International

A portrait of my pop

grew up in the fifties, through the fits and starts of adolescence, the revealing mysteries of puberty and the inculcation of ambition all Jewish boys are indoctrinated with before leaving home. Growing up I never thought of my father as handsome or ugly. He was just “Pop.” He was good to me as a kid, but was afflicted with a terrible depression that permeated his personality and behavior and prevented a close relationship between us. His perpetual sadness limited his sharing of his life’s experiences and wisdom gained that might have guided me from making some of the mistakes I made later in life. [Ira Spector]

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Lifestyles, USA

Jewish Teen Foundation invites high schoolers to apply

The Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) is recruiting San Diego County Jewish high school students to learn about philanthropy, tikkun olam, and tzedakah. Under auspices of the Jewish Community Foundation, “teens will learn grant making, collaboration, public speaking, and constructive discourse skills while building their own personal networks,” according to a JTF news release. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Streaming Jewish Programs (Sept. 6-11)          

Laurie Baron, Ph.D, rounds up streaming programs of Jewish interest for scholars and lay people, from Sunday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Sept. 11

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA

Kushner’s snarkiness hampered Black-Jewish relations

Perhaps Jared Kushner could not resist. When the NBA shut down last week, Kushner told CNBC. “The NBA players are very fortunate that they have the financial position where they’re able to take a night off from work without having to have the consequences to themselves financially. So they have that luxury, which is great.” [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Sports & Competitions, USA

‘Hearts of Gold’ gala to honor Seacrest’s workers

Cindy Bloch and Jean Gaylis will co-chair a Feb. 21 virtual “Hearts of Gold” gala honoring the front line workers  “who are ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the residents of Seacrest Village, while providing love and compassion during these challenging times,” according to Anna L. Johnston, events manager of the Seacrest Foundation.   [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA

Golf and the Art of the Double Deal

During an interview with Laura Ingraham, President Trump compared the actions of the Kenosha policeman who shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times to a professional golfer who chokes when trying to make 3-foot putt in a tournament. Though leftwing commentators thought this was an insensitive analogy, Trump views politics from the lens of golf as the following comments edited out of the Ingraham interview indicate. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Palestinians should quickly negotiate with Israelis

The fact that the UAE conditioned its recognition of Israel on freezing any further annexation is considerably important. It offers the Palestinians the opportunity to move forward and enter into unconditional negotiations now, while there will be no further annexation of Palestinian land. Even though Prime Minister Netanyahu said the halt on further annexation is temporary, once the Palestinians agree to negotiate in good faith, they will make it impossible for any Israeli government to annex any territory without risking normalization of relations with other Arab states. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East

National director of Ta’amod settles in San Diego

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]

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Business & Finance, Eva Trieger, San Diego County, USA

Jewish Legislative Caucus amends Ethnic Studies bill

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]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Israel muddled by coronavirus, school openings, High Holidays

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]

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Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

On behalf of those ‘with underlying conditions’

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]

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Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, USA

End mandatory life sentences for non-violent offenders

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]

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Sam Ben-Meir, USA

Jewish trivia quiz: Shinzo Abe

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]

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International, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire