Refugees will become hard-working Americans

With the wave of immigrants arriving at the border clamoring to be let in, I have been thinking a lot about immigration.  When Trump was in power, the border was basically closed, refugees and asylees had to wait in Mexico until their case was heard and that was a very long, inhumane process. In addition, many mothers were separated from their children. It seems like now the pendulum has swung from one extreme to another.  Do I agree with all the adults and unaccompanied minor rushing the border? It is creating unmanageable chaos and confusion.  However, I do understand why this is happening.  America is viewed as a safe haven for so many whose own countries or lives are in conflict, and they are desperate. [Mimi Pollack]

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International, Mimi Pollack, USA

Superstitions Behind Opening the Door for Elijah

After the Seder meal is eaten and the benchen, the Grace after Meals, is recited, a fourth cup of wine is filled, and the following actions are performed:
-According to the custom of many people, an additional fifth cup is poured for Elijah,
-A door is opened,
-Some people place a picture at the door entrance showing Elijah blowing a shofar announcing the arrival of the messiah,
-Some families have one of the participants rush out of the door and then reappear as Elijah,
 -Some families also exclaim baruch haba, baruch haba, “welcome welcome,” when the door is opened,
 -A paragraph that originated in the Middle Ages containing three parts, each of which say the same thing, is then recited,
(Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Coming Closer to Hashem

A year ago when we read this parasha that begins the book of Leviticus, we were in the beginning of anxious physical separation from each other. This year many of us are vaccinated and are beginning to be physically closer with others, B’H, with proper precautions of course. What sacrifices we’ve made over the past year! [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Israel’s Leading Parties’ Economic Plans

In Israel, much of the evening news swirls around the gossip about who will sit with who in a new government coalition after the upcoming election on March 23. What has been singularly missing from the chatterbox TV news programs has been the vitally important plans of each party over the future of the Israeli economy. This brief summary will give you an idea of how each party intends to tackle the economy if it should gain power. [Barry Shaw]

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Barry Shaw, Business & Finance, Middle East

Global Group of Mayors Decry Antisemitism

Municipal leaders from more than 32 cities across 21 countries took part today in the first-ever Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism, hosted by the Frankfurt am Main municipality in partnership with the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM). Participants including tens of city mayors pledged to make the summit the first step in establishing a long-term framework working towards defeating anti-Semitism, prejudice, and hatred.   [Combat Anti-Semitism Movement press release]

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International, USA

Impossible to say who’ll win Israel’s upcoming election

JERUSALEM — Where are we now? Who knows? Indications of infections are down. The parties and religious events at Purim do not seem to have produced an increase. Widespread inoculations are the explanation. They work to prevent a spread. So we’re getting ready for a Passover close to normal. Seders with 30 or perhaps 50 members are said to be okay, if there isn’t an increase in infections before then. (ira Sharkansky, Ph.D)

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

The Political E-Mailbag (March 15, 2021)

MAZON: The Jewish Response to Hunger, on Monday applauded the confirmation of Rep. Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, to be U.S. Interior Secretary, the first Native American to hold the post.  Also, on Monday, President Joe Biden announced he is nominating Jamie Simms Hipp, a member of the Chickasaw Nation and CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund, to serve as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Travel and Food

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Tiffany Haddish

Comedian Tiffany Haddish won a Grammy award for Best Comedy Album for her album Black Mitzvah, the recording of her 2019 Netflix comedy special. In the performance, Haddish explored her Jewish heritage, something she only discovered as a young adult when she learned that her father was an Eritrean Jew. Haddish embraced her Jewish heritage and held a bat mitzvah under the guidance of Rabbi Susan Silverman, including Torah reading and a d’var Torah speech about Jacob’s ladder from the Parsha Vayetze. But Haddish was no stranger to Judaism, as she had worked since the age of 17 as a dancer and an MC at more than 500 bar and bat mitzvah parties. What did Haddish say about that experience? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
 

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire