It is a relief to learn that the nearly 10 million Americans who live in Arizona, Montana and West Virginia feel safe from gun violence. Three Democratic senators from these states will not take all necessary steps to pass two gun-control bills that the House of Representatives approved last Thursday. [Bruce S. Tickeer]
Dems supporting filibuster indirectly support gun violence Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
Jewish organizations responded with sympathy and solidarity on Wednesday for the families of eight victims murdered Tuesday, March 16, in a shooting spree at several Georgia spas in the Atlanta area. Six of the eight slain were women of Asian descent, according to officials. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish groups sympathize with Georgia shooting victims Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Obituaries & memorials, USA
Japan is in a policy box of its own making regarding the Senkaku island chain. China has raised the ante significantly by giving its Coast Guard the right to challenge and shoot back in any confrontation with Japan as China’s Coast Guard patrols deeply around the island chain. [Stephen D. Bryen]
Japan, China vie over ownership of Senkaku Islands Read More »
International, Stephen D. Bryen, USA
Two months into our “cruise” (sans spas and umbrella drinks), it’s January 1985, when we start planning for a battlegroup-wide Passover seder for thirty when we discovered the ship’s supply system was ill-equipped for the task. [Jeff Goldfinger]
The Case of the Missing Matzoh Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA
Municipal leaders from more than 32 cities across 21 countries took part today in the first-ever Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism, hosted by the Frankfurt am Main municipality in partnership with the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM). Participants including tens of city mayors pledged to make the summit the first step in establishing a long-term framework working towards defeating anti-Semitism, prejudice, and hatred. [Combat Anti-Semitism Movement press release]
Global Group of Mayors Decry Antisemitism Read More »
International, USA
Initially, the event on Sunday, March 14, was advertised by the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club as a lox and bagel brunch, during which members could gather by Zoom and discuss how the coronavirus pandemic affected them, and what they look most forward to when it is over. Members were invited to drive to the synagogue’s parking lot, where a boxed lox n’ bagel meal would be waiting for them. As my wife Nancy had some errands to run in the neighborhood of the synagogue, she volunteered to pick up the boxed brunch. Inside of the box were two individual fruit pies — one apple, another cherry — in addition to the advertised lox, bagels and cream cheese. How come? “It’s pi day,” explained Bram Rubinstein, a Men’s Club member. [Donald H. Harrison]
In San Diego, it was lox, bagel and ‘pi’ day Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
Two San Diego members of Congress – Democrats Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters –had personal reasons for joining with the majority in the House of Representatives that passed companion gun safety measures on Thursday. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jacobs, Peters Tell Why They Voted for Background Checks Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Now may be the opportune time for Serbia to reconcile its past unspeakable atrocities against the Albanian Kosovars. The sooner Belgrade comes to terms with its past, the sooner it can begin its moral self-salvation, without which it will continue to be shackled with no redemption in sight. Serbian leaders should ask themselves one simple question: under what circumstances would Kosovo’s independence be reversed? They know the answer, but do not have the moral courage to admit that it is beyond their ability to undo Kosovo’s independence now or ever. Here is why. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Serbia should repent for its atrocities, make peace with Kosovo Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, USA
Two ideas for fighting antisemitism and domestic extremism were offered Thursday by Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and Tom Malinowski of New Jersey during a Zoom meeting sponsored by the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA). [Donald H. Harrison]
Government, Social Media Reform Needed to Fight Extremism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, USA
There’s been quite a bit of buzz about “Cancel Culture.” For some, this may be just a ploy to avoid weightier topics like economic disparity, unemployment, healthcare, and looming evictions. But it can also open up a serious discussion about who we are as a society, where we have been and where we want to go. In some ways, I can see both sides. So, like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, I’d like to do a little “on one hand this, on the other hand that” exploration of who and what is being “cancelled.” [Eric George Tauber]
Op Ed: Cancel Shmancel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
The stories of Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews who came to the U.S. from the Middle East should be included in the Asian-American section of California’s proposed Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum that goes before the State Board of Education on Thursday, March 18, panelists sponsored by the pro-Israel organization, StandWithUs, said Wednesday. (Donald H. Harrison)
SWU presses for Jewish history in Ethnic Studies Curriculum Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAStaying with commercial off-the-shelf systems (COTS) and the security solutions we have today is a guaranteed loser. No one can deny the appalling security record. Moreover, the public has a right to be outraged that DOD has had huge parts of its programs compromised by hacks. Take for example the F-35 and ask yourself why China has two stealth fighters (the Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang FC-31)? [Stephen D. Bryen]
The Pentagon Must Stop Using Off-the-Shelf Computers Read More »
International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Stephen D. Bryen, USA
University of San Diego Prof. Aaron S. Gross, a former president of the Society of Jewish Ethics, on Tuesday cited four reasons why industrialized farming of animals – especially chickens — is likely to be the cause of a future pandemic. [Donald H. Harrison]
USD Professor: Food factories May Be Next Source of Pandemic Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices featured the poetry of young writers from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, last month. The Internet audience for the Lawrence Family JCC sponsored event consisted of poetry lovers young and old from the entire West Coast. [Eileen Wingard]
West Coast Jewish Youth Recite the Poetry Within Them Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA