Jewish History

UAE, Bahrain, Israel and U.S. agree in peace ceremony

U.S. President Donald Trump is now engaged in two campaigns – one for reelection to the presidency, the other for the Nobel Peace Prize.On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the same day that a ceremony was held at the White House in which President Trump was joined by ranking ministers of Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to sign peace agreements known as the “Abraham Accords,” the White House Press Office issued a news release titled “Bahrain-Israel Deal Shows Why Trump Deserves Nobel Peace Prize.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Jewish pirates took revenge on Inquisition’s nations

You might get the idea from the title of this book that it is about a BBYO Group enjoying a favorite ride at Disneyland. However, it is far more serious than that. It tells about the war Jewish refugees waged against Portugal and Spain and their Grand Inquisitors. It also offers a hint concerning the dispute between Spain and Portugal over the true nationality of 16th century explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, USA

Wishes for the New Year

In a short while, we will be wishing one another Shanah Tova (have a good year), the Hebrew equivalent of Happy New Year. But the beginning of the Hebrew year is not only a time of joy. First and foremost, it is a time of reflection. This year, it seems especially pertinent to reflect on where we are, where we are going, and what we can do to make this year, and the years to follow, safer, happier, and better for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for all of humanity. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Fiction: Jewish perspectives on Niue

Boarding a comfortable but fast boat that would circumnavigate the South Pacific island of Niue, Noa and Esther were pleased with their earlier meeting with the country’s premier, who had promised his government’s cooperation as they explored the possibility of installing a desalination plant on the island.  However, he warned them that due to the atoll’s geography, rising as it did straight up from the Pacific Ocean, there were very few spaces for beaches or natural harbors. So, he said, finding a suitable location for a desalination plant might be very difficult indeed. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

We need a memorial for Jews who saved Jews and others

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem honors non-Jews who chose to save Jews, even at the risk of their own lives. Yad Vashem does not honor, document or recognize Jews who saved other Jews during the Holocaust, even at the risk of their own lives. Honoring Jews who saved Jews was and is not part of its mandate. Were not their life-risking efforts worthy of memorialization? There is no memorial to Jews who saved Jews and others, in Israel, or anywhere. [Jerry Klinger]

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Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, USA

San Diego races attract big-name endorsers

With less than two months to go until election, Democratic candidates in technically non-partisan local races are touting endorsements from big-name Democrats. For example, Assemblyman Todd Gloria, who is running for mayor of San Diego against City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, is sending out a short video showing U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president, endorsing him. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]

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

Streaming Jewish Programs (Sept. 6-11)          

Laurie Baron, Ph.D, rounds up streaming programs of Jewish interest for scholars and lay people, from Sunday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Sept. 11

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA

A new generation of writers tackles the Holocaust

This history of one Holocaust family’s experiences, together with a book by Julie Gray that I reviewed yesterday —  The True Adventures of Gidon Levin in which Gray traveled with Lev to the major venues in his life, — leave me with a hopeful sense that we are moving into a new era of Holocaust research and scholarship.  I’m hopeful because I’ve often heard Holocaust survivors ask plaintively, “When we’re gone, who will tell our stories?”  The answer is that an entirely new generation of journalists, descendants, and academics will probe the history of the mass murder of six million Jews, unearthing untold stories and bringing to them fresh new perspectives.  [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History

Memoir of a Holocaust survivor, Kibbutznik, lover

Holocaust survivor Gidon Lev had written a memoir but he needed an editor.  Julie Gray, who had recently made Aliyah to Israel, had a background as a writer for magazines and periodicals.  Even though Lev had children older than Gray, their relationship became more than a work match; the two would travel together, become lovers and lifelong companions, and produce a joint memoir that was  both an  exploration of Lev’s experiences and Gray’s reaction to them. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

San Diego Democrats to vote on anti-Semitism

Editor’s Note: The San Diego County Democratic Central Committee will vote on Tuesday, Sept. 1, on a resolution dealing with anti-Semitism.  A previous meeting on the subject indicates that there is considerable opposition to the resolution among some of the committee’s membership. By Matthew Finkelstein SAN DIEGO — I knew some in the San Diego

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Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Museum pretends to be an airport terminal

The Museum of the Jewish People has temporarily transformed itself into an “airport terminal” so children and families can “travel” the world both in-person and virtually despite ongoing air travel limited due to COVID-19 safety concerns. There’s even a “Museum Airlines” to help visitors’ imaginations take flight.   [Press Release0

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

When campaign issues go beyond the pale

Come this year, and we were suddenly notified in a press release sent out by the campaign of Marni von Wilpert, a candidate for San Diego City Council in the 5th District, that Tony Krvaric, the soon-to-retire chairman of the San Diego County Republican Party, had appeared in a video as a young man that made light of Hitler, Nazism, and all that it represented.  The thrust of the press release was that Joe Leventhal, the candidate opposing von Wilpert for the council seat, had received a $1,200 contribution from Krvaric and ought to immediately repudiate Krvaric and Nazism, and return Krvaric’s donation. The press release was based on a new story carried by KPBS-Television, which Leventhal said he hadn’t even seen, before his opponent let loose with the press release. [Donald H. Harrison]

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