USA

Isachar Zacharie: Lincoln’s Chiropodist and Spy

In early 1863, a friend discussed with Abraham Lincoln the idea of restoring European Jewry to its ancient homeland in Palestine. Lincoln agreed that the vision of a Jewish state in the Holy Land merited consideration. “I myself have regard for the Jews,” he is reported to have said. “My chiropodist is a Jew, and he has so many times ‘put me on my feet’ that I would have no objection to giving his countrymen ‘a leg up.’” Lincoln was referring to Isachar Zacharie, his foot doctor and confidante. Zacharie’s relationship with Lincoln was complex, but two things are clear: first, Zacharie had Lincoln’s confidence and, secondly, he represented American Jewry in Lincoln’s eyes. [Michael Feldberg, Ph.D]

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Jewish History, USA

Calls mount for Stephen Miller’s resignation

Three San Diego County representatives – Democrats Susan Davis, Mike Levin, and Scott Peters – are among 108 members of the House and 24 Democratic Senators who thus far have called for the dismissal or resignation of Stephen Miller as a White House senior adviser, according to national news reports. Their call, reinforced by commentary from Jewish organizations disavowing the white nationalist sentiments of Miller, who is Jewish, came in the wake of leaked emails indicating that Miller has been pushing a xenophobic agenda. The emails were leaked to the Southern Poverty Law Center by a former Breitbard News reporter last November. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, USA

172 years later, Communist Manifesto still resonates

This month marks 172 years since the first publication of the Communist Manifesto. All around the world people will be commemorating February 20th with group read-alouds, and other ways of noting the occasion. Undoubtedly, this is a moment that we should not allow to pass without some reflection on the meaning to us today of Marx and Engels’ pamphlet. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, International, Sam Ben-Meir, USA

Alexander Vindman unfairly treated, like Dreyfus

He is a Jewish military officer, from a disputed foreign territory, wrongly accused, publicly disgraced, banished across an open body of water, and abandoned to an isolated location. No, not Alfred Dreyfus, the French officer who was falsely convicted of colluding with Germany and then whose badges, stripes, cuffs and sleeves of his jacket were torn off on Jan. 5, 1895, at the Military School in Paris, and sent across the Atlantic Ocean to a prison on Devil’s Island in French Guiana for five years. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was removed from the National Security Council by President Trump on Friday after he testified before the Intelligence Committee of the House of Representatives of the chief executive’s attempted collusion with the president of Ukraine. Vindman’s testimony contributed to Trump’s impeachment in the House followed by his acquittal in the Senate. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, International, Jewish History, USA

Trump’s ‘Travesty of the Century’

After three years in office, one can hardly be surprised at what Trump is capable of saying, doing, or scheming. In the middle of his impeachment trial, Trump finally released his “deal of the century”—a deal that completely ignored several United Nations resolutions, accords that were sponsored by the European community and the United States, and bilateral agreements between Israel and the Palestinians. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D.]

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Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA

Celebrating Abraham Lincoln on his 211th birthday

Abraham Lincoln had a warm friendship with the Jewish communities of his time.  That’s one of the reasons why, today on the 211th anniversary of his birth,  I am so proud that some cities of San Diego County have honored the 16th President of the United States in various ways. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA

Veterans Museum features WWII testimonies

World War II testimonies of the living, and the honored dead, were on display Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Balboa Park.  Stu Hedley, 98, a survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, lectured on his experiences of December 7th, 1941.  Elsewhere, on video tape, Sy Brenner, a Jewish medic who fought in France and was imprisoned in Nazi Germany, told the story of “The Night I Was Killed.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Hadassah Hospital treats San Diegan wounded in terror attack

  JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Ori Hamo’s father, Kobi, was planning a big surprise. He flew from San Diego to Israel on February 5 to attend his lone-soldier son’s swearing-in ceremony at the Western Wall hours later. Ori joined the army in December. Ori and a group of soldiers were heading to the event in

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Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Chemi Peres, in father’s tradition, wins innovation award

GUTERSLOH, Germany (Press Release) — The 2020 Reinhard Mohn Prize on “Fostering Innovation. Unlocking Potential” is being awarded by the Bertelsmann Stiftung to Nechemia (“Chemi”) Peres, Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. In bestowing the prize, the Bertelsmann Stiftung is recognizing Peres for his outstanding efforts to promote innovation that serves both

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Business & Finance, International, USA

‘Deal of Century’ prompts split in Israeli right wing

It’s been a while since Bibi pressed Trump to release his Deal of the Century. As we’ve heard from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Jared Kushner, it’s more a vision than a concrete plan. Somewhere at its heart are several basic ideas, such as Israeli expansion and the creation of a Palestinian state. However, there is a lot of detail to work through, most likely by negotiations before anything major can occur. However, Bibi’s base, more than Bibi himself, has seized on the elements favorable to them and are urging unilateral Israeli expansion. Depending on who’s talking, it’s a formal acquisition of the Jordan Valley, Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion, Ariel, and other settlements. Bibi has wavered between encouraging this kind of talk, saying that he’d do it this week or next, and saying that he needs the support of the Americans to do it. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Court rules in dispute over Mickey Stern’s will

When arts supporter Mickey Stern died on July 1, 2016, she left an estate valued at more than $12.8 million, consisting of $9.5 million in cash and securities, a La Jolla condominium at 939 Coast Boulevard valued at $3.3 million, and about $40,000 in personal property. A battle over her will ensued, pitting Stern’s two children, Melanie and Robert Sturm, and her grandson Zane Zachary Sturm, against Congregation Beth Israel of San Diego.  At issue was the question of what party or parties should pay the taxes after the bequests of the estate were distributed.  If Congregation Beth Israel prevailed, it would have meant a windfall to the Reform congregation that was estimated in a Los Angeles Superior Court document at $2.2 million. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Tu B’Shevat celebrated throughout S.D. County

Notwithstanding Sunday’s rain, various celebrations in honor of Tu B’Shevat, the birthday of the trees, were held throughout San Diego County, kicking off a week of observances of what some call “Jewish Arbor Day.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

JAFI’s Isaac Herzog brings unity message to SDJA

Isaac Herzog, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and once Opposition Leader in the Knesset, met on Friday with small groups at Leichtag Commons, the San Diego Jewish Academy, and the Jewish Federation of San Diego, as part of his mission to build stronger bridges between Jews of Israel and the Diaspora. I caught up with him at the San Diego Jewish Academy, where he was welcomed by Charles Wax, the chairman of Waxie Sanitary Supply, who was the first president of the 40-year-old Academy, and also is a donor to JAFI’s “Wings” program which supports “Lone Soldiers” from abroad who are injured or wounded during their service with the Israel Defense Forces. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Crowds queue for Anne Frank exhibit

To the surprise and gratification of organizers, a crowd numbering in the thousands snaked around the Timken Museum on Thursday, Feb. 6,  in order to see what was planned to be a one-day exhibition on Anne Frank sponsored by the Consulate-General of the Netherlands and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. At an evening reception, officials of the gallery announced that the exhibit, which has been touring schools around the country, would be extended through Saturday before it has to be packed up and shipped to its next destination. [Donald H. Harrison]

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