International

Peace Corps documentary narrated by Annette Bening

Actress Annette Bening, who got her start in drama as a student at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego before going on to Broadway and to the movies, is the narrator of a new documentary A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps, which covers approximately 62 years of America helping developing nations, from the inception of the idea in 1958 to the present. It will be shown in theaters later this month. {Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

   Items in today’s column include: *Jewish community coronavirus news *American Jewish history *Never forget *In memoriam By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, in her role as chair of the Council’s Budget Committee, has proposed that “San Diego’s federal coronavirus relief money to be used to fund Internet access for all San

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Annexation debate: beating a dead horse

Many EU leaders, Jews, and others are upset over the proposed extension of Israeli sovereignty to the Jewish population in Israel’s heartland, reclaimed 53 years ago during the defensive Six Day War. This will be accomplished by substituting Israeli civil law for military law in those area where Israeli citizens are living, thereby establishing a real border between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs. Israel’s intended action is approved under the Peace to Prosperity Plan, contingent on Israel’s acceptance of a State of Palestine – a state subject to many restrictions meant to keep everyone safe. [Steve Kramer]

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Middle East, Steve Kramer

Coronavirus case reported at Seacrest Village

A culinary worker at Seacrest Village Retirement Community “has tested positive and is quarantined at home,” Pam Ferris, president and CEO of the Jewish-community-run home for senior citizens reported to residents and their families on Thursday evening.  “We are currently following the ‘Criteria for Return to Work for Health Care Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected Covid-19’ guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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

The Coronavirus and the Jewish Problem

Mark Twain is often credited with saying, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” As American Jews, we grew up hearing how “America is andrish,” the Yiddish word for “different.” We thought we would never hear new libels accusing the Jew of being a carrier of disease and pandemics. But now the plague is here again, we’re beginning to hear that same old rhyme again. We thought these libels were behind us; it turns out we were wrong. This is very hard for Jews because we want to believe that human nature is essentially good. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

Ancient practices: scapegoats, charity, hybrids

Aharot Mot/Kedoshim Leviticus Chapters 16-20 deals with multiple topics including specified rituals for Aaron, notably about a sin offering. It involved a bull plus two he-goats, one for a sacrificial sin offering, the other to be loaded with community sins and sent off to the wilderness. This ceremony is identified with Yom Kippur. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

Giving Bill de Blasio the benefit of the doubt?

We might be tempted to give New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio the benefit of the doubt. It was a thoughtless moment. In haste he tweeted: “My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.” [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, USA

ADL panel weighs coronavirus and anti-Semitism

In a webcast sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday, panelists Deborah Lipstadt of Emory University and Jonathan Sarna of Brandeis University were asked if a cure for coronavirus were to be discovered by a Jew, would that reduce anti-Semitism? The two academicians, appearing alongside ADL’s president and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, responded in the negative. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Trump salutes Israel’s 72nd birthday, declares May as Jewish-American Heritage Month

President Trump  sent a congratulatory letter to Israeli President Rivlin on Israeli Independence Day. In that letter, President Trump expressed his “tremendous pride that the United States was the first country to recognize the newly re-established Jewish State in 1948. He also signed a proclamation declaring May to be Jewish-American Heritage Month in the U.S. [Press release from ‘Jews Choose Trump’ campaign organization]

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Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

The weirdest Independence Day ever

Ever since its foundation in 1948 Israel has celebrated its Independence Day with general festivities in which anyone and everyone can participate. After I came to live in Israel, about sixty years ago, Independence Day has always been a very special day for me. In my first few years on the country I would hang out with other students, and we would roam downtown Jerusalem, join in street dancing, enjoy the ambiance, bang squeaky plastic hammers on one another’s heads, and eat falafel. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

Lauren and Sol Lizerbram bring San Diego presence to global Yom Ha’atzma’ut celebration

Sol and Lauren Lizerbram of Rancho Santa Fe had cameo roles in the hour-long, worldwide webcast for Israeli Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzma’ut) that was co-hosted Wednesday by Israeli actress Shira Haas (who stars in the mini-series Unorthodox) and Eric Fingerhut, chairman of the Jewish Federations of North America. Sol Lizerbram is the U.S. President of the Jewish National Fund, which arranged to video the near-private ceremony this year at Mount Herzl in honor of Yom Ha’atzma’ut — near private because of the ban in Israel on gatherings of large groups [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

The too-often forgotten thank you

There is a forgotten Thank you. We don’t see them; they are rarely seen on the street. They are the watchers on the wall. They are the ones, far away from us, thousands upon thousands of miles away, standing watch, far from their family, their home, doing their silent duty looking into the scary night. They stand the cold, wet wall across from the DMZ, they service the ships upon the seas and the vessels deep under. They squeeze into cockpits and fly the skies. They crowd into uncomfortable steel tanks or patrol the road with only a rifle and prayer in their hands. [Jerry Klinger]

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Jerry Klinger, USA

‘Murder Most Foul’: Dylan culture on a silver platter

If Bob Dylan is a modern-day lesser prophet then his retelling of the murder of JFK in ‘Murder Most Foul’ could serve as a forewarning to a moment that signifies a depature from the norm. The timing of Dylan’s single release via Twitter, on March 27th, is somewhat shrouded in mystery, not least as the song was “recorded a while back,” according to Dylan’s tweet. Dylan’s message to fans is that they are to stay safe, vigilant, and have trust in the almighty, and that they may find the song “interesting.” While Dylan wants the general population to remain safe, the song itself is a far cry from any sense of safety. Instead there is upheaval and turmoil, a dark force that is in motion behind the scenes, or as Dylan sings it, “Greatest magic trick ever under the sun.” [Omer Zalmonowitz]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA