NEW YORK (Press Release) — The peer-to-peer lending platform SparkIL today announced its launch of a first-of-its-kind initiative that enables individuals to support the small business of their choice in Israel, while strengthening meaningful connections and relationships between the lenders and Israel. Established in partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel and The Ogen Group, […]
LA JOLLA, California (Press Release) — On June 8, 2022 the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, convened its annual membership meeting and JCC and CJC (Center for Jewish Culture) Board of Directors installation. The following awards were presented to participants who made an impact on our JCC community over the past year:
Eileen Wingard Honored as Lawrence Family JCC’s Volunteer of the Year Read More »
San Diego County
Israel’s significance as a Middle Eastern powerhouse has reached new levels with the help of two seminal events: the discovery of natural gas in Eastern Mediterranean waters and the success of the Abraham Accords between Israel and some Muslim Arab neighbors. Before, Israel was knocking on the door of the Arab and European countries; now, many of those countries have opened the door or soon will. Israel has what they want. (Steve Kramer)
Natural Gas Adds to Israel’s International Acceptance Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Calev says, “Let’s go,” but he was ignored when the people listened to and bought the groupthink, “…the people are big and strong, and the land is difficult. The people there are giants; we looked like grasshoppers to ourselves, and so we must have looked to them.” So much for Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not fear…” Calev was not the cognitive coach he may have hoped he’d be, since he could not help the People overcome their cognitive distortion that led them to want to return to Egypt. It takes independence of thought, being “FIT” (fundamentally independent thinking), to move forward to achieve optimal living. They held on to their slave mindset due to their cognitive distortions. Through the Spies, Hashem tested our abilities to see through negative filters and properly, with wisdom, discernment and insight, see what was truly good and bad. The spies magnified the negative and minimized the positive – a common distortion that many of us are also guilty of doing. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Parasha Shelach: Guard Against Negative Thoughts, Gossip Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Perelman, the grandson of Litvak immigrants, was raised in a Conservative household, but became an Orthodox Jew in adulthood. He is a major financial supporter of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, and he is Sabbath observant and keeps kosher. In what unusual way has Perelman maintained his Jewish practices? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Ronald Perelman’s Unusual Practice Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The book contains two main plots. Most startling and fascinating is the idea that followers of President Trump were able to turn the 2020 election results so that President Trump won a second four year term and changed America into a kind of Nazi country, doing things to the president’s enemies that equaled if not exceeded what the Nazis did. [Rabbi Israel Drazin]
Book Review: ‘The Plot to Save America’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., USA
The economy had gone from a 13% inflation rate in 1971 to 111% inflation in 1979. During the early 80’s inflation was hovering at the 400% mark. By 1984 inflation was reaching an annual rate close to 450% and projected to reach over 1000% by the end of the following year. (Ira Sharkansky)
Inflation in Israel Historically Had Been Much Worse Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — I spared a fly from being swatted and commissioned it to go to Mar-a-Lago, stick on a wall, and monitor Donald Trump’s reactions to the Select Committee Hearings. Here’s some of Trump’s comments that he reported back to me. “Unlike me, Bill Barr’s a loser. A loyal AG would
Satire: Trump Watching the Select Committee Hearings Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Garrett did a small set and was the MC. He mostly riffed on the audience, and after “bageling” himself as a tall Jew did a fair amount of ethnic humor. Ethnic humor generally makes me a little nervous because I don’t know how people will take it. Until I see if they’re ok with it, I’m not sure how to react. He handled it well though, equally picking on everyone so no one group was singled out for offense. The audience responded well and by their laughter seemed to enjoy it. [Donald H. Harrison]
Brad Garrett and Friends Delight in Bellflower Read More »
California, Sandi Masori, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Beginning in 2014, Rabbi and Mrs. Meltzer invested $100 per month in the Kiva organization until they had built up a credit of approximately $8,000. They pored over lists of worthy borrowers, who were vetted by Kiva’s microloan partners throughout the world. The Meltzers then decided to which borrowers they wished to make interest-free repayable loans. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Scott Meltzer Introduces B’nai Mitzvah to the Joy of Giving Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
By Doron Krakow It’s all so straight forward. That’s the key in any event. Take the complex and unpack it until it becomes something requiring little more than an elevator ride to explain. After all, who has time for a deep dive? It’s all in the turn of a phrase. The political divide. Social unrest.
Learners, Not Knowers Read More »
Doron Krakow, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion
By Yaakov Lappin (JNS) The Israel Defense Force’s recent “Chariots of Fire” exercise was the largest war drill the Israeli military held in decades, and it also served as a test for all of its most important capabilities. Behind the scenes, the drill also featured some new capabilities that are the product of an ongoing
Behind the Scenes of the IDF’s War Drill: A Digital Revolution Read More »
Middle East
By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — In the wake of the pandemic, it seems apparent that the strain on society has contributed to an increase in antisocial, antagonistic and even aggressive behavior. We see this in the increasing anger we express toward one another in verbal or even physical outbursts. Sometimes these
How Isolation Can Lead to Irrational and Frequent Aggressive Behaviors Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, Science, Medicine, & Education
(JNS) The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. State Department jointly announced new sanctions on a network of Iranian petrochemical producers and its international front companies in China and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Triliance Petrochemical Co. and Petrochemical Commercial Co. were named in a news release as “entities instrumental
Biden Administration Slaps More Sanctions on Iran After Nuclear Deal Falters Read More »
Middle East, USA