Legislator seeks to control social media’s impact on hate

Amid increasing concerns about the role of social media in spreading bigotry, disinformation, and conspiracy theories, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) on Monday, March 29, announced new legislation that “will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the role of social media platforms in amplifying extreme and dangerous content and driving severe political polarization.” [Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel press release]

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USA

Proud of the U.S. and local response to migrant children

I’m so proud of President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Cabinet Secretaries Alejandro Mayorkas and Xavier Becerra, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, our city’s Mayor Todd Gloria, the folks at Jewish Family Service, and San Diego Jewish World’s own contributor Mimi Pollack. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, USA

Israeli Election Analysis at the Seder Table

Those firmly supporting Benjamin Netanyhu are Likud, SHAS, United Torah Judaism, and Religious Zionists, for a total of 52 Seats Those clearly in the anti-Bibi list are Lapid, Blue White, Israel Beiteinu, Labor, New Hope, Joint Arab List, and Meretz, for a total of 57 Seats Between them are Yamina and the Separate Arab List, so far undecided, with 11 Seats [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Book Review: ‘The Taming of the Jew’

Tuvia Tenenbom is an expat Israeli who has lived in Germany and elsewhere for many decades, working as a journalist and author. Holding many academic degrees, Tenenbom is also a playwright, essayist, and the founding artistic director of the Jewish Theater of New York. Tenenbom has a very idiosyncratic style. His sardonic personality goes well with his cherubic appearance, and the reader is soon caught up in Tenenbom’s droll reporting of mundane encounters with people all around the world. His latest book, The Taming of the Jew, features people from Ireland and Britain. The thing is, most of those interviewed either know almost nothing about what they are saying, or are consciously spreading vicious, false narratives [Steve Kramer]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Middle East, Steve Kramer

Satire: Racing Towards Election Integrity

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 33 states have introduced 165 bills purportedly to guarantee election integrity, but really to suppress the votes of core Democratic constituencies like ethnic immigrants and people of color.  To fend off charges of racism, these states are now trying to disguise the real intent of such legislation.  Here are some examples: [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Travel and Food

Ancient Greek Play Raises Some Still-Modern Questions

The late Dr. Howard Rubenstein’s Prometheus Bound was scheduled to open off-Broadway at The Tank in September of 2020, but alas: Covid. So, the publisher sent me a copy of the script for review. Rubenstein’s play is not a translation of Aeschylus but a free adaptation, which is a good thing. Translations of ancient texts often require long winded explanations of why certain references were funny or topical at the time, which audiences don’t have time for. [Eric George Tauber]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & Broadcast