigilante-like killings of African-Americans; the ongoing violence within Black neighborhoods; criminal trials that resemble kangaroo courts; and over such issues as voter suppression, schools and housing. Rioting over metal-detectors, though, has not emerged in the Black community’s struggle for social justice. Yet

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

Thanksgiving = Thanks + Giving

The Judaic meaning of gratitude must go beyond the mere recognition of God’s countless blessings we experience in our lives. What exactly does “thanksgiving” mean? Thanksgiving comes from two words, “thanks,” and “giving.” True Thanksgiving involves a willingness to share God’s blessings and create blessing in the lives of others around us. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

The Jewish Agency for Israel Names New Director of Educational Innovation

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — The Jewish Agency for Israel has named Rabbi Joe Schwartz as its new director of educational innovation and of Makom: The Israeli Education Lab, the organization’s central resource for educating and empowering professionals to change the conversation around Israel. Makom works to develop new models of Israel and Jewish peoplehood education,

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Australia Declares All of Hezbollah a Terrorist Organization

(JNS) Australia’s government on Wednesday designated Hezbollah in its entirety a terrorist organization. Until now, Australia has outlawed only Hezbollah’s overseas terrorism apparatus. Israel’s Foreign Ministry praised the move, saying in a statement that it would “give Australian law enforcement agencies many additional effective tools to combat the organization’s activities in Australia.” According to the

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International, Middle East

Israel, Morocco Sign Defense Deal as Part of Normalizing Ties

Published by DPA Israel and Morocco signed a security memorandum of understanding on Wednesday during a visit from Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz, a follow-up to the two countries’ decision to normalize relations last year. The agreement lays the foundation for cooperation in several fields including intelligence, industrial collaboration and military training, according to a

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Middle East

Journalist Documents Little Known Concentration Camp Near Paris

French journalist Anne Sinclair confesses she had long felt guilty about not asking her late paternal grandfather Léonce Schwartz to tell her about his internment at a little-known concentration camp on the outskirts of Paris.  Known by the French as the Royallieu-Compiegne Concentration Camp, and by the Nazi Germans as Frontstalag 122, it was not as well-known as Drancy, the notorious French transit point to the Nazi killing camps in Poland.  However, the prisoners there were treated just as callously.  Starvation, lice, frostbite were common ailments purposely neglected by the Nazis in their effort to humiliate and winnow the French Jewish population [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History

Israel Starts Coronavirus Vaccinations for Children Ages 5-11

Published by DPA Israel has begun vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 against the coronavirus. Although the vaccination campaign officially started on Tuesday, some children were administered the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine in some locations the day before. Coronavirus commissioner Salman Sarka spoke of a “celebration for children and parents who can now protect their children,” according

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Middle East