International

Comparing Torah (Va-Yera) with Ancient Practices

Va-Yera shows Abraham’s hospitality toward strangers, who turn out to be messengers of God. The messengers’ report that Sarah will have a child in a year.  It also includesGod’s plan to destroy Sodom and Gemorrah; Abraham’s plea to save those cities if a small number of righteous persons lived there; the encounter of Lot with Sodomites while he hosted two visitors; the destruction of those cities and Lot’s escape with two virginal daughters; incest between the daughters and Lot; Abraham’s further travels and encounters with King Abimelech of Gerar; Sarah giving birth to Isaac; the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael from the family; the Akedah of Isaac; and lastly more genealogy of Abraham’s kin. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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

Story of Nazi brutality published during WWII

This is not an easy, light-hearted read. Far from it. It describes in harrowing detail the experiences of George Heisler, who is one of seven men who escaped from a prison camp somewhere in rural Germany. The year is 1935, and anyone suspected of opposing the Nazi regime is liable to be summoned by the Gestapo, arrested and sent to a prison camp. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International

Speaking out against hate during global Kristallnacht remembrance Nov. 9

Marcia Tatz Wollner, the Western Regional Director of March of the Living, urges people to participate in the worldwide “Let There Be Light” project on the evening of Monday,  Nov 9, through the early morning hours of  Tuesday, Nov. 10.  The project commemorates the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, when the Nazi government ordered the destruction of synagogues and Jewish businesses throughout Germany and Austria. [VIDEO story by Sandi Masori]

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International, Jewish History, Marcia Tatz Wollner, San Diego County, Sandi Masori

US election heads to the courts

Democrats and Republicans girded Wednesday for a legal showdown to decide the winner of the tight presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.After Trump declared overnight he was ready to go to the US Supreme Court to dispute the counting of votes, his campaign announced a demand for a recount in Wisconsin and lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania, three states which each side needs to win the presidency. [Agence France Presse]

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USA

Pennsylvanians glory in their election role

My head swelled for awhile as Joe Biden, Donald Trump and their surrogates traversed Pennsylvania’s 46,000 square miles imploring us to vote for them. With Election Day past, the nation’s eyes are cast upon a handful of states to add up the remaining mail-in ballots. To think that the fate of the nation – and the world, for that matter – depends on the few, the Pennsylvanians, especially in my corner of the state, Philadelphia. If the former vice president takes Pennsylvania by one vote, and with it the election, I’m taking full credit. Doubtful, of course. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, USA

Adventures in Papua New Guinea

Goroka is in the Highlands. I spent a whole day attending the annual Sing-Sing. It’s a competition where tribes from all over the hills parade, sing, and dance on a vast grass field. In the past, the prizes were pigs, the most valued commodity on the island. In recent years, money was the reward. There was a viewing grand stand, but the tourists were let out onto the field right from the beginning to photograph, pose and dance with the tribal people. There were at least 15 different groups, all dressed in elaborate, and sometimes strange, regalia. They were festooned with bird feathers, native shell jewelry, and necklaces made from animal jaws and beetles. The revelers faces were painted with brilliant primary colors, white mud, or black paint. [Ira Spector]

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International, Lifestyles, Travel and Food

The morning after the election

Although members of the local San Diego County Jewish community lost more races than they won, the San Diego Jewish  community can take pride in Jews serving at nearly every level of government. Sara Jacobs, for example, will replace the retiring Susan Davis, a fellow Democrat, on San Diego County’s congressional delegation. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Vienna attack

Islamic State on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a deadly terrorist attack in Vienna, the extremist militia said via its Amaq mouthpiece.The attacker, named by Austria as Kujtim Fejzulai, was shot dead by police on Monday evening in the city centre after shooting into crowds of people enjoying a last night out before a partial coronavirus

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International

Malawi to become first African nation to open Israel embassy in Jerusalem

Malawi is to become the first African country to follow the US example and open an embassy to Israel in the disputed city of Jerusalem, their foreign ministers announced on Tuesday.”I’m sure that more African leaders will follow this decision,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi told reporters after a meeting with his Malawian counterpart Eisenhower

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International, Middle East, USA

4 of 10 local Jewish candidates appear victorious

Early returns in local races in San Diego indicated Tuesday night that among 10 Jewish candidates, 4 were successful and 6 were unsuccessful.

Apparent winners with 58.4 percent of all ballots counted showed Sara Jacobs winning handily in the 53rd Congressional District; Bernie Rhinerson easily winning reelection to the San Diego Community College Board; Terra Lawson-Remer defeating Republican incumbent  Kristin Gaspar in the 3rd County Supervisorial District, and  Sean Elo-Rivera defeating Kelvin Barrios for the 9th District San Diego City Council seat.  All these winners are Democrats. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

Lebanon decides not to charge Ghosn over Israel trip

Lebanon’s prosecutor general decided on Tuesday not to charge fugitive ex-auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn for visiting Israel in 2008 because a statute of limitations has expired, a judicial source said.Three lawyers filed a motion in January calling for the 66-year-old businessman to be prosecuted over his trip to the Jewish state as Renault-Nissan chairman.Lebanon is

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Business & Finance, Middle East

Kamala Harris’ Ancestral Village In India Holds 4-Hour Prayer For Her Victory

More than 8,600 miles from the White House, a small village in India has been fervently praying for the success of U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.Thulasendrapuram, the senator’s ancestral home town, has been filled with boards and banners in honor of Harris, wishing her well in the election. The town also organized a four-hour

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International, USA