Opinion

Brandeis Center files civil rights complaint on behalf of a harassed Jewish student

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MCPS was alerted multiple times to harassment and threats against the student at Montgomery Blair High School through the student’s family, faculty reports, formal bullying complaints, and meetings. This included being accused of genocide because of his intention to study in Israel, being accused of supporting genocide because he wore an Israel baseball shirt, being targeted with demands that classmates shun him as a “Zionist” being told to “go back to 1935” by other students, and receiving an anonymous phone call saying, “You’re a stupid fucking Zionist Jew, and we are going to bomb you” immediately followed by fireworks being set off outside his home. (Press Release)

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Why Germans of the 1960s were so sympathetic to Israel

Twenty-two years after the end of World War II and the Shoah, threats by Arab leaders to “drive the Jews into the sea” sparked fears among the population of West Germany of a possible “second Holocaust.” [Alex Gordon}

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Opinion: Linking U.S. support for Israel to Netanyahu’s reelection is reckless

“The U.S.-Israel relationship has endured for 78 years based on shared interests and values, not on who happens to be Prime Minister at any given time. President Trump’s suggestion that U.S. backing for Israel’s security hinges on Israelis reelecting Benjamin Netanyahu is irresponsible and reckless. (Press Release)

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Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Press Release, USA

The Jewish vote and the midterm elections

There are approximately 15 Democrats on the ballot for Congress who represent DSA and the far-left, comprising 3 – 4% of Democrats running in the midterms. The far-left is not even close to constituting a majority, nor is it represented by Democratic Party leadership, and the path to Democrats winning back control of Congress runs through the center. [Halie Soifer]

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Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Dorothy Levitt – the “Fastest Girl in the world”

In 1905, she established the record for the longest drive achieved by a lady driver by driving a De Dion-Bouton from London to Liverpool and back over two days. The Press nicknamed her the Fastest Girl on Earth, and the Champion Lady Motorist of the World. (Jerry Klinger)

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Parsha Noach: Build your right ark

We cannot control every storm, but we can decide what we build to help us weather it. For some of us, that ark may be Shabbat, prayer, or a family dinner that creates space for connection. For others, it may be a friendship that offers honesty rather than flattery, a community that reinforces our values, or a daily commitment to kindness when kindness seems to be in short supply. (Michael Mantell, Ph.D)

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animals, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Why do Jewish?

Reform and Conservative Jews may be the best audience for Why Do Jewish?, because they already have a “foot in the door” of Jewish life. They may attend services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur; they may attend or host a Passover Seder; they may give Chanukah presents or light candles nightly; but being an active member of the Jewish community, identifying their Jewishness as one of their most important attributes – not. (Steve Kramer)

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer

Violinist Katchatryan performs Katchaturian’s Violin Concerto admirably

Katchaturian’s Violin Concerto overflows with Armenian folk influence. After the first movement’s brief orchestral introduction, Katchatryan entered with the percussive excitement of the opening theme, then brought out the lyrical beauty of the second theme. The development included a lovely cadenza, written by the great Soviet-Jewish violinist, David Oistrakh, to whom the concerto was dedicated. After the return of the original themes in the recapitulation, the movement culminated in a virtuosic climax. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Israel’s Oct. 27 election may be inconclusive, deadlocked

There are heated debates among Israelis over who is right, but at the same time, all parties are contributing to the creation of a new political impasse—even those calling for unity while excluding those who governed the country on October 7, 2023, that is, the current governing coalition. (Alex Gordon)

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Alex Gordon, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

B’nai B’rith International: Navi Pillay choice for Nobel Peace Prize is appalling

B’nai B’rith International is appalled and dismayed by the selection of Navi Pillay for the Nobel Peace Prize. This choice is not only unwarranted but offensive and damaging. It cheapens the world’s leading prize for peacemaking and further reinforces a sense of isolation by Jews facing a surge in global antisemitism. (Press Release)

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Press Release

Public executions, rhetorically sacrificing two U.S. cities signs of Trump administration’s depravity

This week, the Trump administration announced it was bringing back public executions by firing squad and plans to livestream it, joining only Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Saudi Arabia in allowing executions in the public square. (Halie Soifer)

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Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA