Published by The Sacramento Bee SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Roseville center for children with Down syndrome had posters on its windows vandalized with hate speech over the weekend, just days after its grand opening, officials with the nonprofit said. GiGi’s Playhouse, a national nonprofit, opened its Sacramento-area achievement center May 16 at a shopping center
U.S.-authorized asylum seekers assisted by Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) may remember our city primarily as a place where they slept on hotel beds with clean linens, had three meals a day delivered to them, and got their first prolonged taste of American television. [Donald H. Harrison]
Asylum Seekers See Very Little of San Diego on Journeys to Sponsors Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
Published by Al-Araby Following a deadly 11-day war between Israel and Hamas, Egypt has boosted its credentials as a key mediator between the two parties. On 21 May, Egypt successfully brokered a ceasefire to end the devastating conflict, which left 274 Palestinians, including 66 children, and 12 Israelis dead, and saw over 1,000 homes in
Is Egypt changing its stance towards Palestinians? Read More »
Middle East
Published by New York Daily News The times they are a-changin’, but the music of Bob Dylan remains a constant. The pioneering folk music icon turned 80 on Monday, and fans are commemorating the milestone with a handful of music and poetry events across the country. At the center of the festivities is Duluth, Minnesota,
Bob Dylan turns 80 as fans celebrate with events throughout the world Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Published by Reuters By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden condemned violence against Jewish communities in the United States and abroad on Monday after a string of attacks amid the conflict between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers. Physical or verbal assaults were reported against Jews in New York City, Los Angeles and South
Biden condemns attacks on U.S. Jewish community as ‘despicable’ Read More »
USA
On Saturday, May 22, 2021, an interpretive supplemental footstone was added to the Admiral Max Horton memorial at the Rhosneigr seaside community in Anglesey, Wales. The successful placement grew from the unique friendship between Martin Sugarman, a Brit, and myself. Together we are pushing back, at least a little, the dark clouds of forgetfulness and antisemitism. [Jerry Klinger]
A Jewish Honor for Admiral Max Horton Read More »
International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History
In response to a series of troubling antisemitic incidents recently at San Diego State University, the San Diego office of the Anti-Defamation League reached out to the administration with an offer to work with the university’s Center for Inclusive Excellence to develop an innovative professional learning opportunity for the faculty and staff. The goal was to help faculty to better recognize the warning signs of antisemitism and to be better equipped to address issues of hate and bias when they arise on campus. [Tammy Gillies]
ADL Director Explains Program with SDSU on Antisemitism Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
In 2020 the Trump administration decoupled the Palestinian Authority (PA) from the process of achieving peace elsewhere in the Middle East. It happened when Trump emissary Jared Kushner promulgated the proposal that resulted in the Abraham Accords. The Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco have all signed on to this breakthrough in Middle East diplomacy. This bottom up approach, through non-aggression and enhanced trade, R&D, and tourism, has withstood the latest warfare between jihadist Hamas forces in Gaza and Israel, which “ended” with a pause in hostilities on May 21. [Steve Kramer]
Drive to Rebuild Gaza Means Rebuilding Hamas Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Greene was previously criticized for claiming that space lasers controlled by the Rothschild family were responsible for the California wildfires. She denied the charge that her claim was antisemitic, with what explanation? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Marjorie Taylor Greene Read More »
International, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Hamas made an error when it sent rockets to Jerusalem. Thousands of rockets and other missiles came from Gaza, mostly in the area around Gaza, but occasionally more widespread. A few came to northern Israel from Lebanon. Plus violence in Jerusalem, Acco, Lod, and other mixed cities. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Tallying the Israel/Gaza War’s Political Aftermath Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Why do you want to become Jewish? How is Judaism, with its many rules and rituals, a more appropriate religion, than your former religion or lifestyle? How do you identify with the Jewish people in relation to Israel, world Jewry, the local Jewish community, and your local synagogue? These are just some types of questions that people are asked by a Bet Din, a rabbinical court, before their official conversion into Judaism. [Heather Z. Rothstain]
‘Choosing Judaism’ Provides Cheerful and Painful Accounts Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin’s latest book in his trailblazing series entitled Mysteries of Judaism IV; Over 100 Mistaken Ideas about God and the Bible offers the reader a glimpse into this seasoned scholar’s views on many of Judaism’s most sacred beliefs concerning subjects as diverse as the importance of the creation narrative in the early chapters of Genesis, as well as many of the thorny problems emerging out of the creation narrative. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Author Dissects Popular Myths About the Bible Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
The Bible says nothing about life after death. It does not mention heaven or hell as an abode after death. The Torah’s entire focus is on behavior that results in the betterment of life, human and non-human, on earth. The only rewards offered to those who need the carrot of physical rewards and the threatening stick of punishments are consequences that occur during a person’s life on earth. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Jewish Views of the Afterlife Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
The chief executive officer of Jewish Family Service of San Diego estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of the Jews who live in San Diego County are at or below the poverty line. To help them, and any other Jew in need, JFS has created a culturally-competent Center for Jewish Care, reports Michael Hopkins, the JFS CEO. Currently, the center has three fulltime staff members, but according to Carole Yellen, JFS senior director of strategic partnerships, that number may soon be doubled. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Family Service Has Unit to Help Jews in Need Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County