A letter from Justice Ginsburg

From this email, I learned that Ruth Bader Ginsburg – yes, that Ruth Bader Ginsburg – had designated a gift to Avodah upon her receiving the Gilel Storch Award, a prize for her outstanding human rights contributions. I was stunned by such an incredible and humbling honor. The weight of her legacy was palpable when we later received a signed letter on U.S. Supreme Court letterhead, in which she declared that “Avodah is respected by people across the political spectrum for its engagement in real tikkun olam.” [Cheryl Cook]

A letter from Justice Ginsburg Read More »

Obituaries & memorials, USA

Kosovo – Toward True Independence

Kosovo became the youngest country in Europe when it declared independence in 2008. Sadly though, Kosovo continues to suffer from mounting problems, including a lack of experience in governing, rampant corruption (especially at the top echelons of the national government), dislocation of human and natural resources, bitter political rivalries, and undue influence by foreign powers. Although these problems and others have impeded Kosovo’s progress, the country has tremendous potential if it only mobilizes its human and material resources and establishes a cohesive national agenda aimed at addressing its woes and unraveling the web of problems that have plagued the country from its inception. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

Kosovo – Toward True Independence Read More »

Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East

Ancient rock symbolism, veneration of elders, victories

This week’s reading is mostly a poem (vv. 1-43) recited by Moses, followed (vv. 44-52) by his entreaty to the Israelites to follow the Teachings, and finally God’s order to Moses to view the promised land from afar, and lastly his death. As is the nature of poems, it is filled with literary images and devices. I have chosen three poems for comparison, from the Internet, with ancient Israel’s neighbors.  Rock symbolism, veneration of elders, and military victories are the subjects. [Irv Jacobs, M.D]

Ancient rock symbolism, veneration of elders, victories Read More »

Irv Jacobs, MD

A tense night in Louisville, Kentucky

It’s peaceful in St. Matthews tonight (Wednesday, Sept. 23), as usual, despite the announcement of the grand jury findings in the Breonna Taylor case, which left only one of three police officers indicted for their involvement in the killing of Taylor. (The charge was first degree wanton endangerment, for firing shots outside Taylor’s apartment.) My wife, Jeri, and I “defied” the curfew, in place throughout Louisville, but we saw no protestors, no police, on our post-9 p.m. walk. No surprise for this upper middle-class, predominantly Catholic, overwhelmingly white neighborhood, east of downtown Louisville. [Michael Ginsberg]

A tense night in Louisville, Kentucky Read More »

Michael Ginsberg, USA

A Torah song of privilege and poverty

What’s with Moshe and his songs? We’re familiar with the “Song of the Sea,” יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ אָ֣ז, in Exodus where we sing of praise for the miraculous redemption following the crossing of the sea while Ha’azinu  הַאֲזִינוּ — “listen” – teaches us in a dramatic artistic way something more broadly about the important role of our attitude in life. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

A Torah song of privilege and poverty Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Chronicler tells of Jewish rescuers during Holocaust

Jews who Rescued Jews During the Holocaust is an extraordinary initial publication of the compiled research of Moshe Gromb. The work is precisely summarized, factual, clinical, telling the stories of 100 of the over 2,000 harrowing stories he has collected. [Jerry Klinger]

Chronicler tells of Jewish rescuers during Holocaust Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Middle East

The evolution of sacrifices

With Yom Kippur upon us, it is the time when most people reflect on all the wrong they have done and seek forgiveness. It is customary for people to call or send letters of apology to others. In ancient times, Yom Kippur was accompanied by ritual animal sacrifice, rest from work, and fasting (see Leviticus 16 and 23). This was first done in the wilderness with Moses and his tabernacle, then later at the First and Second Temples. [Teresa Konopka]

The evolution of sacrifices Read More »

Jewish Religion, Teresa_Konopka

Minority rules in selection of President, composition of U.S. Senate

Under the constitution, a president can be elected by a minority of voters, and the majority of senators can be elected collectively by a minority of voters. Trump was elected by a minority as were the 53 Republicans who now control the Senate, and they are authorized to stack the Supreme Court with right-wing justices whose rulings often threaten the welfare and freedom of the people. [Bruce S. Ticker]

Minority rules in selection of President, composition of U.S. Senate Read More »

Bruce Ticker, USA

Zoom, FB, YouTube block Leila Khaled speech to SFSU

Zoom, Facebook and YouTube cancelled use of their platforms Wednesday for the airing of a San Francisco State University sponsored webinar featuring airline hijacker Leila Khaled of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, with Zoom citing its obligation to obey U.S. law. [Donald H. Harrison]

Zoom, FB, YouTube block Leila Khaled speech to SFSU Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Study underway of S.D.’s South African Jews

The South African Jewish American Community, better known as SAJAC, has issued its annual magazine for 2020, reporting that San Diego State University Prof. David B. Cline is conducting oral history interviews with community members. The magazine’s writers also offer suggestions on coping with COVID19, and Alzheimer’s Disease, and additionally they profile young entrepreneurs, visual artists, and poets, among other articles. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”

Study underway of S.D.’s South African Jews Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Fourth Yahrzeit for Shimon Peres Observed

The Peres Center for Peace & Innovation on Tuesday hosted the first virtual ceremony of its kind, to commemorate the fourth anniversary since the passing of the Ninth President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres. Participants in the ceremony, attended by  Peres’ three children — Tzvia, Yoni and Chemi —  included Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, Prince Hassan of Jordan, Nicolas Sarkozy, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, singer Barbara Streisand and actress and producer Sharon Stone. They were joined by more than 100,000 schoolchildren from across Israel, many at schools proudly named in Peres’ memory. {Press Release from the Peres Center for Peace & Innovation]

Fourth Yahrzeit for Shimon Peres Observed Read More »

Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, Yoni Peres

A ‘Safe Space’ for Terrorists at San Francisco State

A particularly execrable record for radical anti-Israel, anti-Semitic campus activism is to be found at San Francisco State University, and specifically in the pseudo-academic machinations of Professor Rabab Abdulhadi, director of the school’s Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies (AMED) program. Abdulhadi, who, among other slurs, referred to Zionists as white nationalists during a 2019 UCLA lecture, is embroiled in controversy once again for the upcoming virtual speaking appearance, to be held tomorrow, September 23rd, by Leila Khaled, a terrorist in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, whose resume includes her role in the 1969 hijacking of an Israel-bound plane and her arrest the following year during a failed hijacking of an El Al flight. [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

A ‘Safe Space’ for Terrorists at San Francisco State Read More »

Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA