USA

OpEd: Biden’s Mideast Policies Emboldened Iran, Hamas

It is hard to be against a peace agreement. Really hard. But the Biden Administration is giving it a go. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki slammed Donald Trump’s policies in the Middle East and called the Israel-United Arab Emirates-Bahrain Abraham Accords “DOA.” “We felt there was not a constructive action by the prior administration, aside from putting forward a peace proposal that was dead on arrival. We don’t think they did anything constructive really to bring it into the long-standing conflict in the Middle East.” [Shoshana Bryen]

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Why Israelis Continue to Live Next to Gaza Despite the Danger

For most people, it may be difficult to understand why residents sitting on the border to Gaza choose to live there. How could someone put themselves and their family at risk? It’s hard to imagine, especially when you have only 15 seconds to get into a “safe room,” a bomb shelter from the time a tzeva adom, red alert, is sounded, but there is a reason.  [Debbie Kornberg]

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Middle East, San Diego County, USA

New in the Terror Arsenal: Underwater Weapons

The Gaza war has seen thousands of missiles fired at Israel, the bulk of which have been shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system. But Hamas “terrorists” – which is how the US government defines them – have also deployed some new sea-going weapons that have the attention of Israeli intelligence. These weapons are of three types – commando underwater swimmers using swimmer vehicles that are used to smuggle weapons into Gaza and for commando operations; semi-autonomous small boats stuffed with explosives and; the latest, a large unmanned underwater vehicle, or UUV. [Stephen D. Bryen]

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International, Middle East, Stephen D. Bryen, USA

Jacob Kamaras joins San Diego Jewish World as Managing Editor

Jacob Kamaras, a public relations professional who previously served as the first editor in chief of the national Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), has accepted a position as managing editor of San Diego Jewish World, it was announced by Donald H. Harrison, publisher and editor in chief of the daily online news publication. [SDJW staff report]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, USA

Making San Diego a Yiddish Destination

During the pandemic, YAAANA, the Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America, a tiny non-profit organization I founded four years ago, saw significant growth, and is about to move into a new physical space in La Jolla. In June 2021, we plan to open a mini-Yiddishland California in the Village of La Jolla. Among the activities planned for that space are Yiddish music concerts, theater performances, activities for children, Yiddish classes, and festive Yiddish-style dinners. And, just like our previous pop-up and Zoom events, all YAAANA activities will be accessible to all regardless of Yiddish-speaking abilities. Additionally, childcare will be available to visiting parents. [Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Withholding Weapons from Israel Makes the US Weak

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and a group of like-minded colleagues wanted to sink the proposed $735-million sale of a Boeing-built arms guidance kit to Israel. The Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) kit converts unguided or “dumb” bombs into precision-guided munitions. The goal, according to Politico, is “leverage to push the Israelis to drop their resistance to a ceasefire.” [Shoshana Bryen]

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Advocates Petition Against California Ethnic Studies Bill

More than a thousand Californians, including nearly 70 rabbis, today petitioned the California Legislative Jewish Caucus to oppose AB 101, a bill to make ethnic studies courses a high school graduation requirement. The California Assembly is likely to debate AB 101 next week. [AMCHA Initiative Press Release]

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

The Story Behind The Matzo Project

I dreamt up the idea to make artisanal matzo way back in 1995, for Brett Kelly, my next door neighbor in my rent-stabilized, West Village apartment building. Her parents were closing their pizza shop on City Island and I was trying to convince her to take it over and turn it into the City Island Matzo Factory. She didn’t take the unleavened bait and the concept laid dormant in the back of my messy mind for over two decades. [Ashley Albert]

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Travel and Food, USA

What Kamala Harris’ Book Teaches Children

Last month there was a brief kerfuffle when a copy of Vice President Kamala Harris’ book for children, Superheroes Are Everywhere, was spotted among materials being handed out to migrant children at the Long Beach Convention Center.  There was only one copy that someone had donated, but the New York Post reported that the book was being given to all the children.  Subsequently, that newspaper retracted the story, but not before other right-wing media jumped on it including Fox News. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, USA

Responding to the ‘Proportionality’ Argument Against Israel’s Actions in Gaza

Israel’s battle with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza exceeds one week. It may not end soon. The citizens of Israel most impacted by the daily rocket attacks (3300 and rising) are those who live in the “Gaza envelope,” very close to the Gaza borders, but towns across Israel have also been hit, some many times. Are Israelis physically exhausted, psychologically exhausted, and scared? Yes. Do they want Israel to sign a ceasefire today or tomorrow? No. What Israelis want is a different paradigm in their country, which will lead to a better, more peaceful relationship with the Gazan Arabs.  [Steve Kramer]

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Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

Making Our Nation Safe From Computer Hackers

Some small-minded sages are chortling in America that people with electric cars don’t have to worry about the Colonial Pipeline, shut down by a cyber attack, because they can get their “gas” from the electric company. They go on to argue for more electric cars. Of course if it was the power company that was knocked out, the electric cars would not run. And power companies have been knocked out.  The Russians killed one in Ukraine, putting it offline for some time. [Stephen D. Bryen]

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Business & Finance, International, Stephen D. Bryen, USA

Good News from Israel (May 16, 2021)

NETANYA, Israel — In the May 16, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–US doctors use an Israeli device to remove blood clots from stroke patients.
–Israel has sent tons of coronavirus aid to India.
–4 top multinationals are expanding Israeli hi-tech operations.
–Israeli innovators are turning CO2 emissions into an energy source.
–Israel’s economy continues to improve.
–An Israeli has won France’s top literary prize.
–The festival of Shavuot is uniting Israelis, just as it did 3,333 years ago
[Michael Ordman]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, USA