USA

Mar-a-Lago Raid Backlash Imperils Jewish Congregation

For the first time that I can recall, former President Trump managed to imperil, almost directly, a large bloc of American Jews in far northern Palm Beach County. The synagogue was readying to host a “beach Shabbat” when Donald Trump’s henchmen lashed out at U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart for signing the Department of Justice’s search warrant of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, 16 miles south of the judge’s synagogue. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, Opinion, USA

What Should We Read and Why?

The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BCE) wrote that humans are better than plants and animals because humans can think. He stressed that a person who does not think is no better than a plant or animal. The Jewish philosopher Maimonides (1138-1204) agreed but took one step further. He added that when the Bible states that God placed the image of God in humans, this image is the ability to think. The main benefit of reading is acquiring information about the world, how it functions, how humans behave, and how we can use this information to improve ourselves and society. [Rabbi Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, USA

Separation of Powers

By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — While many countries have adopted a separation of powers, the American case is an extreme example of a distinct executive, not associated with a parliament, as well as a further division between the federal government and 50 states. The full story of the United States must include the division

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Ira Sharkansky, Opinion, USA

Ilhan Omar’s Close Call

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) will almost certainly return to Congress in January, but she barely broke 50% in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, which allows her to move on to the general election on November 8. Her rival, Don Samuels, mused in The New York Times, after conceding, “If this

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Bruce Ticker, Opinion, USA

This Book is Better Than Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer

By Rabbi Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Although virtually all readers of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer did not live or think as Tom, they enjoyed and still enjoy his adventures, Mark Twain’s sterling writing, his humor, and insights. The same applies to Levi Welton’s magnificent memoir, Be Like the Moon. Welton’s book does this

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, USA

OneTable Announces 2 New Features for Guests and Hosts to Help Serve More at Shabbat Dinner Tables

(Press Release) OneTable, a national non-profit that empowers people (21-39ish) to find, share, and enjoy Shabbat dinners, today announced two new exciting features for Guests and Hosts to elevate hospitality at Shabbat dinner tables. The “guests +1” feature and “open your dinner, unlock $300 nourishment” options are immediately available through OneTable [onetable.org]. “We are excited

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Jewish Religion, USA

IAC For Action: New Mexico Ensures ‘Equal Protections From Discrimination for Jewish Victims’

SANTA FE, New Mexico (Press Release) — The Israeli-American Coalition for Action (IAC For Action) today applauded New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s groundbreaking executive order establishing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as the legal standard for determining when unlawful discriminatory conduct is motivated by antisemitism. New Mexico is the first state

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USA

StandWithUs Praises New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham for Adopting the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism

SANTA FE, New Mexico (Press Release) — StandWithUs praises New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who issued an Executive Order adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism for state agencies. Jordan Cope, Director of Policy Education for StandWithus attended the signing ceremony held August 16 at the governor’s residence. In adopting

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USA

Jews, the Indianapolis 500, and the Story of a Brick

By Jerry Klinger Passing through Indianapolis in early August, I had to stop at the Greatest Car Racing Track in the World, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I wanted to see “it.” The “it” was more than the dedicatory paver/brick I had placed for the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation outside the Museum. The big

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Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, USA

Tracking the Foot Soldiers of White Supremacy

By Eric George Tauber CINCINNATI, Ohio — Five years ago, on August 11, 2017, in the normally quiet college town of Charlottesville, VA, the peace was disrupted by the “Unite the Right” rally. The rally brought together Neo-Confederates, Neo-Nazis, the Klan, Patriot Front and other “militias” espousing White Supremacism. I don’t think any of us

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Eric George Tauber, Holocaust, USA

Lecture Connects San Diego, Jerusalem, and the Origins of Tetris

LA JOLLA, California — Dr. Beatrice Golomb, head of the UC San Diego Golomb Research Group, describes her father as “far and away the smartest person anyone who knew him had ever met.” That statement might sound like hyperbole until you learn more about the late Professor Solomon Golomb, a Harvard University-educated mathematician known as

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Israel, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Gaza Fighting Changes Nothing About Israel’s Image Struggle

By Jonathan S. Tobin (JNS) If a ceasefire holds, the latest fighting between Israel and Palestinian terrorists in Gaza won’t have changed much in a conflict that’s already lasted a century. That’s something that should both discourage friends of Israel and hopefully focus them on the only issue that really matters when it comes to

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Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USA