USA

Refugee from Hitler Promoted Zionism in Britain and U.S.

This memoir combines journal entries of Zionist fundraiser Irma Ehrlich with the research and narrative of her granddaughter, Catherine Ehrlich, to tell the story of a strong-willed woman who migrated to England, and later the United States, with her son, Paul, from Vienna, following the Anschluss that merged Nazi Germany and Austria. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Florida man who feds say wanted a ‘race-based civil war’ is sentenced

Published by Miami Herald MIAMI — Before FBI agents and Fort Lauderdale police arrested Paul Miller at his home in March, the U.S. Justice Department says, he made clear he would back starting “a race-based civil war in the United States.” The white supremacist won’t be starting anything soon other than prison jobs and his

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USA

Antisemitism Is Wrong, Whether Coming from the Right or Left

Published by The Moderate Voice by Joe Nalven We know right-wing antisemitism by shouts of “you will not replace us.” Left-wing antisemitism is carefully couched in criticism of Israel for “human rights violations.” Left-wing advocates deny antisemitism by citing free speech to criticize another nation; however, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s examples of antisemitism reveal

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USA

ADL, L’Oreal Partner in Holocaust Education Program

In response to the rise of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination in the United States, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) and L’Oréal USA are partnering on an education initiative designed to raise awareness and promote understanding about the Holocaust among thousands of students in American classrooms. [ADL News Release]

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International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Antisemitism in the ‘New West’

Do you worry that Jew-hatred might affect your comfortable American life? Do you think that Jew-haters will ignore you because your “Jewishness” is unimportant for you? If not, why not? Does this worry – if you feel it – fall below your concern for abortion legislation, diversity and gender issues, climate change policies, etc.? With this in mind, it’s time to wake up to the “new” West. [Steve Kramer]

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Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

Jewish Tales of the Old West: A Butcher on the Comstock

During the 1870’s, the population of Nevada’s legendary Comstock Lode, then at the height of mining fever, surged to nearly 25,000. In the canyons and down the slopes, housing was scarce, the noise was unceasing, the air nearly unbreathable and the violence endemic.1 Between them, the towns of Virginia City and Gold Hill were a crowded jumble of miners’ cabins, stamp mills, luxury mansions, hotels, restaurants, saloons, stores and stables, all built over an underground city of mining tunnels, adits and shafts. These underground works ultimately produced over 300 million dollars’ worth of precious ore that built the city of San Francisco and made fabulous fortunes for the fortunate. Among this crowd of fortune-seekers lived a Jewish community of about 500, and one of its most influential members was a butcher from Germany named Mark Strouse (1845-1898). [Susan E. James, Ph.D]

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Business & Finance, Jewish History, Travel and Food, USA

‘Squirrel Hill’ Portrays Pittsburgh Community Where Tree of Life Massacre Occurred

This journalistic tour-de-force tells the story of October 27, 2018, the day an antisemitic gunman snuffed the lives of 11 congregants at the three small congregations that occupied the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is not simply a depiction of the carnage, but also a portrait of the community in which it happened.  Author Oppenheimer, a former religion columnist for The New York Times, methodically tells us the stories of the victims, including those who barely escaped with their lives, and of the diverse reactions in the community to the shooting.  There were those who organized vigils; those who protested a photo-op visit to the synagogue by then President Donald Trump with his wife, Melania, daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner.  Additionally, there were trauma tourists, compelled perhaps like moths to a flame, who wanted to see the site.  There were also presumptuous would-be helpers, who felt they knew better than Squirrel Hill’s residents how the victims should be mourned.   And there were fundraisers, who through various appeals including a Go-Fund-Me effort, raised millions of dollars for the families of the victims and for the congregations themselves. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USA

How a Budget Standoff Demonstrated the Partisan Split Over Israel

By Jonathan S. Tobin (JNS) The Iron Dome missile-defense system has long been one of the least controversial aspects of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Funding for the idea was approved in principle by the George W. Bush administration in 2007 after the Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems conceived the project. It was an

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Middle East, USA

Mich. Rep. Andy Levin proposes pathway to two-state solution in Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Published by The Detroit News WASHINGTON — Michigan U.S. Rep. Andy Levin is leading a bill would take steps to encourage a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He introduced the text Thursday at the U.S. Capitol, marking the close of the High Holy Days and the start of the Jewish new year. Congress has

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USA

Israeli Leaders Thank US After Overwhelming Approval of Iron Dome Funding

(JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Defense Minister Benny Gantz posted messages of thanks to the United States minutes after the House of Representatives voted in favor of supplying Israel with $1 billion worth of Iron Dome interceptors on Thursday. “Thank you to the United States House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans as one,

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Middle East, USA

U.S. House backs bill to provide $1 billion for Israel Iron Dome system

Published by Reuters By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Thursday for legislation to provide $1 billion to Israel to replenish its “Iron Dome” missile-defense system, just two days after the funding was removed from a broader spending bill. The measure passed by 420 to 9, with two members

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USA