USA

Asian-Americans demand action on hate crimes spurred by COVID crisis, N.J. congressman says

Following the killings of six Asian Americans in Georgia, Rep. Andy Kim flew to Atlanta to meet with a community already traumatized by the uptick in hate crimes during the coronavirus pandemic. “One question kept coming, which is, ‘What are you going to do about this?’” Kim, D-3rd Dist., said Tuesday. “That is the demand […]

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USA

San Diegans prominent in global Yom Hazikaron ceremony

On the eve of Yom HaZikaron, April 13, a day of remembrance for Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror, Masa Israel Journey hosted its annual Yom HaZikaron Ceremony. In accordance with safety regulations set by the State of Israel and Israel’s Ministry of Health, the program was held virtually on Facebook Live through Masa’ Facebook page. [Masa Israel news release]

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Bill Would Restore Holocaust Families’ Right to Sue Insurance Companies

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced bipartisan legislation today to restore the rights of Holocaust-era insurance beneficiaries in recovering billions in unclaimed payments that were left behind amid the chaos and destruction of World War II. [News release from Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, USA

Will Smith slavery film ‘Emancipation’ ditches Georgia over voting law

Los Angeles (AFP) – Will Smith’s slavery drama “Emancipation” will no longer be filmed in Georgia after the southern US state approved a voting rights law that critics say is intended to depress turnout in Black and other underrepresented communities. Georgia has become a major US movie industry production hub in recent years, but the “Emancipation”

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USA

‘Jews in Space’ Lecture Filled with Anecdotes

Boris Volynov was first among approximately 19 Jews who have flown in space, serving as a Russian cosmonaut in 1969.  Thereafter, Judy Resnik, Ilan Ramon and Gregory Chamitoff joined him in an exclusive club, being the first Jews from their nations to go into space.  Resnik was from the United States, Ramon from Israel, and Chamitoff from Canada. These were among the factoids presented by Roger Weiss, a contractor on the International Space Station (ISS) program, in a Zoom program sponsored on Sunday, March 11, by the San Diego Outreach Synagogue. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA

Good News from Israel (April 11, 2021)

Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
*Israeli scientists have found that bacteria can help fight cancer.
*Local and international students are returning to Israeli colleges.
*New Israeli visual technology can see both under the skin and from high in the air.
*Microsoft plans to invest over $1 billion in Israel.
*Israel has upgraded its plans for this year’s Independence Day celebrations [Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA

Once Again, Iran is Beating U.S. in Nuclear Negotiations

It may be uncomfortable for me to bring this up, but anyone who doesn’t have his or her head in the clouds knows that in the Middle East, the first one to concede in negotiations has already lost. Middle Easterners have a “bazaar” mentality, always asking their opponents to “make an offer,” knowing that doing so rigs the game in favor of those who have patience and wait. [Steve Kramer]

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International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

Lawson-Remer recalls Jewish ancestors’ immigrant struggles

Three of my great-grandparents fled to the U.S. one hundred years ago, escaping torture and mass killings against Jews in Ukraine, Lithuania, and Austria-Hungary. Some of their relatives stayed behind and did not survive, but my great-grandparents arrived penniless on Ellis Island to find a better life. [County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer]

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International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Global Holocaust Remembrance Goes Virtual

Participants from across the world joined leaders, dignitaries and Holocaust survivors April 8 in March of the Living’s virtual events marking Holocaust Remembrance Day across the Jewish world. This year’s March of the Living paid special tribute to the medical professionals who risked their lives during the Holocaust. [From News Releases]

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Another Shoe May Drop in Chabad of Poway Case

The Passover 2019 attack on Chabad of Poway in which congregant Lori Gilbert-Kaye was murdered and three other persons were wounded has prompted a pair of criminal cases and a civil case in its wake, while a fourth criminal case involving tax fraud proceeds in federal court. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

AMCHA Initiative Director Testifies Against Ethnic Studies

During the California Assembly Education Committee’s first hearing on AB 101, legislation to make the recently approved Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum a high school graduation requirement, AMCHA Initiative Director Tammi Rossman-Benjamin was one of two experts to testify in opposition to the bill. [Press Release from AMCHA Initiative]

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA