A last-minute recommendation to include a special unit on Arab-Americans in California’s revised Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) has drawn criticism from Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa (JIMENA) and StandWithUs. [Donald H. Harrison]
What should school kids learn about the Middle East? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
A coalition of 90 groups, many of them Jewish, has called on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a bill by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) that would mandate students take an ethnic studies course in order to graduate from the California State University (CSU) system. Specifically, the bill would require a course be taken in any of the following four areas: African-American Studies, Asian-American Studies, Latinx Studies, and Native American Studies. (SDJW staff report)
Newsom urged to veto Weber’s ethnic studies bill Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAUniversity High School junior Zachary Patterson and Grauer School senior Jason Wexler are co-recipients of the 2020 Peter Chortek Leadership Award created as a memorial to Chortek by his family. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Education, cancer battling win Chortek Awards for students Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
On Tuesday night, Aug. 11, I was dancing at my son’s beautiful wedding. We held the festivities outdoors at the Gush Etzion winery to comply with the Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions that are currently in place in Israel. The guest list was limited to very close friends and family. As I am not only a Pulmonary and Critical Care physician but also a first responder for United Hatzalah, I had my medical kit with me in the trunk of my car as is my usual practice. [David Kupferberg, M.D]
Former La Jollan saves a life at son’s wedding Read More »
Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Now, because of the Coronavirus, Zooming distance learning education is mandatory. My son teaches reading in the Berkeley school system, a few minutes from his home. Erika, his spouse, teaches first grade in Oakland. All summer they speculated about how school would reopen. Would they teach “live” or online? [Oliver B. Pollak]
Schooling during the COVID-19 era Read More »
Oliver Pollak, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAWe reported on Monday that Hillel International had announced a new nationwide initiative to combat antisemitism. Today, we’ve learned that StandWithUs, which has an active chapter in San Diego, has launched a new division called “Rabbis United.” (Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison)
StandWithUs launches ‘Rabbis United’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
I read an article by a professor who wanted to show that science and religion are similar. I think that the support he offers for his view is simplistic and, worse, it is wrong. The professor argued that both science and religion have the same outlook and are therefore alike. Both, he wrote, marvel at the universe and enjoy what they see. (Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin)
Science and religion are quite different Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & EducationLast week, we carried the news that Rose Ritch stepped down from her position as student body vice president at the University of Southern California because of the harassment she had to endure for being a supporter of Israel. On Monday, Hillel International announced a new initiative to train campus administrators on how to recognize and deal with antisemitism. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Hillel announces initiative to combat antisemitism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
School days, school days,
Should we have in-person school days?
Reading and writing and ‘rithmetic
With your classmates who might get you sick. … (Laurie Baron, PhD]
I wonder if I would have survived in college back in the 1960s if the animus on campus toward Jews and Israel were as great as it is today. Two examples of the kind of hatred and bigotry that Jewish students face can be found at the University of Southern California, up in Los Angeles, and across the country at Florida State University in Tallahassee. [Donald H. Harrison]
It’s tough being a Zionist on many campuses Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, USA
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that we’re experiencing a “generational catastrophe” in education because of school closures during the coronavirus pandemic. On the one hand, I understand why this is sad. On the other hand, if we look at how people turn out after spending their entire childhood and adolescence in the educational system, I’m not so sure we should regret its closure. In my opinion, it is actually the disconnection from the old system that will allow us to examine it from aside, criticize it, and build a new and better one. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]
Pandemic a good time to retool education system Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
As the United States embraces improving race-relations, Black culture and heritage become more than just an expression of the Black community, but something that is inherently all-American. As the movement brings light to nationwide change, it may be helpful to consider the methods of Moroccan multiculturalism, where cultural protection is tied to development, limiting socioeconomic divides and welcoming diversity. [Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts]
Morocco a model for U.S. multiculturalism Read More »
International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
Once again, we are hearing more discussion about social distancing. Here is a chapter from my new book, God and the Pandemic, A Judaic Reflection on the Coronavirus. The concept of social-distancing at a time of pandemics is discussed in the Responsa literature. The term “responsa” refers to questions people have asked rabbis for almost 1500 years in matters of Judaic law, traditions, and values. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Social distancing in Jewish law Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & EducationLaurie Baron, Ph.D., compiles a list of lectures on a variety of Jewish topics that will stream Sunday, August 2 through Friday, August 7
Streaming Jewish lectures: August 2-7, 2020 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA