Published by AFP United Nations (United States) (AFP) – The conflict in the Middle East has stirred up a diplomatic stand-off at the United Nations between France and the United States, the first open tension between the two allies since President Joe Biden took power. Despite guaranteed opposition from Washington, France proposed another draft UN
US and France tangle at UN over Middle East Read More »
International
The life of Sergei Rachmaninoff is the subject of actor/writer/ pianist Hershey Felder’s play with music, Nicholas, Anna and Sergei. Seen under the auspices of JFest, the San Diego Repertory Theatre’s Lipinsky Jewish Arts Festival, the virtual production, streaming from Florence, Italy, and available through May 23, features other participants, in addition to Felder. [Eileen Wingard]
Rachmaninoff’s musical biography portrayed by Felder Read More »
Eileen Wingard
This short simplistic prose passage, from the time of the Judges [1], deals with an angel’s message. It is that the un-named wife of Minoah, both minor figures, was to bear a child. The child is Samson, who will be a lifelong Nazarite. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Notes on Torah Reading for May 22, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
An unending intifada against the Jewish state has been the central mission of Hamas since its inception, and part of that war against Israel includes what Palestinians claim is their legal “right of return;” that is, the right of those Arabs who fled or were expelled from what became Israel to now return, en masse, to the Jewish state—together with all of the original refugee’s descendants, now numbering in the millions. [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]
The ‘Right’ of Palestinian Return Is a Myth Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts
My mother read me Curious George, I read it to my children and grandchildren. The earliest books in my library were gifted and inscribed midcentury. My uncle, Eric Bonner, an antiquarian book dealer in London, gave me Speed, one of my sons added his book plate. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe came from Leslie who I do not remember. [Oliver B. Pollak, Ph.D]
Becoming a Bibliophile, 1950-1970 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak
Israelis Efraim Gordon and Yehuda Guetta learned too late that they were not safe whether waiting for a bus in the West Bank or visiting relatives in Baltimore. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Terror in Baltimore and the West Bank Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
Last month there was a brief kerfuffle when a copy of Vice President Kamala Harris’ book for children, Superheroes Are Everywhere, was spotted among materials being handed out to migrant children at the Long Beach Convention Center. There was only one copy that someone had donated, but the New York Post reported that the book was being given to all the children. Subsequently, that newspaper retracted the story, but not before other right-wing media jumped on it including Fox News. [Donald H. Harrison]
What Kamala Harris’ Book Teaches Children Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, USA
Israeli actress Gal Gadot tweeted about the current military crisis between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, “My heart breaks. My country is at war. I worry for my family, my friends. I worry for my people. This is a vicious cycle that has been going on for far too long. Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation, Our neighbors deserve the same. I pray for the victims and their families, I pray for this unimaginable hostility to end, I pray for our leaders to find the solution so we could live side by side in peace. I pray for better days.” In response, Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized her for her comments. What did he say? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Gal Gadot Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Published by New York Daily News Actor Charles Grodin, whose dry wit and everyman persona led to long-running Hollywood success in films like “The Heartbreak Kid” and the unlikely family movie hit “Beethoven,” died peacefully Tuesday at his Connecticut home. The 86-year-old Grodin died at his Wilton, Connecticut, residence of bone marrow cancer, his family
Scene-stealing actor Charles Grodin, star of ‘Beethoven’ and ‘Midnight Run,’ dead at 86 Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast
In this week’s parasha, Naso, the longest in the Torah, we are introduced to the Birkat Kohanim, the “Priestly Blessing.” We’re all familiar with it. We’ve heard it said, recited it ourselves, and offered it to others, many times: (Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D)
A Deeper Look at Judaism’s Priestly Blessing Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Published by Reuters By Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With his muted response to the Gaza conflict, President Joe Biden is largely sticking to a time-worn U.S. playbook despite pressure from progressive Democrats for a tougher line toward Israel and from America’s allies for a more active role to end
Analysis: Biden sticks to Israel-Gaza playbook, irking progressives and allies Read More »
Middle East
Published by AFP Washington (AFP) – The United States on Tuesday sharply criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for what it called “anti-Semitic” remarks amid his denunciations of Israel’s strikes in Gaza. “The United States strongly condemns President Erdogan’s recent anti-Semitic comments regarding the Jewish people and finds them reprehensible,” State Department spokesman Ned Price
US condemns Erdogan ‘anti-Semitic’ remarks Read More »
Middle East
Israel’s battle with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza exceeds one week. It may not end soon. The citizens of Israel most impacted by the daily rocket attacks (3300 and rising) are those who live in the “Gaza envelope,” very close to the Gaza borders, but towns across Israel have also been hit, some many times. Are Israelis physically exhausted, psychologically exhausted, and scared? Yes. Do they want Israel to sign a ceasefire today or tomorrow? No. What Israelis want is a different paradigm in their country, which will lead to a better, more peaceful relationship with the Gazan Arabs. [Steve Kramer]
Responding to the ‘Proportionality’ Argument Against Israel’s Actions in Gaza Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
I jumped into this book without reading the introduction and believed right through the end that I was reading a well-crafted, highly believable suspense novel. In fact, Daniel Levin had written a memoir about his efforts to find out what had happened to a young man who had disappeared in Syria. He didn’t know the young man, but as a favor to a friend, he had promised to make inquiries. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Proof of Life,’ though a memoir, reads like a suspense novel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East