Washington (AFP) – Far-right and white supremacist extremists are actively recruiting in the US military and have gained more support over the past year, the Defense Department said Thursday. One week after hard-liners who support President Donald Trump stormed the US Congress shutting down the legislature, the Pentagon said it will launch an investigation into […]
Far-right extremists recruiting in military: Pentagon Read More »
USA
Washington (AFP) – President-elect Joe Biden will propose injecting $1.9 trillion into the US economy when he takes office next week, as evidence mounts that the recovery from the sharp downturn caused by Covid-19 is flagging. With his fellow Democrats narrowly controlling both houses of Congress, Biden has a shot at passing what would be
Biden unveils $1.9 tn economic plan as US recovery buckles Read More »
USA
The Jewish stars aligned, politically speaking, on Nov. 3 and Jan. 5. A case can be made that the Jewish vote swung six statewide races to elect Joe Biden as president, hand Democrats control of the Senate and elevate Chuck Schumer as the first Jewish majority leader of the Senate. Strangely enough, the margins in these elections corresponded with the likely size of the Jewish vote in three states – Biden’s race against President Trump in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania and three Senate elections in Arizona and Georgia. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Jewish vote provided majorities in battleground states Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
Hershey Felder continues to stream one-man shows from his current residence in Florence, Italy. Among his many portrayals of famous composers such as Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikowsky and Debussy, he also featured three great Jewish composers, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. For his current offering, Before Fiddler, he once again dips into his Jewish heritage for inspiration, this time, portraying the great Yiddish novelist, playwright and story teller, Sholem Aleichem, on whose stories the libretto of Fiddler On The Roof was based. [Eileen Wingard]
Felder’s ‘Before Fiddler’ Highlights Music of Sholem Aleichem Era Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Lady Gaga will sing the US national anthem at Joe Biden’s inauguration. The 34-year-old pop star is set to perform ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ when Biden and Kamala Harris are sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States respectively on January 20. Gaga will join the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Demi Lovato,
Lady Gaga to perform US anthem at Joe Biden’s inauguration Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA
New York (AFP) – President Donald Trump’s former personal doctor — who claimed Trump had dictated a letter insisting he would be the “healthiest” president ever — has died, reports said Thursday. Harold Bornstein passed away last Friday at the age of 73, according to the New York Times. No cause of death was given.
Doctor who declared Trump ‘healthiest’ president ever dies Read More »
USA
The purchase of the ammonium nitrate that fuelled a deadly explosion at Beirut’s port in August last year has been linked to three Syrian businessmen with alleged ties to Bashar Al-Assad’s regime. Media reports and UK government filings connected Syrian-Russian dual nationals George Haswani and brothers Imad and Mudalal Khuri with the 2013 purchase of
Syrian businessmen linked to purchase of devastating Beirut explosives Read More »
Middle East
Washington (AFP) – The center of Washington was on lockdown Thursday as more than 20,000 armed National Guard troops were being mobilized due to security concerns ahead of the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden. Washington Police Chief Robert Contee said the US capital was facing “a major security threat”, one week after supporters of outgoing
Washington on lockdown as security threats mount Read More »
USA
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he is inclined to wait until after Joe Biden is inaugurated before he begins the second impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. By that time, the two senators from Georgia are likely to have been sworn in. Once the state certifies the results of the Jan. 5
Ossoff, Warnock likely to be sworn in before Senate impeachment trial Read More »
USA
Vida Americana is an exhilarating, expansive and immensely satisfying exhibition at New York’s Whitney Museum. Like a great and varied feast, this is a show that one must take one’s time to fully appreciate and digest; an exhibition that includes photography, film, sculpture, charcoal sketches, colored pencil and graphite, watercolors, lithographs and oil paintings, from the easel to the epic in scale. Not only are the greatest Mexican artists of the twentieth century represented here – including Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros (‘Los Tres Grandes’) – but also many of the notable American artists who they had a profound influence on, such as Jackson Pollock, Jacob Lawrence, Marion Greenwood and Charles White, among others. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Art as Liberation: The Mexican Muralists at the Whitney Museum Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir
The death a few months ago of Israeli author, Joshua Kenaz, led to renewed interest in his work, and impelled me to read this book (published by Am Oved in 1986). For me, reading a novel in Hebrew involves embarking on an enterprise that I know in advance will tax my patience and ability to persevere, especially as in this case the book comprises some six hundred pages of closely-printed Hebrew text. However, I decided to stick the course and acquaint myself with the writing of someone who is considered to be a bulwark of contemporary Israeli literature. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Book Review: ‘Inflitration’ by Joshua Kenaz Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
January 13, 2021 was an extraordinary day in the history of the United States. President Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time. The House acted with blazing swiftness, something they almost never do. It had only been one week from when a huge mob of demonstrators attacked, penetrated, and threatened the Capitol. As Congress voted to impeach President Trump for inciting insurrection, President Trump continued his presidential duties. He signed last-minute legislation that would positively impact the fight against antisemitism, for women’s and human rights, education, the environment, and more. One of the bills the President signed was HR 3250. It is known as the Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act of 2020. [Jerry Klinger]
National Trust to Honor Rosenwald Schools Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, USA
SAN DIEGO – Following are Jewish-interest programs intended for academic and lay audiences that may be accessed via the Internet All times are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Programs (January 17-23, 2021) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
In this week’s Parshah, Vaera, God continues speaking to Moses. God remembers the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to bring them to the Promised Land as Israel. God hears the Israelites suffering as slaves now and tells Moses to let the people know they will soon be free. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah for Children: Helping Others Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger