By Donald H. Harrison
NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL – Her patience sorely tested, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson warned President Trump’s former campaign aide Roger Stone that he will get no more chances if he violates a court order to remain mum about his upcoming trial in which he is accused of lying to Congress regarding the probe into Russian influence. The Los Angeles Times reported that Stone apologized for posting a picture of the judge, in which a crosshairs of a gun sight appeared near her face. … Rabbi Andrew Baker, director of international affairs for the American Jewish Committee, has praised the decision of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to clean and protect the historic Jewish Bassatine Cemetery in Cairo, which dates back to the ninth century. Sisi also agreed to make the Communal Register, which includes Jewish vital records, available to scholars. … Elan Carr, the new U.S. special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, told delegates to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Israel that he has a three-pronged strategy: “One, we won’t ignore any part of the ideological spectrum. Jew hatred is Jew hatred, regardless of the ideological clothing it disguises itself in. … Two, we will empower our allies. Antisemitism rots to the very core every society that embraces it. There are leaders who believe that and understand that, and in Europe, there are leaders who say, ‘The future of Europe is at stake.’” His third strategy, he said was to “work to eradicate the distinction between anti-Zionism and Antisemitism.”
ISRAEL MATTERS – In joining forces to oppose Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister, Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid have agreed that Gantz would serve first as prime minister and Lapid as foreign minister for two years, then switch roles for the second two years, according to The New York Times.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY – Jordan Libowitz, spokesman for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has expressed concern that people who already have contributed the maximum to Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter’s campaign also are contributing to his legal defense fund, created after he and his wife were charged with misappropriating campaign funds. He explained to the San Diego Union-Tribune that donors in such a situation may ingratiate themselves to the congressman who might later vote on bills affecting their interests.
SPORTS – San Diego Padre infielder Ian Kinsler says the idea of speeding up baseball games by requiring a pitcher to spend no more than 20 seconds between pitches is “not one of my concerns at all.” He told The San Diego Union-Tribune, “From the numbers I’ve read I think we’ve improved by five minutes. If you’re concerned about five minutes then they maybe need to watch another game or try something else. I think they can hang on for five extra minutes of a baseball game.”
THE OSCARS – Some nominations of Jewish interest to be decided at Sunday’s Oscars: RBG, a documentary about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Betsy West and Julie Cohen. Rachel Weisz is a nominee for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Favourite. … Joel and Ethan Coen are nominees for best adapted screenplay for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs; so are David Rabinowitz and Charlie Wachtel for BlacKkKlansman, and Eric Roth for A Star is Born.
SIMCHAS – Former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, David Axelrod is 64 and a CNN commentator today … Comedian Rachel Dratch whose character Debbie Downer was a Saturday Night Live favorite, is 53. … Paul Lieberstein who was both the executive producer (showrunner) and a supporting character (Toby Flenderson) in The Office TV series, is 52.
SHONDAS – Last year on this date, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens was indicted for taking a photo in 2015 of a former lover, a felony charge that eventually led to his resignation.
OBITUARIES/ MEMORIALS – Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, a founder of the American Civil Liberties Union who was appointed to the High Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, died on this day in 1965 at the age of 82.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com