Netanyahu’s Support Waning Among Likud Colleagues

Some members of the Likud party, those who say they want to head the party “after Bibi steps down,” are showing signs of insurrection. In the June 20 Jerusalem Post, veteran political columnist Gil Hoffman wrote, “In public, Likud MK and former health minister and head of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, has kept fairly quiet regarding his decision to run in the next Likud Party primary. In private, however, he has told other high ranking Likud members that he intends on winning [the next Likud primary] and didn’t spare any harsh words for his party leader and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ….” [Steve Kramer]

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Middle East, Steve Kramer

‘Russians’ vs. the Haredim in Israel’s Latest Political Battle

For years, Avigdor Lieberman has been calling for a limitation of what the Haredim have demanded, and received. He’s called for a liberalization of marriage laws, allowing the joining of those not Jewish according to Orthodox Rabbis, with those who are Jews. Or the union of two people who can’t satisfy the demands of the Orthodox, who insist on those born of a mother who can prove that she was born of a Jewish mother [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East

The Importance of Plants in Religious Art

What is the message conveyed by the representation of plants in religious text? What do the images that these references bring to our minds tell us about a people and a society? These are questions posed by award-winning artist and author Gloria Abella Ballen, whose book Garden of Eden: Plants of the Hebrew Bible was the subject of a recent webinar sponsored by the American Sephardic Federation. [Ellen Hernandez]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Bipartisan Rally Denounces Antisemitism

More than 3,000 people from across the country gathered near the U.S. Capitol on Sunday to stand in solidarity against the rising tide of antisemitism across the U.S. No Fear: A Rally in Solidarity with the Jewish People was organized by more than 100 Jewish and interfaith organizations from across the political and religious spectrum, under the leadership of Elisha Wiesel, business executive and son of Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. [NoFearRally news release]

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International, Middle East, USA

Shapers of the Immigration Debate: Enrique Morones

In 2009, Enrique Morones, then the leader of Border Angels, was presented by Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon with an award conferred by the Human Rights Commission of Mexico. The impressive ceremony in Mexico City honored Morones’ decades of work protecting undocumented migrants who brave harsh terrain and insufferable temperatures to seek new lives in the United States. In an acceptance speech, Morones urged Mexicans not to come to the United States, telling them that they were needed to build their own nation.  ‘We are Mexicans, and Mexico’s future is here in Mexico, not America,” he pleaded.  “Mexicans, do not go.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, USA

Israel offers third shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to adults at risk

Published by Reuters By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel said on Sunday it will begin offering a third dose of Pfizer Inc’s vaccine to adults with weak immune systems but it was still weighing whether to make the booster available to the general public. The rapid spread of the Delta variant has sent vaccination rates

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Middle East

Florida condominium collapse death toll rises to 90, with 31 missing

Published by Reuters By Peter Szekely (Reuters) -The death toll in the collapse of a Miami-area condominium rose to 90 on Sunday from 86, as crews continued their grim search for human remains in the building’s wreckage, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. Another 31 people were still “potentially unaccounted for,” Levine Cava said

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USA

‘Black Widow’ spins new Covid-era box office record

Published by AFP Los Angeles (AFP) – New Disney superhero film “Black Widow” took in an estimated $80 million in North America this three-day weekend, a pandemic-era record as the Marvel Universe showed continuing lure, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. The movie, starring Scarlett Johansson as the cat-suited superspy, took in an additional $60

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Satire: Space Loses Its Virginity

Virgin Galactic succeeded in launching its owner Richard Branson into a sub-orbit to demonstrate the potential for future space tourism.  Immediately thereafter, many corporations filed papers to open businesses in space to serve the anticipated spate of rich people who already consider themselves out of this world and plan to flaunt their space vacations at cocktail parties.  You can expect to see these advertisements for the following enterprises soon. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Good News from Israel (July 11, 2021)

-In the July 11, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Israeli breakthroughs in transplantation and medical device technology.
–Israel provides running water to Tanzanians and Native Americans.
–Israel’s Technion is Europe’s top institute for Artificial Intelligence.
–Israel has begun producing pure water from the Jordan River.
–A face-recognition tech startup is Israel’s latest $1 billion company.
I–sraelis won medals at informatics and acrobatics.
–Stunning discoveries revealed during excavations in Jerusalem.
[Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Travel and Food, USA

Major Rally Against Antisemitism on Sunday, July 11, in Washington D.C.

American Jews were expected to gather on Sunday (July 11) outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to hear a line-up of more than 20 speakers in a rally co-hosted by prominent Jewish organizations – all to confront the overwhelming levels of antisemitism that have evolved in America and worldwide. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

Scarlett Johansson: I’m done with Black Widow

Published by BANG Showbiz English Scarlett Johansson has “no plans” to return to playing Black Widow. The 36-year-old actress has played Natasha Romanoff and her superhero alter-ego in several Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies, and recently took on the role in her own solo movie after the eponymously titled ‘Black Widow’ movie hit cinema screens

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast