Many of the world’s VIPs are in Jerusalem today: heads of state or their deputies, heads of government, foreign ministers and other important dignitaries from more than 40 countries. They’ve come to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Holocaust conference a boon to Netanyahu Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
At a lunch-and-learn session Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the offices of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Elise Alloul, the campus strategy coordinator for StandWithUs, told how she as a student at York University in Toronto overcame anti-Semitism and got herself elected in 2016 to a two-year term on the university’s Board of Governors, a body similar to the Board of Regents for the University of California. [Donald H. Harrison]
A student’s successful campaign against anti-Semites Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on Jan. 27, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that most U.S. adults know what the Holocaust was and approximately when it happened, but fewer than half can correctly answer multiple-choice questions about the number of Jews who were
Holocaust knowledge wanes among adults, teens Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA
She has a BA from Penn and an MBA from Harvard University. She’s been a journalist. She has started up two successful tech businesses. She has led such organizations as the Jewish Women’s Foundation and Run Women Run. She has been married twice, has two adult daughters, and, at 70, is a proud grandmother. For the last three years, she has been a San Diego City Councilwoman. [Donald H. Harrison]
Life and times of Barbara Bry Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions
– This week’s parasha, Va’eira, asks us a key question. How do you deal with “kotzer ruach”? It says in the parasha, “Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel, but they did not hearken to Moses because of [their] shortness of breath and because of [their] hard labor” מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ (Exodus 6:9). [Michael Mantell, PhD]
Emunah and bitachon: faith and trust Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Just north of Presidents Way and across the street from the Veterans Museum lies the World Beat Cultural Center. Housed in what used to be a water tower, this cylindrical building is filled inside and out with brightly painted murals celebrating the many cultures of the world. Inside, you will find a vegan café, an art gallery, reggae concerts and classes in the arts. What better place to celebrate Martin Luther King Day? [Eric George Tauber]
World Beat Center honors the dream Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
Given poker chips, each student placed one in a cannister bearing the name of the charity of his or her choice. After the chips were counted, and pro rata shares were computed for each charity, checks signed by the Head of School Chaim Heller were presented to their representatives on Friday, Jan. 17. [Donald H. Harrison]
SDJA students raise $7,168 for charities Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
“To answer your email, yes, my new novel does deal directly with the Jewish experience pre- and post-Russian Revolution, in Chicago during the Great Depression, and through the lens of an Israeli-American raised in Chicago decades later,” Zapata told me. “My mother’s family is Ashkenazi, originally from Lithuania, and my father’s family is from Ecuador.” [Dan Bloom]
‘Lost Book of Adana Moreau’ a Jewish story Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories
Just imagine what would have happened if Iran attacked a convoy escorting Vice President Pence and killed him just as he boarded his car near Riyadh airport. How would Trump have reacted? I venture to say that for Trump, this would have been tantamount to a declaration of war, just as Tehran viewed the attack on Soleimani. Trump would have retaliated in a massive way because an attack on a top US official by an adversary would simply be unacceptable by both Republicans and Democrats alike. [Alon Ben-Meir, PhD]
Killing Soleimani undermined global order Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA
The Israeli pianist, Shai Wosner, shone in Beethoven’s Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1, No. 3, as he collaborated with violinist, Jeff Thayer, concertmaster of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and Yao Zhao, the orchestra’s principal cellist. The concert, part of the San Diego Symphony’s celebration of Beethoven’s 250 anniversary of his birthday, featured three of the composer’s early works. It took place on Tuesday evening, January 14, at the new Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center on Fay Street in La Jolla. [Eileen Wingard]
Wosner, Thayer, Zhao shine in Beethoven’s Piano Trio Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
Bibi made an application for immunity, and is now doing all that he can so the Knesset will postpone consideration of it. Until after the election? Which one? The third in the last year, or the fourth, the fifth, or whatever. A majority of the Knesset has indicated its opposition to Bibi’s immunity from prosecution. So if he doesn’t postpone consideration of it, he’s lost. [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
Most MKs oppose Bibi’s immunity request Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
During evening and morning Shabbat services preceding Martin Luther King Day, Rabbi Josh Dorsch and David Ogul, respectively the rabbi and president of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, read from the pulpit a reflection that congregant Dan Tomsky had extrapolated from the writings of The Rev. Kathleen C. Rolenz, a Unitarian Universalist minister. [Donald H. Harrison]
Shabbat reflections on Rev. Martin Luther King Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, Sam Litvin, USA
President Trump named his defense team for his impeachment trial in the Senate. His lawyers already have declared, “This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away.” I wondered whether they were referring to the impeachment articles or to Russian meddling in support of Trump, but at least they know how to take dictation. Here’s the roster of some of the most famous members of Team Trump and a preview of their arguments. [Satire by Laurie Baron, PhD]
Arguments Trump’s team may offer in defense Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Congressman Jerry Nadler is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which drafted the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Nadler is now one of seven Congresspersons who will serve as prosecutors during the Senate trial. Congressman Nadler was born in Brooklyn to Jewish parents, and is the only current member of Congress to have a Yeshiva education. When Congressman Nadler ran for reelection in 2016, he faced primary opposition from Oliver Rosenberg, a gay Yeshiva University graduate who switched his registration from Republican to Democratic in 2012. Rosenberg was particularly critical of Nadler’s vote in favor of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. What famous person placed robocalls to district voters criticizing Nadler, who went on to win that primary and reelection to his 14th term? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: Jerry Nadler Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire