By Faygie Holt (July 8, 2021 / JNS) The countdown started weeks ago, and it’s finally time—time for many to return to sleepaway camp after a year of lockdowns, Zoom school, and separation from friends and family amid a worldwide pandemic. “I’m so happy! It’ll be so nice to see everyone,” said 14-year-old Eliana Menasha, […]
Jewish campers express relief just ‘getting to be kids again’ Read More »
Lifestyles, USA
Published by Miami Herald SURFSIDE, Fla. – Elected leaders and government agencies have vowed to uncover what caused Champlain Towers South to suddenly collapse, killing dozens as they slept — and everyone from construction contractors to town building officials to condo board members will be scrutinized for their role. Lawsuits filed by survivors and relatives
Will anyone face criminal charges over Surfside condo collapse? Here’s what experts say Read More »
USA
Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department declined to prosecute 82% of people suspected of federal hate crimes over most of the past two decades, it said in a research report on Thursday, revealing a rate of prosecution far lower than that for other federal crimes. The report
U.S. chose not to prosecute 82% of hate-crime suspects from 2005-2019 Read More »
USA
NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, has awarded $100,000 in grants to 35 synagogues in 15 U.S. states — including three synagogues in California — and one Canadian province in an effort to bring communities back to synagogue
3 California Synagogues Among 35 Receiving Grants to Welcome Congregants Back Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
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
Published by Miami Herald SURFSIDE, Fla. — The mood in Surfside was somber Wednesday night, shortly after officials broke the news to family members and loved ones that the 14-day rescue mission to find living victims of the Champlain Tower South collapse would transition into a recovery effort, with no expectation of finding survivors. Rescuers,
‘I want to truly say thank you’: Surfside community reflects as rescue mission ends Read More »
USA
Published by Reuters By Brad Brooks and Dan Whitcomb SURFSIDE, Fla. (Reuters) -South Florida officials on Wednesday called off the search for survivors of a June condominium tower collapse, saying there was no longer any hope of pulling someone alive from the ruins of the flattened building. Crews who have extracted the remains of 54
Search called off for survivors of Florida condo tower collapse Read More »
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
Published by AFP Surfside (United States) (AFP) – The death toll from the collapse of an apartment building in Florida outside Miami has risen to 46 after 10 more bodies were extracted from the rubble, as the number of people still unaccounted for dropped to 94, officials said Wednesday. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
Florida building collapse toll rises to 46 Read More »
USA
The much-discussed concept of critical race theory should in no way be part of the curriculum used to teach U.S. history in California’s public schools because it is inherently conflict-ridden and divisive. Ethnicity and race are important ways that students define themselves in the schools, and public education has made great strides in recent years to ensure the teaching of history is more diverse and representative. But more work remains to be done. [Mark Powwell]
Former S.D. County School Board Member Tells Opposition to Critical Race Theory Read More »
San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
It’s a comment Jews sometimes hear from people who are antisemitic when Adolf Hitler’s name comes up: “Hitler did a lot of good things,” often said by folks who downplay or with unpure motives “balance” the fact of the Holocaust. There are a slew of new books coming out with revelations about the Trump administration — and an upcoming one quotes then-President Donald Trump as saying: “Well, Hitler did a lot good things,” shocking his then-Chief of Staff John Kelly, a retired US Marine Corps general. [Joe Gandelman]
Author Alleges Trump Praised Hitler Read More »
International, Jewish History, Joe Gandelman, 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