US election heads to the courts

Democrats and Republicans girded Wednesday for a legal showdown to decide the winner of the tight presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.After Trump declared overnight he was ready to go to the US Supreme Court to dispute the counting of votes, his campaign announced a demand for a recount in Wisconsin and lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania, three states which each side needs to win the presidency. [Agence France Presse]

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USA

Pennsylvanians glory in their election role

My head swelled for awhile as Joe Biden, Donald Trump and their surrogates traversed Pennsylvania’s 46,000 square miles imploring us to vote for them. With Election Day past, the nation’s eyes are cast upon a handful of states to add up the remaining mail-in ballots. To think that the fate of the nation – and the world, for that matter – depends on the few, the Pennsylvanians, especially in my corner of the state, Philadelphia. If the former vice president takes Pennsylvania by one vote, and with it the election, I’m taking full credit. Doubtful, of course. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, USA

Adventures in Papua New Guinea

Goroka is in the Highlands. I spent a whole day attending the annual Sing-Sing. It’s a competition where tribes from all over the hills parade, sing, and dance on a vast grass field. In the past, the prizes were pigs, the most valued commodity on the island. In recent years, money was the reward. There was a viewing grand stand, but the tourists were let out onto the field right from the beginning to photograph, pose and dance with the tribal people. There were at least 15 different groups, all dressed in elaborate, and sometimes strange, regalia. They were festooned with bird feathers, native shell jewelry, and necklaces made from animal jaws and beetles. The revelers faces were painted with brilliant primary colors, white mud, or black paint. [Ira Spector]

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International, Lifestyles, Travel and Food

Torah teaches peace-keeping is divine

We learn in Vayikra Rabba, “Bar Kappara said: Great is peace, for the Scriptures reported in the Torah a prevarication which was used in order to maintain peace between Abraham and Sarah. This is proved by what is written, ​And Sarah laughed within herself, saying…and my master is old; but [when He repeated this]​ to Abraham, He said: [​Sarah said]: ​And I am old.” Further, “Rabbi Ishmael taught: Great is peace, for even of the Great Name, written though it be in sanctity, did the Holy One, blessed be He, say that it may be blotted out in water, for the purpose of making peace between husband and wife.” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

The morning after the election

Although members of the local San Diego County Jewish community lost more races than they won, the San Diego Jewish  community can take pride in Jews serving at nearly every level of government. Sara Jacobs, for example, will replace the retiring Susan Davis, a fellow Democrat, on San Diego County’s congressional delegation. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Vienna attack

Islamic State on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a deadly terrorist attack in Vienna, the extremist militia said via its Amaq mouthpiece.The attacker, named by Austria as Kujtim Fejzulai, was shot dead by police on Monday evening in the city centre after shooting into crowds of people enjoying a last night out before a partial coronavirus

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International

Malawi to become first African nation to open Israel embassy in Jerusalem

Malawi is to become the first African country to follow the US example and open an embassy to Israel in the disputed city of Jerusalem, their foreign ministers announced on Tuesday.”I’m sure that more African leaders will follow this decision,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi told reporters after a meeting with his Malawian counterpart Eisenhower

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International, Middle East, USA

4 of 10 local Jewish candidates appear victorious

Early returns in local races in San Diego indicated Tuesday night that among 10 Jewish candidates, 4 were successful and 6 were unsuccessful.

Apparent winners with 58.4 percent of all ballots counted showed Sara Jacobs winning handily in the 53rd Congressional District; Bernie Rhinerson easily winning reelection to the San Diego Community College Board; Terra Lawson-Remer defeating Republican incumbent  Kristin Gaspar in the 3rd County Supervisorial District, and  Sean Elo-Rivera defeating Kelvin Barrios for the 9th District San Diego City Council seat.  All these winners are Democrats. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

Lebanon decides not to charge Ghosn over Israel trip

Lebanon’s prosecutor general decided on Tuesday not to charge fugitive ex-auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn for visiting Israel in 2008 because a statute of limitations has expired, a judicial source said.Three lawyers filed a motion in January calling for the 66-year-old businessman to be prosecuted over his trip to the Jewish state as Renault-Nissan chairman.Lebanon is

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Business & Finance, Middle East

Kamala Harris’ Ancestral Village In India Holds 4-Hour Prayer For Her Victory

More than 8,600 miles from the White House, a small village in India has been fervently praying for the success of U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.Thulasendrapuram, the senator’s ancestral home town, has been filled with boards and banners in honor of Harris, wishing her well in the election. The town also organized a four-hour

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International, USA

Rummage sale builds senior center’s kitty

In this city that boasts three synagogues (Adat Shalom, Ner Tamid and Chabad of Poway),  the senior center serves a diverse clientele representing many religions.  Currently prevented by the coronavirus from offering such usual activities as art classes, yoga, nutrition classes, lunches, tax preparation, and billiards, the Poway Senior Center has embarked on a new project. Through a continuing rummage sale, staffed by seven women who will pick up useable items from people’s homes, the Center is “building up a kitty,” for when it resumes operations, according to Abby Boretto, a board member. [Sandi Masori]

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Travel and Food

One suspect at large, three people dead after Vienna terrorist attack

At least one suspect is still at large following a terrorist attack on central Vienna late Monday in which two civilians and one attacker were killed, Austrian authorities said.”This is the hardest day Austria has seen for many years,” Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told reporters in the early hours of Tuesday, as he urged people

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International

Coronavirus battles in Israel, election showdown in U.S.

Politics here and there. Lots of it, but in different contexts.
Here in Israel it focuses on what is said to be a significant drop in new infections, and what should be open in response. The reality is some doubt about the widely publicized figures, insofar as many of the Haredim are still avoiding the general rules about congregating, and not having themselves tested for the disease. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA