Jewish History

Olympic Gold Medal Rekindles Debate on Israeli Civil Marriages

Artem Dolgopyat won a gold medal for Gymnastics, and became a national hero. Both the President and the Prime Minister telephoned their congratulations. Bibi also weighed in with a good word, but made an error of doing it on Shabbat. That got a bad reception from ultra-Orthodox Knesset Members. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Jewish History, Middle East, Sports & Competitions

Good News from Israel (August 8, 2021)

In the August 8, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Israeli researchers discover early warning markers for secondary cancer.
–Israeli doctors save the sight of a toddler from Gaza.
–An Israeli startup is 3D-mapping 18 million Australian buildings.
–Israel’s economic rating is still A+ despite the pandemic.
–Two Israeli gymnasts have won Olympic gold medals.
–Israeli archeologists found evidence of an earthquake that was recorded in the Bible. [Michael Ordman]

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, USA

Philippines’ Rescue of the Jews Presentation Set for August 18

One of the lesser known stories of Holocaust rescue is that of the Philippines, which welcomed refugees from Nazi Germany during the 1930s.  The story is told in the documentary An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines produced and directed by Noel “Sonny” Izon and SDSU history lecturer Bonnie Harris, Ph.D. [Beth Israel Men’s Club news release]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, San Diego Calendar

Is Spain Backtracking on Its Promise of Citizenship for Sephardic Descendants?

While one form or another of “Holy Inquisition” ravaged Europe and the Iberian Peninsula for at least two centuries before and after the discovery of the New World, the year 1492 is often considered significant in the Spanish Inquisition as in that year – and in 1502 for Muslims – Catholic King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain issued an ultimatum, El Decreto de la Alhambra (the Alhambra Decree) ordering Jews to convert to Catholicism, or else be expulsed from Castile. [Dorian de Wind]

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Dorian de Wind, International, Jewish History

Former Israel ‘Hawk’ Tells of His Transformation to a ‘Dove’

It’s a well-worn political observation that “it took a Nixon to go to China,” meaning because President Richard M. Nixon was identified as a staunch conservative, he was trusted to go to mainland China and open a dialogue with that nation’s communist rulers, a dialogue that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two adversary countries. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Joe Lieberman: Lessons Learned from Menachem Begin’s Life

Winston Churchill once wrote, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to go.” I thought of those words recently after watching Upheaval, a new documentary film produced by the Hidden Light Institute in Denver about the life of Menachem Begin, Israel’s sixth Prime Minister. Begin’s public life ended almost three decades ago, but this film offers insights and lessons in leadership, civility, anti-Semitism and Israel that are surprisingly relevant today. [Joseph Lieberman]

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Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Good News from Israel (July 25, 2021)

In the July 25, 2001 1 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Very Good news for 4 Israeli Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.
I–srael signs major cybersecurity agreement with Morocco.
–An Israeli startup converts food waste into useful bioplastics.
–Netflix buys a new Israeli series and Iranians will be able to watch Fauda.
–Five more gold medals for top Israeli gymnast.
–Israeli parachutists mark centenary of the birth of Hanna Szenes.
[Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA