Goodbye Columbus, Schweitzer, and Lindbergh

For many years, performing any of Richard Wagner’s orchestral works was verboten in Israel.  Wagner was a virulent antisemite and Hitler’s favorite composer.  In a country that had taken in so many victims of the Holocaust, performing any of Wagner’s works would have been like pouring  burning oil onto an open flesh wound. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Netanyahu, Blinken Paper Over Differences During Jerusalem Meeting

After their meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made what were supposed to be “soft” public statements. The politely worded remarks deliberately slid past serious policy differences, but those differences cannot and should not be hidden. Moreover, they should form the basis of conversation between the two allies in the future. [Shoshana Bryen]

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

U.S. Justice Breyer touts compromise, democracy, adherence to precedent

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung (Reuters) – Justice Stephen Breyer on Friday spoke of the need for the U.S. Supreme Court to respect its own precedents, talked up democracy and touted bipartisan collaboration in Congress as he addressed school students amid speculation about his possible retirement. Breyer, at 82 the nine-member court’s oldest justice,

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USA

Money is cheap, let’s spend it -White House $6 trillion budget message

Published by Reuters By Andrea Shalal, Jarrett Renshaw and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Friday unveiled a $6 trillion budget proposal that would ramp up spending on infrastructure, education and combating climate change, arguing it makes good fiscal sense to invest now, when the cost of borrowing is cheap, and reduce deficits

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USA

San Diego Jewish Academy Goes Solar

San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA), a pluralistic community K-12 school with a thriving early childhood center, marked a major milestone in the school’s ambitious Sustainability Initiative (SI) celebrating the completion and activation of its 800 kW solar project, further placing the school on the road to electricity independence.  [SDJA news release]

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San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share

Fabiola Santiago: Tone-deaf racial comments aside, Coral Gables does the right thing honoring Harriet Tubman

Published by Miami Herald Election politicking behind them (or so was claimed), the newly installed city of Coral Gables mayor and commission finally did the right thing Tuesday and reversed a wrong. They voted unanimously to join the county and nine other municipalities in supporting the designation of South Dixie Highway in Miami-Dade County as

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USA

Dubai opens first Holocaust exhibition on Arabian Peninsula

Published by DPA Dubai’s Crossroads of Civilizations Museum has opened what curators say is the Arabian Peninsula’s first-ever exhibition on the Holocaust, set to become a permanent fixture of the museum, focussing on the history of regional cultures. “It is very important to us that we focus on educating people about the tragedies of the

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International, Jewish History, Middle East

The Menorah Provides Lessons for Happy Marriages

This week’s reading  is Parshat Bi’ha’loh’ticha, which begins with the Mitzvah of lighting the Menorah. This special and symbolic Mitzvah was given to Aharon HaCohen and his children. When thinking about this portion it occurred to me that there are some powerful messages that can be applied to marriage, as this week I celebrate my 33rd wedding anniversary.  [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

A Memorial Day Weekend Tale of Two Jewish American Military Heroes

As part of our JWB Jewish Chaplains Council® National Jewish Community Observance of Memorial Day, on Thursday, we were honored to visit the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal, while the ship was in port in New York City. The USCGC Nathan Bruckenthal is named for the first Jewish Coast Guardsman killed in combat since the Vietnam War. Petty Officer Bruckenthal, described to us by the ship’s captain as “a nice Jewish kid from Long Island,” served his country as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was killed during a successful attempt to thwart a seaborne IED (improvised explosive device) attack on a major installation in the Arabian Gulf.  He sacrificed himself to protect others [Rabbi Irving A. Elson and Doron Krakow]

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Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Pulmonologist Mandel to tell of COVID-19 in two Californias

Jess Mandel, M.D., a board certified pulmonologist, will review the development and execution of COVID-19 surge planning at UCSD and in San Diego County at a 7 p.m., meeting on Wednesday, June 9, sponsored by the Beth Israel Men’s Club.  Additionally, he will discuss the collaborations that developed with hospitals and health care workers in Imperial County and northern Baja California. He will also review the current state of COVID19 in the county and its likely course in the future. [Beth Israel Men’s Club News Release]

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International, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education