Minneapolis jury convicts ex-policeman Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd

Published by Reuters By Jonathan Allen and Nathan Layne MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) -Former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder on Tuesday in the arrest of George Floyd, a milestone in the fraught racial history of the United States and a rebuke of law enforcement’s treatment of Black Americans. The 12-member jury found Chauvin, 45,

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USA

Extending Kavod to Others

This week’s double Torah portion, Acharei and Kedoshim, springs off the scroll with applicability to the pandemic of our times, COVID, or if you prefer, kaf, bet, dalet, KOVOD. The English letters, K, V, D, form the root of the word Kavod. What’s dignity, respect or honor have to do with these parshiot? Plenty. Kavod, ,כָּבוֹד KVD, a word of strength and importance, refers to “glory,” “respect,” “majesty,” and “honor.” Other uses of kavod can refer to wealth (Gen. 31:1, the first use of kavod in the Bible), reputation (Gen. 45:13), the quantity of something, or splendor, all of which may be summed up in the word “dignity.”  Another very important application is found in the fifth commandment, commanding us to “honor” (kavod in verb form) our fathers and mothers. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Israel plans to open international travel to vaccinated visitors

Published by TravelPulse After more than a year of being closed to international travel, Israel is reopening its borders with a phased approach. Starting on May 23, the country will welcome visitors from foreign countries who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. “I am happy to share the news that Israel is taking great strides in

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Middle East

Palestinian President Abbas raises alarm over ‘apartheid’ at J Street, calls for lobbying support

Published by Al-Araby Abandoning the two-state solution would result in a “de facto apartheid one-state solution,” Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas reportedly told J Street on Sunday. Abbas told the US-based pro-Israel lobbying group’s 2021 National Conference that this was an eventuality that would be rejected both in Palestine and around the world, Haaretz reported. He

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Middle East

Measuring ‘Measure for Measure’

There are Shakespearian scholars who feel that Measure for Measure is Shakespeare’s greatest play. This is very possible. It certainly is one of his best. It is very thoughtful. It addresses ancient unresolved problems of human nature that still exist today, and it prompts us to consider the good verses the evil inclination; male dominance over females and the frequent male harassments; the power of the sex drive over the intellect, morality and the inability to control it; hypocrisy, irony, religion, and other conflicts that invade all humans at times and are often unresolvable. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Lit’ warms the Heart

Blindspot Collective in San Diego is known for its shows for young audiences, tackling difficult topics such as mental illness, the bullying of immigrants and the tribulations of the transgendered. They specialize in “forum theatre” in which audience members actually get to step into the show and give the actors do-overs with better outcomes. But, like all of us, the current situation has forced them to rethink how they do things. And so, they have created Lit: A Virtual Musical, written and directed by Desha Crownover of SD Junior Theatre with book and lyrics by Blake McCarty and Music by Ian Brandon. [Eric George Tauber]

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Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘We Are the Tree of Life’ debuts in San Diego

To commemorate Yom Hashoah, Ohr Shalom Synagogue screened the premiere of the documentary, We Are the Tree of Life: Carry On. The Zoom screening was introduced by former Ohr Shalom president, Susie Meltzer. Many participants in the film were in the Zoom audience, including Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Caring for Aging Parents and Beyond

When my father had back surgery, he shopped around to nearly every top orthopedic surgeon in L.A. until he found one willing to cut into his ailing eighty-five-year-old frame and repair three levels of his lumbar vertebrae. We were overjoyed to see him recover from the spine operation but soon thereafter he needed a knee replacement. Oy vey! For all his health issues, he still maintains his Dodger and Laker season tickets, trades on the stock market and teaches a monthly Jewish history class. But his pleasure in life is sharply curtailed in what seems to be a cruel downward spiral of Job-like proportions. [Sam Glaser]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Sam Glaser

On Asian fetishization and the humanity of migrants

At the end of last month, we ran an article by Korean-American Kelsey Kloza about what she described as “Asian fetishization” by which American males tend to construe any Asian woman as an “exotic and erotic two-dimensional object designed only for tempting male characters into forbidden pleasures.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, USA

Good News from Israel (April 18, 2021)

In the April 18, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–3 Israeli research breakthroughs into cancer, aging and obesity.
–NASA names two asteroids after their Israeli-Arab student discoverer.
–Japan praises Israel for its help on the 10th anniversary of the tsunami.
–A hi-tech Israeli competitor to zoom.
–Investment in Israeli startups breaks three all-time records.
–Israelis once again were able to properly celebrate the nation’s birthday. (Michael Ordman)

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food