Israel’s new government fails to renew disputed citizenship law

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel’s parliament failed on Tuesday to renew a disputed law that bars granting citizenship or residency to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank or Gaza who are married to Israeli citizens, dealing a setback to the new coalition government. An early-morning vote in the Knesset (parliament) tied at 59-59, short

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Middle East

Israel sees drop in Pfizer vaccine protection against infections, still strong in severe illness

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel reported on Monday a decrease in the effectiveness of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in preventing infections and symptomatic illness but said it remained highly effective in preventing serious illness. The decline coincided with the spread of the Delta variant and the end of social distancing restrictions in Israel.

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Middle East

Flag Raising Marks Reopening of House of Israel in Balboa Park

After more than a year absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park reopened to visitors over the July 4th weekend.  So named because relations among nations should be “pacific” or “peaceful” — and not a reference to the ocean that washes San Diego’s shores — The House of Pacific Relations includes the House of Israel (HOI), which marked the reopening with a flag raising ceremony. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Herzog Steps Down from Jewish Agency, Becomes Israel’s President on Wednesday

A party was held for Isaac Herzog on Monday, July 5, the day he officially retired as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and two days before he assumes office as the next president of the nation of Israel, succeeding Reuven Rivlin. Among those joining the celebration were Metadel Sisai, 14, an immigrant from Ethiopia, and Oliana Goodim, an 11 year old immigrant from the Ukraine. ““Even if your new surroundings seem unfamiliar to you, just remember it is your home in the same way that Israel is our home,” the two youngsters advised the incoming President. [Based on material from Jewish Agency for Israel]

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Middle East

Let’s Have Compassion for the Rabbi’s Spouse

I believe some of the most important unsung heroes of non-Orthodox Judaism are the spouses of pulpit rabbis.  We don’t pay them, but more often than not, we expect them to devote their lives to our synagogues.  We want them to attend every social occasion, be there near the front of the sanctuary on Shabbat evening and morning,   to recognize all of us by first and last name, and to be able to chant the blessings before and after the reading of the Torah whenever someone is needed for an aliyah. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA

Jewish faith fuels hope and outreach after Surfside collapse

Published by Reuters By Katanga Johnson SURFSIDE, Fla. (Reuters) – Hundreds have gathered every day at The Shul of Bal Harbour, a synagogue near the Florida condominium complex that partially collapsed last week, to pray that survivors will be found. Other members of Surfside’s Jewish community have offered food, water and emotional support to search

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Jewish Religion

Collapsed Florida condo demolished ahead of storm, search to resume

Published by Reuters By Francisco Alvarado SURFSIDE, Fla. (Reuters) -The partially collapsed Miami-area condo where 24 people are confirmed dead was demolished on Sunday night, ahead of the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa. Search-and-rescue efforts for 121 people missing have been suspended. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told reporters earlier on Sunday that

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USA

Renewed COVID-19 Concerns Focus on Israel’s Main Airport

– There are a lot of questions in the air, along with hopes of some stability in both politics and health. It’s not easy to summarize, but here we go: Most of our news is about the upturn in revealed cases of COVID-19. We’re at several hundred per day, but with few hospitalizations and deaths. There’s some cases of infection among those who’ve received two inoculations, but most of those are not serious. Most infections seem to have begun with people arriving from overseas, infecting kids in schools, and then onward. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

‘Thank you, America’ from the Depths of My Jewish Heart

As a boy, I loved hearing the story about the early childhood of my father, Martin B. Harrison, who was born on the 4th of July, 1910.  To paraphrase the great Irish-American lyricist George M. Cohan, dad was a “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Until dad reached the age of 5, his parents — M. Joseph and Florence Harrison — had him persuaded that the nation held all those parades and shot off all those fireworks in celebration of his birthday.  When he got to kindergarten, however, he learned the truth.  The celebration was for the birth of the American nation, and not specifically for little Marty. [Donald H. Harrison]

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