By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Symphony, like many other orchestras throughout the world, is honoring the centennial birthday of Leonard Bernstein, the great 20th century American conductor, composer, pianist and educator, by including his works in all three Masterworks symphony programs during the month of May, as well as in a
This is the second part in a two-part series To read the first part, click here. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Natalie Portman lately has developed a penchant for creating headlines about Jews. This past week, she went on record saying, “The Shoah is no more tragic than other genocides,” and
Natalie Portman raises a good issue about the Shoah Read More »
International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release) — The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – on Thursday commended President Donald Trump for issuing an executive order establishing The White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. The executive order signed today at a Rose Garden ceremony creates the White House
OU lauds White House faith initiative Read More »
Jewish Religion, USASANTA CRUZ, California (Press Release) – The Drylongso Collective, a group that consists of numerous Cal Poly student organizations, demanded “an increase in ASI funding for ALL cultural clubs, with the exception of organizations that are aligned with Zionist ideology.” Today, 60 education and civil rights organizations urged Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong to take immediate and long-term steps
Protests against anti- Zionism at Cal Poly Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Islamic Republic of Iran’s declared position is that it does not want nuclear weapons and never has. Which is good, because the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) contains language declaring that “under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop, or acquire any nuclear weapons.” Which is
World should not shrug its shoulders at Iran’s cheating Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
DURHAM, North Carolina (Press Release) – – StandWithUs is outraged at white supremacist flyers found at Duke University and throughout downtown Durham, North Carolina, explicitly targeting Jews and Zionists. Jen Weintraub, Southern Campus Coordinator, commented that, “we are seeing an increase in such hateful displays on college campuses and elsewhere. As someone with family who survived the
Neo- Nazi posters spring up on college campuses Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Alon Ben-Meir and Arbana Xharra NEW YORK — The ‘Sultan’ of an illusionary Ottoman Empire—Turkey’s President Erdogan—is pressuring submissive politicians throughout the Balkan countries to do his bidding to restore the glory of the Ottoman period. For Erdogan, this is not simply an unfulfilled quest; he has been targeting the Balkans for the past
Albania Must Choose Between the EU and Turkey Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International
By Sam Litvin TEL AVIV — On April 29th, a woman died in San Diego. She passed away quietly, in her sleep. Many knew this was coming. After all, she was 101. But her passing hit many who knew her hard, for 101 years she had given all who knew her much warmth and joy.
Fanya Bliachman, 101, had an exciting life Read More »
International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Sam LitvinBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — One of the obsessions of ultra-orthodox (Haredi) men is not to be close to women. Even proximity to mothers, wives and daughters is at times restricted. Though public transport in Israel doesn’t allow segregation, some private buses used by Haredim put the women at the back. There’re many reported
Haredim slowly changing Israeli society Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
Editor’s Note: This is the ninth in a series of stories researched during Don and Nancy Harrison’s 50th Wedding Anniversary cruise from Sydney, Australia, to San Diego. Previous installments of the series, which runs every Thursday, may be found by tapping the number of the installment: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 By Donald H. Harrison
Real Tasmanian Devil unlike Warner Bros’ ‘Tazzy’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, The World We Share, Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A great presentation? Telling the world something it already knew? A Prime Minister firming up his support at home? Or Bibi making an ass of himself? All of the above? It depends on what you heard and what you read. It’s widely viewed as an intelligence achievement, but maybe more
Netanyahu speech on Iran leaves many questions Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Pamela Pollack-Fremd SAN DIEGO — RBG, the documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, directed and produced by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, exposes a quiet, ladylike, and very persistent revolutionary. She was a strong advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, meaning she would represent men who were discriminated against as well as women. Besides
Ruth Bader Ginsburg subject of new film Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
AMHERST, Massachusetts (Press Release) – The visiting exhibit Through the Yiddish Looking Glass: The Art of Yiddish Children’s Literature is on view at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. The exhibit will be at the Center’s Brechner Gallery through Fall 2018. Through the Yiddish Looking Glass features Yiddish children’s book illustrations, created by artists who
Art of Yiddish children’s books on exhibit Read More »
Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA
JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, on Wednesday condemned a speech by Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestine Authority, about the Holocaust. Following is the statement from Yad Vashem: In his address on Monday, 30 April 2018, to the Palestinian National Council, the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas,
Yad Vashem condemns Holocaust speech by Abbas Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East