Trump’s deal endangers Israelis’ long-term security

By what logic then will the Palestinians accept such a deal that robs them of a more than 70-year-old dream to establish an independent state? Whether or not they missed several opportunities in the past to realize their dream, their initial rejection of Israel’s right to exist does not nullify their right to a state of their own that lives in peace with Israel. The Deal has only justified the claim of extremist Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and countries like Iran and others, that Israel has had all along no intention of allowing the Palestinians to have an independent state, and that only continued violent resistance will force Israel’s hands. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA

Israeli-Americans tussle over WZC slates

The United States will send 152 of the 500 delegates who will meet in Jerusalem at the World Zionist Congress, which allocates approximately $1 billion a year in funds for Zionist activities in Israel, the United States, and around the world.  Voting continues through March 11 via this website.
The leaders of Israel Shelanu on Tuesday, Feb. 4, put out a press release saying the Israel-American Council (IAC) betrayed Israeli-Americans when it decided to support the slate of Kol Israel rather than Israel Shelanu. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Israel should begin implementing Trump Plan

Yes, this new plan visualizes a future State of Palestine in the Jewish homeland. But it’s highly unlikely that the PLO would agree to such a weak “state,” thereby enabling Israel to enlarge its territory within the four-year time frame allotted to the Palestinian Authority. (Consequences from establishing an Arab state, or not, are beyond the scope of this article.) Like Ben-Gurion and his cohorts, Netanyahu and the interim government, or a newly-elected government following the Israeli March 2 election, should grab this opportunity and build on it despite its imperfections. [Steve Kramer]

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Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

1 actor plays 12 of the play’s 13 characters

urder For Two by Joe Kinosian (Book and Music) and Kellen Blair (Book and Lyrics) stars Tony Houck as all the suspects (count about 12) in a killing we don’t see.  Marcus Moscowic co-stars as JD Dumas, the wannabe detective who wants to solve the who-dun-it. Both enter. Marcus starts playing a four handed overture that ends with a BANG. Yup! A murder, maybe two, has been committed at the residence of Arthur Whitney, The Grand American Novelist. [Carol Davis]

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Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

A piece plan, not a peace plan

Trump’s much heralded “deal of the century” is turning out to be a painful illustration of the futility of offering definite solutions to the Israeli-Palestine issue. Despite Prime Minister Netanyahu’s enthusiastic reception and the statements by members of President Trump’s entourage that this was the best deal Palestinians could expect, most reactions on all sides have been largely negative. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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Middle East, USA

Trump’s deal roils Israeli politics

The Deal of the Century.” It’s a mess. With some good features, as well as others. On the good side, it does away with the 1967 lines, outdated by more than 50 years of movement here and there, and kept alive only by Palestinian ideology, which competes with Palestinian ideas tying things to pre-1948. Except for that, the deal seems to present as many problems as opportunities.The Deal of the Century.” It’s a mess. With some good features, as well as others. On the good side, it does away with the 1967 lines, outdated by more than 50 years of movement here and there, and kept alive only by Palestinian ideology, which competes with Palestinian ideas tying things to pre-1948. Except for that, the deal seems to present as many problems as opportunities. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Michael Anderson and the Armageddon Yacht

International collage artist Michael Anderson is presently enjoying a solo show, the first in four years, at Arts & Leisure gallery on New York City’s Upper East Side. Armageddon Yacht is an exhibition of sixteen recent works, all featuring Anderson’s unique and inimitable style. Whereas most collage artists make use of magazines, Michael uses exclusively street posters gathered from around the world, which allows for work on a much greater scale than is typically associated with collage. His pictures are at once unmistakable and visceral, sweeping, playful and ironic. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir, USA

Nobody gets past the Schwartz!

Just as the Oscars have a category for “Best Supporting Actor,” I think the NFL might want to consider an award for Best Supporting Player.  In this game, to my mind, there was none better than offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who so far as I know was the only Jewish player in the contest. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Tikkun Olam — Trump style

Upset that he’d been impeached, President Trump was having trouble falling asleep one recent night. So his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared were reading bedtime stories to him to help him relax. When nothing seemed to be working, they turned to reading him principles of Judaism, and one had him fully engaged. It was the Tikkun Olam precept, the requirement that, while the world is innately good, every person should strive to repair or improve it. [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]

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Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Former child prodigy returns to TICO as soloist

Violinist Anat Almani concluded the recent January 28 TICO concert with an impressive performance of the Tchaikowsky Violin Concerto. Her solid technique brought a beautiful patina to the high passages in the first movement; the second movement was a study of muted sweetness; and the final movement lunged forward with unbridled energy. [Eileen Wingard]

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

Chula Vista rabbi offers ‘Gentle Judaic Wisdom’

Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel of Congregation Beth Shalom in Chula Vista is one of the most erudite pulpit rabbis in San Diego County, having written numerous books on the Jewish religion and on such Torah commentators at Philo and Maimonides. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Joe Gandelman, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County