International

‘Cholent Festival’ Brings Jewish Culture to Hungary Via Food, Music, Traditions

By Eliana Rudee (JNS) Thousands of people took part in the Sixth Hungarian ‘Cholent Festival’ (“Sólet” in Hungarian) at the Újbuda outdoor theater in Budapest before the start of the High Holidays, organized by the Chabad Lubavitch organization Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities (EMIH). Jews and non-Jews alike gathered for the Aug. 29 festival, which […]

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Travel and Food

Editorial: Don’t parole Sirhan Sirhan. The murder of Robert F. Kennedy was an assault on democracy

Published by The San Diego Union-Tribune Early in the morning of June 5, 1968, during an event at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles marking his victory in the California presidential primary the day before, Robert F. Kennedy was shot three times by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant with Jordanian citizenship whose diary detailed a

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USA

Palestinians’ Prison Break Dominates Israeli News

The big news here is of the breakout from a “security” prison by six Palestinians. They’re all of the Jihad Islamis, and apparently with a great deal of luck, or perhaps help from some of their jailers. Over the course of some six months, they dug out from under a toilet in one of their cells, under the walls, and emerged only a few meters away. And they eluded capture from many who were hunting them from the police and other security forces.  [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Russia, Israel Need Working Accord on Syria

Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid made a quick trip to Moscow just after the end of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) to meet with his counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.  The meeting was focused on Iran, the nuclear threat, and Iranian activities elsewhere, particularly Syria. It is clear that Israeli-Russian relations need a restart. [Stephen D. Bryen]

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International, Middle East, Stephen D. Bryen, USA

StandWithUs Says AFT Guild 1931 Fuels Antisemitism

StandWithUs is deeply disturbed by the bias and misrepresentations in the AFT Guild Local 1931 statement. Simply writing “we’re not antisemites” does not eliminate the antisemitic nature and impact of this statement, which at its core denies Israel’s right to self-defense, and the Jewish peoples’ right to decide what constitutes antisemitism. [StandWithUs)

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Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

AFT Local Representing Community College Faculty Denounces Israel

The local guild of the American Federation of Teachers serving faculty members of the San Diego Community Colleges as well as its Continuing Education Branch, and faculty at Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College has adopted a resolution denouncing Israel, while leaving unmentioned the more than 3,000 rockets fired by Hamas from Gaza during the recent violence with Israel. [AFT Local 1931 press release]

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

4,000 American Teens, Including 21 San Diego County Residents, Experienced Israel This Summer

Heroic efforts navigating the global pandemic made it possible for nearly 4,000 American teens to travel this summer to Israel on multi-week trips designed and heavily subsidized by the new RootOne, run by The Jewish Education Project. The Jewish Agency for Israel, along with youth serving organizations (YSOs) and Jewish residential camps, made the trips possible under unprecedented circumstances. As teens return home, they are brought into a pipeline of Jewish community opportunities that will continue to tap into their interests, strengthen relationships, and add meaning to their lives. [Root One Press Release]

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Middle East, San Diego County, USA

California Legislature Approves Anti-Hate-Crime Legislation

The California Legislature passed legislation 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), Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, 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 with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the State Assembly and the State Senate. [Press Release from Assemblyman Gabriel]

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USA

Anti-Israel Algerian Athlete Sanctioned by International Judo Federation

The International Judo Federation (IJF) has banned Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach, Ammar Benkhalaf, from participating in activities or competitions for 10 years after the athlete withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to avoid fighting an Israeli opponent. [JNS.org]

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International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions

Jewish life in Berlin subject of new show at city’s Jewish Museum

Published by DPA The French photographer Frédéric Brenner has been following Jewish life in the Diaspora beyond Israel for decades. Between 2016 and 2019, he created a series about Jews in contemporary Berlin, a city once rich with Jewish life and traditions before the Holocaust. Some 50 of these works are now among the latest

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Comparing and contrasting Halloween and Sukkot

The month of October unleashes a tension of sorts in our predominantly Jewish Pico-Robertson neighborhood in Los Angeles.  As one walks farther from Pico Boulevard, the ubiquitous sukkot on front lawns give way to macabre Halloween decorations. Jewish kids must grapple with a continuum of responses to trick-or-treating: for the far right, it’s as if the holiday doesn’t exist. In a non-COVID year, Modern Orthodox might allow their kids to make the rounds seeking kosher candy and haunted houses, but downplay any outward signs of participation. Sadly, Jews of other denominations are more likely to be carrying a light saber than a lulav. [Sam Glaser]

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Jewish Religion, Sam Glaser, USA