When in the course of viral events, it becomes necessary for a nation to overcome the political polarization which divides it and respond to the pandemic infecting it by heeding the findings of science and favoring the common interest over unrestrained individualism to prevent further contagion for the sake of mankind. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: The Declaration of Interdependence Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Published by uPolitics.com U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has imposed a moratorium on federal executions due to a Justice Department review of the death penalty In the statement, Garland said: “The Department of Justice must ensure that everyone in the federal criminal justice system is not only afforded the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and
Attorney General Merrick Garland Temporarily Prohibits Federal Executions Pending Review Read More »
USA
Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel’s parliament failed on Tuesday to renew a disputed law that bars granting citizenship or residency to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank or Gaza who are married to Israeli citizens, dealing a setback to the new coalition government. An early-morning vote in the Knesset (parliament) tied at 59-59, short
Israel’s new government fails to renew disputed citizenship law Read More »
Middle East
Published by Reuters By Francisco Alvarado SURFSIDE, Fla. (Reuters) -The death toll from a partially collapsed Miami-area condominium rose by four to 32, officials said on Tuesday, as rescue workers braced for a tropical storm and relatives of a deceased family of four prepared for the disaster’s first funeral. A total of 113 people remained
Death toll in Miami condo collapse at 32, funeral held Read More »
USA
Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel reported on Monday a decrease in the effectiveness of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in preventing infections and symptomatic illness but said it remained highly effective in preventing serious illness. The decline coincided with the spread of the Delta variant and the end of social distancing restrictions in Israel.
After more than a year absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park reopened to visitors over the July 4th weekend. So named because relations among nations should be “pacific” or “peaceful” — and not a reference to the ocean that washes San Diego’s shores — The House of Pacific Relations includes the House of Israel (HOI), which marked the reopening with a flag raising ceremony. [Donald H. Harrison]
Flag Raising Marks Reopening of House of Israel in Balboa Park Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Rumsfeld was an admirer and strong supporter of Israel and a critic of PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who he felt had not really transformed from a terrorist to a statesman. However, what is one area where Rumsfeld did not support Israel? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Donald Rumsfeld Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
A party was held for Isaac Herzog on Monday, July 5, the day he officially retired as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and two days before he assumes office as the next president of the nation of Israel, succeeding Reuven Rivlin. Among those joining the celebration were Metadel Sisai, 14, an immigrant from Ethiopia, and Oliana Goodim, an 11 year old immigrant from the Ukraine. ““Even if your new surroundings seem unfamiliar to you, just remember it is your home in the same way that Israel is our home,” the two youngsters advised the incoming President. [Based on material from Jewish Agency for Israel]
Herzog Steps Down from Jewish Agency, Becomes Israel’s President on Wednesday Read More »
Middle East
I believe some of the most important unsung heroes of non-Orthodox Judaism are the spouses of pulpit rabbis. We don’t pay them, but more often than not, we expect them to devote their lives to our synagogues. We want them to attend every social occasion, be there near the front of the sanctuary on Shabbat evening and morning, to recognize all of us by first and last name, and to be able to chant the blessings before and after the reading of the Torah whenever someone is needed for an aliyah. [Donald H. Harrison]
Let’s Have Compassion for the Rabbi’s Spouse Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA
Published by Reuters By Francisco Alvarado SURFSIDE, Fla. (Reuters) -The partially collapsed Miami-area condo where 24 people are confirmed dead was demolished on Sunday night, ahead of the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa. Search-and-rescue efforts for 121 people missing have been suspended. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told reporters earlier on Sunday that
Collapsed Florida condo demolished ahead of storm, search to resume Read More »
USA
Published by DPA Dutch King Willem-Alexander paid a visit to the Anne Frank Centre in Berlin on Monday hours after arriving in the German capital on a state visit with Queen Maxima. The royal couple were also to pay a visit to the Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s official disease control body that has played a
Dutch king visits Anne Frank Centre on state visit to Berlin Read More »
International
– There are a lot of questions in the air, along with hopes of some stability in both politics and health. It’s not easy to summarize, but here we go: Most of our news is about the upturn in revealed cases of COVID-19. We’re at several hundred per day, but with few hospitalizations and deaths. There’s some cases of infection among those who’ve received two inoculations, but most of those are not serious. Most infections seem to have begun with people arriving from overseas, infecting kids in schools, and then onward. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Renewed COVID-19 Concerns Focus on Israel’s Main Airport Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
As a boy, I loved hearing the story about the early childhood of my father, Martin B. Harrison, who was born on the 4th of July, 1910. To paraphrase the great Irish-American lyricist George M. Cohan, dad was a “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Until dad reached the age of 5, his parents — M. Joseph and Florence Harrison — had him persuaded that the nation held all those parades and shot off all those fireworks in celebration of his birthday. When he got to kindergarten, however, he learned the truth. The celebration was for the birth of the American nation, and not specifically for little Marty. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Thank you, America’ from the Depths of My Jewish Heart Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
In August 2016 in Berlin my younger daughter and I visited the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism, and Holocaust exhibits at the Jewish Museum Berlin. It seemed that Germany was doing rather well with coming to terms with the country’s horrendous crimes against Jews and others during WWII. [Phyllis Zimbler Miller]
Why I Launched a Podcast About Antisemitism Read More »
International, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA