Symphony, San Diego Rep give socially distanced performances

Two San Diego downtown theaters were illuminated last weekend, with live performances streamed from their audience-less venues. All the players, except the vocalists and wind players, were masked when performing, and all were seated at least six feet from one another. On Friday evening, in Copley Symphony Hall, the San Diego Symphony, under the direction of its Music Director, Raphael Payare, presented Together Apart: Strings, Winds, and Brass, featuring the orchestra in smaller groups; and Saturday evening, at the Lyceum Theatre, the San Diego Rep’s Lipinsky Jewish Arts Festival presented Jews, Jazz and Justice, curated by Yale Strom. Both programs are still available for viewing. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Biden to pick ex-Fed chair Yellen for treasury secretary: WSJ

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate former Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen to become the next treasury secretary, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing people familiar with the decision.Yellen has been among the possible picks for the role discussed by media outlets. If confirmed by the Senate, the 74-year-old economist would be the

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USA

John Kerry, who signed Paris accord for US, is Biden’s climate envoy

Washington (AFP) – Former secretary of state John Kerry helped broker the landmark Paris Agreement and signed it on behalf of the United States, a decision subsequently reversed by President Donald Trump.Now, he is set to be President-elect Joe Biden’s climate envoy, in a clear sign of the upcoming administration’s renewed commitment to fighting climate

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International, The World We Share, USA

Trump finally agrees to Biden transition – but still not conceding

Washington (AFP) – President Donald Trump came his closest yet to admitting election defeat Monday after the government agency meant to ease Joe Biden’s transition into the White House said it was finally lifting its unprecedented block on assistance.Trump acknowledged it was time for the General Services Administration to “do what needs to be done.”In

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USA

Dershowitz on Jonathan Pollard, U.S.-Israel Relations, U.S. Election

Famed trial attorney Alan Dershowitz said Monday in an interview with San Diego Jewish World that he hoped Secretary of State-designate Anthony Blinken would ignore any advice about Iran from former Secretary of State John Kerry “who signed the original agreement and the original agreement was a disaster for Israel.” Kerry, meanwhile, was designated by President-elect Joe Biden to lead U.S. efforts to combat climate change. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Jewish Clergy Lobby Congress to Combat Hunger

Some families are preparing for Thanksgiving meals from which relatives and close friends will be absent because of the coronavirus pandemic.  At the same time, other families aren’t even even sure they will have enough to eat on Thanksgiving or any other day as a result of the growing hunger and food insecurity around the country, according to officials of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Biden announces foreign policy, national security team

Washington (AFP) – US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named the deeply experienced Antony Blinken for secretary of state, also nominating the first female head of intelligence and a czar for climate issues, with a promise to a return to expertise after the turbulent years of Donald Trump.As Trump continued to make flailing attempts at overturning

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International, Middle East, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Mike Pompeo

Last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the Israeli West Bank settlement of Psagot. This is the first time that a high ranking American diplomat visited one of the West Bank settlements, which opponents say are illegal under international law. What did a Jewish leader once decide to do regarding Secretary Pompeo, explaining “if we would have passed up the opportunity…after everything he’s done for the Jewish people and Israel, I believe he would have been offended in some place.” [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Saudi official says ‘Israel normalisation talks’ did take place in NEOM, while foreign ministry denies

A Saudi official has told The Wall Street Journal that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did hold talks in the NEOM megacity on Sunday, with the kingdom’s foreign ministry strongly denying the reports.Prince Mohammed and Netanyahu reportedly held secret talks in NEOM late Sunday, according to flight data of

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Middle East, USA

Pakistan minister retracts Macron ‘Nazi’ jibe after French demands

A Pakistani minister withdrew comments comparing French President Emmanuel Macron’s treatment of Muslims to the Nazis’ persecution of Jews, after the remarks triggered outrage from Paris.France’s foreign minister demanded the remarks tweeted by Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari be withdrawn over the weekend.”Macron is doing to Muslims what the Nazis did to the

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International, Jewish History

SANDAG Reopens Bids for Historic Salomon Property

The future of Rancho Lilac, Valley Center’s historic and culturally-significant ranch, has been up in the air since 2011 when it was purchased by Caltrans in what is known as an environmental mitigation land exchange program.  There had been concern that the site could be permanently closed to public access. That apprehension appears to have been abated, at least for the present due to governmental action taken last week. [Robert Lerner]

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International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Biden to name longtime aide Blinken as US top diplomat: reports

Washington (AFP) – President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate seasoned diplomat Antony Blinken as his secretary of state, a decision likely to signal a return to multilateralism after Donald Trump’s shunning of traditional allies, US media reported Sunday.A mild-mannered policy wonk who is fluent in French and plays guitar on the side, the 58-year-old Blinken

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Olmert: Don’t let Pollard make aliyah

Former prime minister Ehud Olmert criticized former agent Jonathan Pollard on Sunday, saying he should not be welcomed in Israel.Interviewed by Jerusalem Post editor-in-chief Yaakov Katz at the Maariv newspaper’s business conference on Sunday, Olmert cautioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against holding a festive ceremony for Pollard when he moves to Israel soon.“With all due

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Middle East, USA

Michigan House speaker floats possibility of ‘constitutional crisis’

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield referenced the possibility of a “constitutional crisis” during an interview on Fox News Sunday morning, two days after he met with President Donald Trump at the White House.The Board of State Canvassers meets Monday to consider certifying Michigan’s statewide election results, including President-elect Joe Biden’s 154,000-vote victory.

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USA