President Donald Trump shared with the country on Monday morning over Twitter that he had fired Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper. This is the third defense secretary who Trump has fired in his term as president.Trump wrote that Esper would be temporarily replaced with the “highly respected” director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Christopher C. […]
Trump Fires Third Defense Secretary Mark Esper After Clashes Read More »
USA
Bahraini Jews marked on Monday the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, for the first time since the Arab nation normalised ties with Israel last month.The disused synagogue in Manama – the only one in the kingdom, which is home to some 50 Bahraini Jews – was illuminated at
Bahraini Jews mark Kristallnacht Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, conceding she had lost the mayor’s race to Assemblyman Todd Gloria, told a news conference on Zoom Monday that she plans to organize a new political organization to give neighborhoods and residents a stronger voice at City Hall. [Donald H. Harrison]
Bry concedes mayoral race; plans neighborhood political organization Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County
Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy since 1984, died this week after an 18-month battle against pancreatic cancer. The winner of seven Emmy Awards, Trebek was also known as an activist and philanthropist, supporting causes including World Vision Canada and the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue at the University of Ottawa. One of the fun aspects of the Jeopardy program is that on many occasions, the categories are given clever names, often with puns. Which of the following is a real Jeopardy category that contained an answer and question of Jewish content? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Alex Trebek, RIP Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The first flight carrying Israeli tourists to the United Arab Emirates landed on Sunday in the city-state of Dubai, the latest sign of the normalisation deal reached between the two nations.FlyDubai flight No. FZ8194 landed at Dubai International Airport just after 5:40pm, bringing the tourists to the skyscraper-studded city after a nearly three-hour trip.The low-cost
First direct tourist flight from Israel to UAE touches down in Dubai Read More »
Middle East, Travel and Food
Sooner or later, many schools will learn of an alumna who made it big. For example, Patrick Henry High School in San Diego boasts as one of its graduates the actress Annette Bening. Westmount High School in Westmount, Quebec, claims U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as a 1981 graduate. And Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School now can brag about Tova Winick, Class of 2013. Okay, Tova isn’t a household name yet, but there has been quite a buzz about her ever since she was pictured in late October in the uniform of an officer of the Israel Defense Forces giving a briefing on the workings of the Iron Dome missile defense system to U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper accompanied by Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz. [Donald H. Harrison]
Hebrew Day alumna Tova Winick briefs 2 Defense Ministers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday congratulated Joe Biden, the projected winner of the US presidential election, on his victory, as well as Kamala Harris, projected to serve as the first woman vice president in US history.Abbas said he hoped Biden’s election would improve “Palestinian-American relations and achieve freedom, independence, justice and dignity for our
Palestinian president congratulates Biden Read More »
Middle East, USA
US President-elect Joe Biden reflects the orthodoxy of the “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. He is a committed, enthusiastic proponent of this idea as a way forward in the Middle East.There is a competing political paradigm – “racial-justice politics” – that has gained, if not dominance, at the very least great influence with liberal
Israel needs to watch out for Joe Biden’s UN ambassador pick – opinion Read More »
Middle East, USA
Saudi Arabia’s king and its powerful crown prince Sunday congratulated Joe Biden on winning the US presidential election, state media said, a day after TV networks declared him the victor.King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent congratulatory messages to US president-elect Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.It added
Mohammed bin Salman congratulates Biden over US election Read More »
Middle East, USA
Now that Sara Jacobs has been elected as her successor, retiring Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) says she would like to work in the future either part-time or as a volunteer in the San Diego Jewish community, specifically mentioning her admiration for the work of Jewish Family Service. [Donald H. Harrison]
Retiring Rep. Susan Davis considers possible role with JFS Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, USA
So many of us are stuck, unable to move forward. And yet, we must.
Perhaps we can learn how from Father Abraham. In the Torah, we read of the Akeda, the story (Gen. 22) of the binding of Isaac. It begins with the words: Vay’hi achar had’varim ha-eyleh (And it happened after these things). The Rashbam comments: Kol makom sh’ne’emar achar had’varim ha-eyleh, m’chubar al haparsha shel’mala (Every place where the Torah says, “After these things,” it is connected to the text above it). [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
Moving forward while presidential politics remain stuck Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, USA
I read some books and essays recently focusing on the “truths” that people of different religions have that differ with the “truths” held by people of other religions. The object of the books and essays is to find how we can improve interfaith relations when the lives of different people are based on ideas that they find hard to give up despite others refusing or unable to accept what they believe. Examples include the “truth” held by many Christians that there is a trinity of three gods, that of many Jewish mystics that God was composed of ten parts that came apart, and that of Muslims who “know” that Mohamed received the Koran from God. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A Radical View about ‘Truth’ Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
NETANYA, Israel — In the 8th Nov 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
Israel begins human trials of Israeli Covid-19 vaccine.
A new Israeli breath test detects Covid-19 carriers even without symptoms.
An Israeli groundbreaking way to produce X-rays.
An Israeli app prevents drivers from texting while driving.
Twice-daily low-cost flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai.
Israeli maritime technology is protecting most of the world’s ships.
A new museum of Jewish history is being built in Jerusalem. [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (Nov. 8, 2020) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the much respected former chief rabbi of the UK, has died aged 72.Sacks was highly esteemed around the Jewish world for his erudition, his wisdom, and his prolific authorship of works on Jewish thought.Sacks announced in the middle of October that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment, but
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, former chief rabbi of Great Britain has died Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials