International

EU misrepresents Israeli ‘annexation’ issue

European Union foreign-policy chief Josip Borrell put forward a surprise resolution on Israel’s new government that included the following: “The E.U. does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. The E.U. reiterates that any annexation would constitute a serious violation of international law.” But E.U. statements have to be unanimous, and Borrell was thwarted by members of his own club. The details aren’t clear yet, but Hungary and Austria were definitely opposed, and an Israeli diplomat noted that the largest number of E.U. delegates to date opposed a resolution aimed at Israel. [Shoshana Bryen]

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International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Global memorials for Poway’s Lori Gilbert Kaye

With prayers, reflections and songs, first from her home synagogue, Chabad of Poway, and later from around the world, Jews memorialized Lori Gilbert Kaye, who was slain one year ago during a gunman’s attack that also wounded Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein and two congregants, Almog Peretz and his elementary-school-aged niece Noya Dahan. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food

International Law – Who Says? 

What is the meaning of “international law,” the term that is often used as a weapon against Israel by its enemies – and even some of its friends? Let’s find out… Just as Israel’s unity government is set to get underway, France has warned Israel of serious consequences – if Israel extends civil law to its citizens living beyond the 1949 Armistice Line (NOT a border) [Steve Kramer]

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International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

Is Gantz reforming Israeli government from within?

I am among those who believe that Benny Gantz and what is left of his Blue and White party have joined the Netanyahu government in the hope of stopping the abuse of democracy. Many Israelis disagree. Some even view Gantz and the fifteen or so Members of Knesset who joined him as potential accomplices. I pray that the critics will be proven wrong. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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Middle East

San Diegans celebrate Michael Jeser’s cancer recovery

  Other items in today’s column include: *Jewish community coronavirus news *Yom HaZikaron/ Yom Ha’Atzma’ut *Political bytes *Recommended reading *In memoriam By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Jewish community members are celebrating the recovery from cancer of Michael Jeser, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County. On April 23, he

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Lessons from the Warsaw Ghetto uprising

Last week, we observed Yom HaShoah—Holocaust Memorial Day — which corresponds to the start of the famous Warsaw Ghetto uprising. On April 19, 1943, the Jews fought back and attempted to prevent the Nazis from deporting them to the concentration camps. This holiday helped the Jews realize that they cannot passively accept their fate. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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

On-line memorials Sunday for Chabad of Poway victim

Chabad of Poway will hold an Internet memorial service for the victim of last year’s shooting, Lori Gilbert Kaye, at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 26.  At noon, a separate online ceremony sponsored by the Combat Anti-Semitism movement will be conducted via Zoom and Facebook. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

The noble lie: King Christian X and the Jews

My friend and editor of San Diego Jewish World, Don Harrison, and I were having an interesting conversation I would like to share with you. We were talking about the famous Danish King Christian X, who was said to have worn a yellow Star of David together with his people to show solidarity with the Danish Jews. The yellow Star of David helped the Nazis distinguish the Jews from the Gentiles. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Davis polls S.D. constituents on coronavirus aid

Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) conducted an informal poll of her constituents in the 53rd congressional district to learn how the coronavirus pandemic has affected them.  She received 6,799 responses to a questionnaire. Asked if they had been hurt financially by the pandemic, 32.5 percent said “very much so”; 42.2 percent said “somewhat”; and 25.2 percent said “not at all.”   Asked if they had received a stimulus payment from the government, 39.7 percent replied “yes”; 28.5 percent said “No, but I’m expecting a payment”; 17.8 percent said “I’m not eligible” and 13.9 percent complained “the IRS website is unable to find my information.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Ancient views on menstruation, epidemics STDs

Leviticus 12-15 – The text deals with purification procedures after menstruation and childbirth; evaluating and separating out various skin lesions, and stains on objects, to sort the serious from the benign; the purification of a healed leper/leprous lesion; and dealings with venereal discharges, benign or serious. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish Travel: Great Synagogue of Vilna

VILNIUS, Lithuania (Press Release) — Today marks the 300th birth anniversary of Vilna Gaon Elijah ben Solomon Zalman. On this occasion, the city of Vilnius offers a new possibility to explore one of the treasures of Jewish heritage in Vilnius – the Great Synagogue of Vilna. These days, when travel possibilities are limited, the new

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food

Streaming the Armenian genocide

On April 24, 1915 the Ottoman Empire arrested approximately 250 prominent Armenians and deported them a month later to the Turkish interior where most of them were killed.  Armenians annually commemorate April 24th as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.  There are few movies about the genocide because Turkey has pressured countries to halt their production, limit their distribution, or undermine their reception.  On the eve of Germany’s invasion of Poland, Hitler informed his generals of plans to massacre many Poles to achieve German living space concluding with this haunting question: “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” I’ve prepared this list to promote its memory and international recognition. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]                                                              

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International, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Did Gantz do the right thing?

Some friends whose opinions I respect have reacted against my support (for what it’s worth) for the so-called unity government. They do not seem to believe that Benny Gantz did the right thing by joining Binyamin Netanyahu. They argue that the prime minister has taken the leader of the opposition to the cleaners by manipulating him to sign a vague and obscurely worded coalition agreement that’s very different from the platform on which the leader of the Blue and White party successfully fought in the last three elections. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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Middle East