International

Migrant workers hard hit worldwide by COVID19

As an economic recession looms, migrants vulnerable to poverty, facing conflict, displacement, or unsafe working and living conditions require greater economic support as unemployment rises, access to PPEs, and legal assistance.Migrant workers have been at the forefront of the world economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, as essential workers. Yet, at the same time this comes with risk. [Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts]

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International, Middle East, USA

A new blow to Iran’s forgotten Jews

Next week, an online event organized by the human rights group “3 Generations” will feature New York Times op-ed columnist Roger Cohen, who sparked an international furor in 2009 when he visited Iran and announced that the oppressed Jews there were not really so oppressed, after all.  Cohen’s assertion that Iranian Jews were “living, working and worshiping in relative tranquility” was met with scorn across the political spectrum. Jeffrey Goldberg, in The Atlantic, called him “credulous.”  The Anti-Defamation League charged Cohen with viewing Iran through “dangerous rose-colored lenses.” J.J. Goldberg, in The Forward, characterized Cohen as “simply naive, and dangerously so.” [Rafael Medoff, Ph.D]

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Virtual meetings spur Jewish theatre community

By Toby Klein Greenwald EFRAT, Israel — In April, the board members of the Alliance for Jewish Theater bit the bullet and decided to morph their annual autumn conference into a three-day Zoom event. Like everyone, they hoped for the best, but were being proactive and not assuming there would be a miracle. Theater makers

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International, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Toby Klein Greenwald, USA

Streaming Jewish programs (Oct. 18-23)

Compiled by Laurie Baron, Ph.D SAN DIEGO — All times are Pacific Daylight Time. Sunday, October 18 8 am  Luca Ascoli, “The Jews of Italy,” Sephardic World. 8 am  Yevilah McCoy, “Keynote Address,” Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity Virtual Conference. 8 am Moshe Halbertal and Jonathan Sacks, “Strange New World- Conversations in Times of Crisis- Religious

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Israel’s ultra-orthodox and the spread of COVID19

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –In these difficult times Israel finds itself facing a fresh scandal on an almost daily basis. The latest was the bold statement made by the outgoing head of a hospital situated in the ultra-orthodox town of Bnei Brak, and hence treating primarily that population. As a rule I don’t

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

Bereishis and Ancient Creation Stories

  By Irv Jacobs, MD LA JOLLA, California —  This essay covers creation stories; rivers in the Eden and pagan stories; and snakes and serpents in mythology. Genesis 1:1-6:8 The creation stories, and Genesis in general, offer a different focus in my year-long project, because they are more legendary than historical in flavor. I have

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Power couple? Sara Jacobs and Ammar Campa-Najjar?

By Ken Stone Times of San Diego SAN DIEGO –In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevya’s daughter Chava wants to marry a Russian Orthodox intellectual. In real life, Jared Kushner weds Ivanka Trump, and she converts to Judaism. Interfaith romances are common. San Diego Jewish World editor Don Harrison says the intermarriage rate among Jews in San

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Donald H. Harrison, Ken Stone, San Diego County, USA

Trump and the Rise of U.S. Violence

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Right-wing thugs plotted to kidnap Michigan’s governor while New York authorities walked a tightrope to contain the Covid-19 virus amid Orthodox Jewish protests that escalated to violence. President Trump’s role: He encouraged the revolting antics (conveniently, two meanings in one) of militias and even suggested that New York

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Bruce Ticker, Jewish Religion, USA