International

Pandemic Postcard Messages, 1918-1920

The Jewish Welfare Board was created on April 9, 1917, three days after the U.S. declared war on Germany. It wanted to provide services to Jewish troops similar to what Catholic servicemen received from the Knights of Columbus and Protestants from the YMCA. In 1919, after the war was over, the JWB printed tens of thousands of these reassuring cards depicting a grinning doughboy and distributed them to servicemen to send to family and friends. [Oliver B. Pollak, Ph.D]

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Jewish History, Lifestyles, Oliver Pollak, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

The Anti-BDS Fights on North American Campuses

Just because most colleges and universities have been on at least a partial pandemic shut down this past year doesn’t mean that BDS forces have lost any of their vitriol. Or that they’ve given up on pillorying the Jewish state and, all too often, the Jewish people as well. Among those fanning the anti-Israel flames this past year: [JNS.org]

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International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Egypt Invites Israel’s PM Naftali Bennett for an Official Visit

By Ariel Ben Solomon (JNS) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi invited Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for an official visit in the coming weeks, which would be the first state visit by an Israeli leader in nearly a decade. The invitation, offered last week, comes amid the backdrop of ongoing violence emanating from the Gaza

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Middle East

Rap looks at Jewish-Arab divide: Latest from dpa trends – Features

Published by DPA Uriya Rosenman and Sameh Zakout hit a nerve after their rap song “Let’s Talk Straight” debuted on YouTube in May 2021. For nearly seven minutes, the Jewish and Palestinian artists don’t hold back, trading accusations and sharing their own perspectives. “When I hear an Arab accent, I’m always suspicious,” says Rosenman. “You

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Middle East

Israel bombs Hamas sites in Gaza over fire balloons -military

Published by Reuters TEL AVIV (Reuters) – Israeli warplanes bombed Hamas sites in Gaza in response to incendiary balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave that caused brush fires in southern Israel, its military said early on Tuesday. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the air strikes that targeted what the military said was

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Middle East

N.J. town sues Orthodox congregation it says opened school without approvals

Published by NJ.com Brick Township is suing a Lakewood-based Orthodox Jewish congregation, alleging that it’s been operating a private high school for up to 100 boys in a synagogue it acquired in March despite not having been granted the required site plan approval or construction permits. In the suit, filed Friday in state Superior Court

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USA

Israel’s new leader to present Iran plan in first White House visit

Published by Reuters By Jeffrey Heller and Matt Spetalnick JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will push U.S. President Joe Biden to harden his approach to Iran during his first White House visit, with few prospects their talks will lead to renewed movement on Israeli-Palestinian peace. Yet both Israel and the United States have

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Middle East

Growth of Jewish Communities Promoted in the Early 20th Century

The headline in the adjoining news clipping is hype. “May” is not “will” or “shall.” Booster describes real estate developers, hucksters and visionaries who wanted to profit from growing communities and increases in real estate prices. Saul Voorsanger, who emigrated from Holland with his wife Sarah in 1893, promoted the growth of the Jewish population. He was a salesman and publicist and the brother of Temple Emanu-El’s Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger. The rabbi started Emanu-El, San Francisco’s weekly Jewish newspaper in 1895 and died in 1908. Sol, Saul or S. became editor. During 1912 several newspapers reported Voorsanger’s visiting chambers of commerce in San Diego, Visalia, Fresno, Modesto, Kings, San Joaquin, and Dinuba. He solicited advertising for a special 75,000 copy edition of Emanu-El to recruit better-off Russian Jews to buy and farm California land, a chimera. [Oliver B. Pollak]

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Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USA

Good News from Israel (August 23, 2021)

NETANYA, Israel — In the August 23, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Israeli scientists have printed an active tumor for testing cancer therapies.
–An Israeli charity is saving Arab children from dying in car crashes.
–Israelis again aid victims of another massive deadly earthquake in Haiti.
–Israelis are developing a flying sports car.
–The rate of Israel’s economic recovery is one of the fastest in the world.
–Israel’s “no-fear” children enjoy a thrilling adventure trail in Jerusalem. [Michael Ordman]

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International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Conservative Movement Groups Respond to Child Sex Abuse Allegations

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and United Synagogue Youth (USY) today released the following statement in response to recently reported allegations of child sex abuse: For all of us at USY and USCJ, the past several weeks have been deeply painful.  We are very saddened by the heartbreaking

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USA

Israel finds COVID-19 vaccine booster significantly lowers infection risk

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A third dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people aged 60 and older in Israel compared with those who received two shots, findings published by the Health Ministry showed on Sunday. The data were presented at a meeting of a

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Middle East