U.S. Secretary of State condemns Iran missile launch
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo issued the following statement on Tuesday: “In continued defiance of the international community and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the Iranian regime fired off a space launch vehicle today. Such vehicles incorporate technologies that are virtually identical and interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles. Today’s launch furthers Iran’s ability to eventually build such a weapon.
“We have been clear that we will not stand for Iran’s flagrant disregard for international norms. The United States is working with our allies and partners to counter the entire range of the Islamic Republic’s threats, including its missile program, which threatens Europe and the Middle East.” — From U.S. State Department
Project will study Jewish, Chinese experiences in New York City
The Center for Jewish History has been awarded a $364,824 grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources for a three-year project titled “New York Neighbors: The Shared Jewish and Chinese Immigrant and Refugee Experience.”
In collaboration with the Center’s in-house partner, the American Jewish Historical Society, and project partner, the Museum of Chinese in America, the grant will showcase understudied intersections of the Jewish and Chinese immigrant and refugee experience in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Chinatown neighborhoods. The project will consist of the digitization of six collections, followed by a digital exhibit and an academic conference.
“Jewish and Chinese communities have lived side by side for generations in New York City, but their stories have rarely been looked at side by side,” said Bernard Michael CEO and president at CJH, “We are excited to shine a new spotlight on the connections between their struggles and their successes in a new country.”
“Collaboration with CJH, an organization whose values align closely with MOCA’s, is a natural fit and exciting step forward in the Museum’s work to build bridges between communities,” said Nancy Yao Maasbach, president of MOCA. “There are deep connections between the living history of the Chinese and Jewish experiences in America. We are deeply grateful to CLIR for enabling us to digitally preserve this knowledge, and in turn enable others to explore and increase their understanding of the impact that exclusionary U.S. legislation has on American society.” — From the Center for Jewish History
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Eliot Engel, new House Foreign Affairs chair, honored by American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee (AJC), the nonpartisan global advocacy organization, presented its Congressional Leadership Award to Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) for his abiding dedication to promoting U.S. global leadership.
“AJC is proud to have worked with you throughout your tenure in Congress to advance democratic values for all, and looks forward to our continued cooperation in the years ahead,” said AJC President John Shapiro. “In New York, Washington, and around the world, you have been a valued partner in building more just societies. You are a passionate voice for American leadership in the world, a steadfast friend of the U.S.-Israel relationship and the Jewish people, and a strong advocate for the vital ties between the U.S. and Latin America.”
Engel, who has served in the House since 1989, is the new Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “Congress has an important role to play in foreign policy, and I’m committed to making sure we live up to those responsibilities,” Engel said after he was unanimously elected chair this month. “Diplomacy and development are critical to our national security.”
AJC’s Congressional Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership and extraordinary accomplishment in the United States Congress. Recipients of this award have demonstrated a commitment to global human rights and political and religious freedom, as well as friendship toward Israel and the Jewish people. Past recipients include Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Mark Kirk, Tom Lantos, John Lewis, Joe Lieberman, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Chris Smith.
The award was presented to Engel at the Mexican Cultural Institute during the AJC National Leadership Council meetings in Washington, D.C. More than 100 diplomats from dozens of countries, including nearly 40 ambassadors, as well as many current and former U.S. officials, were in attendance. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer was among the speakers paying tribute to Engel. — From American Jewish Committee
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Republican Jewish Coalition applauds stripping King of his committee assignments
RJC National Chairman Sen. Norm Coleman released the following statement: “We strongly applaud Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and the House Republican Steering Committee for the decisive and moral leadership they showed by stripping Rep. Steve King of his committee roles.
The foundation of the Republican Party, the Party of Lincoln, is equality and justice for all Americans. Rep. King’s comments and actions have not met the high standard of our party. We thank Leader McCarthy and the Republican Steering Committee for demonstrating the party’s values in action by choosing not to seat Rep. King on committees.
[King had questioned why such terms as “white nationalist” and “white supremacist” are offensive.] — From Republican Jewish Coalition
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New nursing school program for Haredi women of Bnei Brak
The Jerusalem College of Technology (JCT) has announced the expansion of Israel’s top-ranked nursing program to the city of Bnei Brak, one of Israel’s largest haredi population centers.
There are already more than 900 students—among them are 460 haredim, 180 new immigrants, and over 30 Ethiopian-Israelis—studying towards nursing degrees at JCT, whose Jerusalem-based Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program accounts for 20 percent of all nursing students in Israel. Last year, the college’s Nursing Department earned the Israeli Ministry of Health’s National Prize for Excellence, ranking first among 24 departments nationwide in all measured criteria.
Now, Israel’s Ministries of Health and Education have approved JCT’s plan to open a second-degree BSN program in Bnei Brak. Second-degree programs are geared for students who already possess a BA in another field and are seeking to change their career direction. By being an accelerated track, the second-degree program will allow students to only take classes focused on nursing, while building on their undergraduate studies in science.
“Second-degree BSN programs are already highly popular option in the United States due to the shortage of nurses there, and JCT has decided to bring this academic concept to Israel in order to address the Jewish state’s own nursing shortage,” said Chaya Greenberger, Dean of JCT’s Faculty of Life & Health Sciences.
Prior to the opening of the second-degree program, JCT has contributed about 150 nurses annually to the Israeli health care system. With the new program, that figure is expected to surpass another 50 per year. The college’s nursing graduates work in all of Israel’s major hospitals, including in mental health and intensive care.
JCT’s first priority in launching the second-degree BSN in Bnei Brak is to serve the haredi community, which does not have access to a similar program from any other academic institution in Israel. — From Jerusalem College of Technology
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Israeli filmmaker/ screenwriter to teach at San Diego State University
Israeli screenwriter and filmmaker Ronit Weiss-Berkowitz will teach at San Diego State University during the spring 2019 semester, thanks to the Visiting Israeli Artists Program.
“San Diego is really lucky to host an industry powerhouse like Ronit. As kind and generous as she is talented, she has worked with and trained a generation of TV and film professionals,” said Flo Low, the head of the Visiting Israeli Artists Program. “Anyone who likes going to the movies, from film students to avid movie-goers, will be lucky to get her expert perspective on developing successful TV shows and documentaries.”– From Israel Institute.
Democratic National Committee, other groups, pull out from Women’s March
The Executive Director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) Halie Soifer issued the following statement Tuesday regarding a number of organizations withdrawing their partnership with the Women’s March:
“JDCA supports the original objectives of the Women’s March and stands in solidarity with sister marches across the country this weekend. We also stand with the DNC and many other organizations which have chosen to withdraw their partnership with the Women’s March. The anti-Semitic and biased views espoused by the Women’s March leaders has unfortunately tainted the effectiveness and inclusivity of the March, and JDCA unequivocally rejects anti-Semitism, hatred, and bigotry in all its forms.”
On December 20, JDCA made a statement denouncing anti-Semitism within the Women’s March leadership. It can be found here. —From Jewish Democratic Council of America
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Please send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com