Ta’amod encourages and guides Jewish organizations to hold themselves to a higher standard, thereby ensuring that every individual experiences a safe, respectful workplace, regardless of whether that employee identifies as Jewish or not and no matter where they identify in Jewish practice and beliefs. [Eva Trieger]
National director of Ta’amod settles in San Diego Read More »
Business & Finance, Eva Trieger, San Diego County, USA
The State Legislature on Monday gave final approval to a bill requiring that ethnic studies be made a requirement for graduation from California high school. Members of the Legislative Jewish Caucus sent out a news release seeking to allay fears expressed in the Jewish community that the content of those courses might include anti-Israel or anti-Semitic material. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Legislative Caucus amends Ethnic Studies bill Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
School, High Holidays, travel to Uman. They are all problematic, and causing squabbles for us, as well as the government of Ukraine with its Jewish President. Most immediate is the opening of school, set for today. Until now we’ve been wondering about a teachers strike, the prospect of paying an extra several thousand teachers and aides to allow smaller classes, and how the various grades will be treated with respect to masks, teaching in class or from home, as well as the thousands of students still without computers or internet connections that would allow some kind of distant learning. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Israel muddled by coronavirus, school openings, High Holidays Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
Today, television news reported that there were three more deaths in San Diego County from COVID-19, and that all three victims were in their 80s “with underlying conditions.”
This phrase, “with underlying conditions,” apparently is meant to make some people feel better about the death toll. It sends the message that if you are young and healthy, without any underlying conditions, you’re safe from the disease. But it sends a different message to those of us who are older and have thus far survived our battles with “underlying conditions.” It tells us that if we die from COVID-19, it won’t be so important; it’s less of a tragedy. After all, we had underlying conditions. [Donald H. Harrison]
On behalf of those ‘with underlying conditions’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, USA
It does not seem possible that here in the United States, a country that has long prided itself on its humanity, a man could be serving a life sentence for stealing hedge clippers. Yet, shocking as it is, Fair Wayne Bryant’s story is the story of thousands of Americans whose lives have been decimated by draconian laws that disproportionately affect minorities. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
End mandatory life sentences for non-violent offenders Read More »
Sam Ben-Meir, USA
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest serving prime minister, announced his retirement as a result of deteriorating health. Japan recognized Israel in 1952, but for many years they did not have strong relations, as Japan was a major trading partner of the Arab League, which supplied oil to Japan. Over time, however, Japan and Israel have strengthened their ties, particularly since 2014 when the two countries increased their security, economic, and political cooperation following a visit to Japan by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In 2018, Prime Minister Abe and his wife visited Israel, and while the trip was considered to be successful, there was one diplomatic gaffe by the Israelis. What happened that upset Abe and his wife and the Japanese staff and diplomats? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: Shinzo Abe Read More »
International, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Menachem Begin made peace with Egypt, Yitzhak Rabin made peace with Jordan. The normalization of the relationship between Israel and the Emirates should have put Binyamin Netanyahu in the same league as his distinguished predecessors. Though, unlike the Emirates, Egypt and Jordan had been at war with Israel and peace with them has remained a cold peace, normalization with the Emirates carries great promise of normalization with its neighbors and a relationship that will benefit both countries. It is also likely to shield us from Iran. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
UAE deal gains no adulation for Bibi Read More »
Middle East
This history of one Holocaust family’s experiences, together with a book by Julie Gray that I reviewed yesterday — The True Adventures of Gidon Levin in which Gray traveled with Lev to the major venues in his life, — leave me with a hopeful sense that we are moving into a new era of Holocaust research and scholarship. I’m hopeful because I’ve often heard Holocaust survivors ask plaintively, “When we’re gone, who will tell our stories?” The answer is that an entirely new generation of journalists, descendants, and academics will probe the history of the mass murder of six million Jews, unearthing untold stories and bringing to them fresh new perspectives. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]
A new generation of writers tackles the Holocaust Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History
Holocaust survivor Gidon Lev had written a memoir but he needed an editor. Julie Gray, who had recently made Aliyah to Israel, had a background as a writer for magazines and periodicals. Even though Lev had children older than Gray, their relationship became more than a work match; the two would travel together, become lovers and lifelong companions, and produce a joint memoir that was both an exploration of Lev’s experiences and Gray’s reaction to them. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]
Memoir of a Holocaust survivor, Kibbutznik, lover Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
We stayed overnight at the upscale Hotel Orion in the community of Piggs Peak. After checking in, and dinner at the hotel restaurant, we strolled into the lobby. Sitting on the floor in an alcove was a young man with several nicely wood carved figures of animals. Curious I picked up and examined a few of them. Pasted on the bottom were tags showing how many hours it had taken him to carve each piece. A small simple elephant caught my eye. It had taken 32 hours to carve. I remarked how lovely I thought the piece was, but asked if he was aware of the small inexpensive hand held Dremel electric Motor tool which I had used for years in my carving, sanding and polishing work? He reached into his back pocket and pulled out an old Dremel catalogue and replied,”yes I am, but they are not available in my country and I can’t afford to buy one.” Impulsively I said, “I will send you one when I get back home.” What’s your name and address? And that’s how I became introduced to Pius Mthupha of Piggs Peak, Swaziland. [Ira Spector]
Person-to-person diplomacy in Swaziland Read More »
International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Travel and Food, USAThe contempt that is showered on our people has been unremitting, not just here in San Diego but around the country. It is part of a process, conspired in by right-wing and left-wing extremists, to normalize Jew-hatred. Our community really needs to be on guard. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Increasing instances of Jew-hatred mar country Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Editor’s Note: The San Diego County Democratic Central Committee will vote on Tuesday, Sept. 1, on a resolution dealing with anti-Semitism. A previous meeting on the subject indicates that there is considerable opposition to the resolution among some of the committee’s membership. By Matthew Finkelstein SAN DIEGO — I knew some in the San Diego
San Diego Democrats to vote on anti-Semitism Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USAJewish community tensions are being ramped up with news of an arson fire at the Chabad House at the University of Delaware, vandalism at a Reform synagogue in Kenosha, and a video from the Republican Jewish Coalition purporting that Democrats are turning their back on Jews and Israel and are coddling anti-Semites. [Donald H. Harrison]
Arson, vandalism, RJC video ramp up tensions in Jewish community Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Laurie Baron, Ph.D., has combed through Internet listings for programs of direct Jewish interest from Sunday, Aug. 30 through Thursday, Sept. 3.
Streaming Jewish programs, Aug. 30-Sept. 3 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast