Joan Micklin Silver (1935-2020) passed away on New Year’s Eve. She belonged to a cohort of pioneering American female directors in the 1970s, many of whom were Jewish. Whereas most of her Jewish counterparts deal with Jewish themes in their films, she repeatedly returned to making distinctly Jewish films earning her the reputation of being the “the mother of Jewish feminist film.” [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set his sights on swinging Palestinian votes as Israel heads towards its fourth election in two years, according to local media reports. On Friday, the Israeli premier was shown in a television report visiting the Palestinian city of Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel as part of a coronavirus vaccination
Netanyahu to court Palestinian vote in latest re-election bid: reports Read More »
Middle East
Washington (AFP) – A group of Republican senators led by veteran lawmaker Ted Cruz said Saturday they would not vote next week to certify Joe Biden’s election win — the latest last-ditch move to support Donald Trump’s efforts to undermine the vote. The initiative, which appears certain to fail, flies in the face of rulings in
A dozen US senators plan to oppose Biden certification Read More »
USA
Vandals went on a spray-painting spree at the homes of Congress’ top two leaders in separate graffiti blitzes that appeared to target Capitol Hill’s failure to send out fatter stimulus checks. The Louisville, Kentucky, home of GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and San Francisco residence of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were both splatted
Vandals target homes of House Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader McConnell Read More »
USA
The only woman on federal death row is again due to be executed before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration after a panel of judges on Friday reversed an order that could have pushed the proceeding past the end of the Trump administration. The decision by a three-judge federal appeals court panel had the effect of resetting
Ruling would allow execution of only woman on federal death row Read More »
USA
On Saturday, Jews around the world read Parshah Vayechi, the last Parshah in the first book of the Torah. We’ve gone from the creation of the world all the way through to the lives of our three forefathers. We end with the final words of Jacob, our last forefather. Jacob asks Joseph to take his body our of Egypt and bury it in the cave with Abraham and Isaac. Joseph promises to fulfill his father’s request. Jacob then blesses Joseph’s two sons. Just as Jacob tricks his father into blessing him, he now switches the blessings for Joseph’s sons. Ephraim. the younger son is given the blessing to become the father of a great nation. Menasseh, the older son, will also be important, but Ephraim with be head of the greater nation. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah for Children: Kindness and Good Choices Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
After four years of bending to President Trump’s every chaotic whim, the Republican Party finally located its spine on New Year’s Day in 2021. The Republican-controlled Senate’s 80-13 vote to overturn Trump’s veto of the carefully negotiated, bipartisan annual defense bill was a sign that the party of Abraham Lincoln — at last — realized that conscientious government is more important that a lame-duck president’s fragile ego. [Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego]
OpEd: Senate Republicans Finally Find Their Spines Read More »
Chris Jennewein, USA
ATLANTA — A record 3 million Georgia voters cast their ballots before early voting ended for the U.S. Senate runoffs, setting up a showdown that will be decided on election day Tuesday. The high turnout so far reflects the national importance of the dual runoffs, which will determine control of the Senate. Republican U.S. Sens.
Early voting ends with record 3M Georgia voters for US Senate runoffs Read More »
USA
As state and local governments struggle to vaccinate Americans for COVID-19, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, blasted the federal government’s vaccine rollout plan Friday, calling it “incomprehensible” and “inexcusable.” Romney rang in the New Year with the broadside against President Donald Trump, which he posted on his Senate webpage Friday morning. “That comprehensive vaccination plans have
‘Inexcusable’: Sen. Mitt Romney slams federal COVID vaccine rollout Read More »
USA
ATLANTA — For nine weeks, Georgians have been pummeled with ads, mailers, text messages, phone calls and urgent pleas from friendly door-knockers with one unifying message: Vote in Tuesday’s runoffs. Celebrities have danced to salsa music at sprawling parking lots, staged concerts outside massive gun stores, recreated musicals and movies. Big name politicos have trekked
No pressure, Georgia: On the cusp of Senate runoffs to shape Biden’s presidency Read More »
USA
Washington (AFP) – The US Congress on Friday dealt Donald Trump a humiliating blow in his last days in office with the Senate voting overwhelmingly to override his veto of a sweeping defense bill — the first time lawmakers have done so during his presidency. By a lopsided vote of 81-13, well more than the
US Congress slaps Trump by overriding veto of defense bill Read More »
USA
It was June of 1969. I was an 11 ½ year old visually impaired girl leaving home for the first time to attend Jewish overnight camp. I boarded the train to Wisconsin consumed with mixed emotions: already a little homesick and anxious, but also excited. I was excited about the friends coming from my Jewish Day school, and the new friends I hope to meet. At that moment, I was just like them—leaving home to spend three fun-filled weeks at summer camp.
It was a disaster. [Michelle Friedman]
Inclusion at Camp Chi Read More »
Judaism, Lifestyles, USA
Congratulations are due to Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, who announced the wording of his country’s National Anthem has been changed to be more inclusive of Australia’s indigenous people, who were on the continent thousands of years before the British colonial era began. [Donald H. Harrison]
Changing National Anthems to be More Inclusive Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Nearly four years ago, Donald Trump swore an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Trump now violates that oath on multiple fronts as he continues to insist he won an election he decisively lost, toys with disrupting the Jan. 6 count by Congress of the Electoral College tally —