British author David Cornwell, better known by his pen name John le Carre has died at the age of 89, his agent confirmed on Sunday night. The writer became wildly popular for his thriller novels, which touched on his real life experiences as a spy during the cold war and his third novel “The spy […]
British spy novel author known as John le Carre dies aged 89 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International
Moroccan Islamist groups, including factions from Prime Minister Saadedine Othmani’s Justice and Development Party (PJD) have strongly condemned Morocco’s recent decision to normalise ties with Israel. The Unity and Reform Movement, which is the PJD’s educational and charitable arm, called the normalisation agreement “deplorable” and condemned “all attempts at normalisation and Zionist infiltration”. Morocco’s announcement
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said it would be a mistake “to go back to business as usual with Iran,” signalling Israeli resistance to an expected push by President-elect Joe Biden to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran. Netanyahu spoke at a press conference with Robert O’Brien, President Donald Trump’s national security
Netanyahu warns against ‘business as usual’ with Iran in comments ‘aimed at Biden’ Read More »
Middle East, USA
If you don’t believe this is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” take it up with Jewish composers, Eddie Pola and George Wyle (born Bernard Weissman), who wrote the words and music to that hit song in 1963. For many, it’s hard to see just what’s so wonderful about this time of the year. For Joseph, as we read in this week’s parasha, what may have looked like the worst time, would be quite a turnabout. We are reminded of this each year during Chanukah through Mikeitz. The worst time we face, may just be the most wonderful time. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Many people are mistakenly convinced that the Jewish holiday of Hanukah celebrates the victory of the Jewish religion over Hellenism and that the enemy was Greece. Neither supposed fact is true. The Jews in Judea, Egypt and other countries of the diaspora had a longstanding favorable relationship with the Greeks and Hellenism well before and long after the incidents that prompted the rebellion of Judah Maccabee, his father and brothers in 168 BCE. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Hanukah does not disparage Greek culture Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion
In the 13th Dec 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
• A new Israeli stem cell treatment can halt and reverse MS.
• Israel has received its first deliveries of coronavirus vaccines.
• An Israeli-Ethiopian immigrant has won a scholarship to Oxford University.
• Over 130 Israeli hi-tech companies have been exhibiting in Dubai.
• New investment in Israeli startups is at record levels.
• An Israeli has won the NASCAR European championship for the 3rd time.
• Morocco and Israel are to establish diplomatic relations. [Very Good News Israel via San Diego Jewish World]
Good News from Israel (Dec. 13, 2020) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
We just received a note from a dear friend and longtime reader. She wrote: I know you once told me Hanukkah is a minor holiday in Israel but, so, just in case you feel like lighting a menorah, enjoy! Wishing you as much joy as is possible at this moment in time. Stay well and safe. My reply: For sure we’re lighting candles and celebrating the holiday. I’ll clarify my previous comment: Minor doesn’t mean Hanukkah isn’t celebrated here. It’s minor only in the sense that the story of the Maccabees isn’t mentioned in the Bible. Here it isn’t among the most holy holidays. Presents are exchanged mostly around Rosh Hashanah or Passover, not so much during this holiday. Fried foods, such as doughnuts and potato pancakes (latkes) are a big thing. Hanukkah “gelt” (money) is often the gift of choice, along with chocolate “coins” and plain or fancy dreidels for games. … [Steve Kramer]
How Hanukkah Is Regarded in Israel Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Steve Kramer
Jewish history and culture in Morocco will soon be part of the school curriculum – a “first” in the region and in the North African country, where Islam is the state religion. The decision “has the impact of a tsunami,” said Serge Berdugo, secretary-general of the Council of Jewish Communities of Morocco. It “is a
Moroccan schools to teach Jewish history and culture Read More »
Middle East
In the early 1970s while teaching at the University of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe since independence in 1980), I interviewed African labor and farmer union leaders while researching the 1948 General Strike and the African Farmers Union. The interviews were in English, Shona, and Sindebele. I hired two undergraduate history majors to assist me with the African languages and cross-cultural social protocols. One of them, Misheck Sibanda completed a Ph.D. in History at Birmingham University and returned to Zimbabwe, served as the Chief Cabinet Secretary to President Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa, and recently retired after 17 years of service. The second student, Kevin Gumbo, became a teacher. [Oliver B. Pollak]
The Personal Power of History Read More »
International, Oliver Pollak, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
President-elect Joe Biden tapped Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Fudge is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and had previously been campaigning to become the first black female Agriculture secretary. She would be the second black woman to serve as HUD secretary. She told Politico last month that
Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge To Join Biden White House As HUD Secretary Read More »
USA
Washington (AFP) – The United Arab Emirates is getting top-of-the-line fighter jets. Morocco is winning recognition for decades-old territorial claims. And Sudan is coming off the US terrorism blacklist. The Arab nations are suddenly achieving long-sought goals after agreeing to normalize ties with Israel, in a last-minute triumph for the unorthodox diplomacy of outgoing President
Breaking norms, Jared Kushner scores late-term wins for Israel Read More »
Middle East, USA
The Emirati and Bahraini Ambassadors to the US lit Hanukkah candles together on Saturday night, celebrating the third day of holiday, N12 reported.On Saturday night, the Israeli Embassy in Washington held a virtual candle lighting with the UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba and Bahraini Ambassador to the US Abdulla Al Khalifa, who
Emirati, Bahraini ambassadors to US light Hanukkah third candle together Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
An expat teacher in Kuwait was fired after she gave her class a map of the Middle East that included Israel. The teacher, who worked for the private American Creative Academy, gave her fifth grade students a homework assignment asking them to identify different countries of the Middle East – including Israel. Initially, students and
Kuwaiti school fires expat teacher after including Israel in assignment Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
The following article by James J. Zogby, president of the Arab-American Institute, is here presented so that our predominantly Jewish and pro-Israel readership, including the editor and contributors to San Diego Jewish World itself, may be exposed to the argument made by Palestinian advocates. While we anticipate that many of our readers will disagree with
OpEd: Palestinians Are Victims of ‘Cancel Culture’ Read More »
Middle East, USA