Donald H. Harrison

President Obama promises U.S. aid in fighting Haifa fire

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–President Obama hosted a second-nigh Hanukkah reception on Thursday, Dec. 2,  at the White House, where he made he following remarks:   THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, this is a good looking group right here.  (Laughter.)  Good evening, everybody. AUDIENCE:  Good evening. THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House.  I want to thank all of you for joining […]

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Middle East

An S.O.S. for America

By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D LA JOLLA, California —  “When the Athenians wanted not to give to Society but Society to give them…, when they wished freedom  FROM responsibility, then the Athenians ceased to be free.” (Edward Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of  the Roman  Empire) Two scores ago, I became, by choice, a U.S. citizen. No, it was not

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USA

Grief over destroyed tallit led to artist’s inspiration

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Artist Lenore Simon, whose exhibit opens Saturday, Dec. 4, at Art and Framing Solutions (4250 Morena Blvd. Suite E) recently  was asked how she came to create a series of artworks entitled “Symbols of my People.” She responded: “This series owes its origin to Grandpa Reuben Simon, my husband’s father. He owned

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Travel and Food

Jewish National Fund sets up contribution line to aid fight against Haifa fire

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — The worst fire in Israel’s history is raging across Haifa and the Carmel Forest. Lives have already been lost, and many more are in danger as Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services and JNF-KKL foresters battle the blaze. As all forests in Israel are urban forests and abut either large cities or small

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Middle East

Religious Action Center lauds kids’ nutrition bill, but urges restoration of Food Stamp funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)— In response to House passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S.3307) on Thursday, Dec. 2,  Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Associate Director Mark J. Pelavin issued the following statement: “Today’s House vote in favor of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307) addresses a key need for struggling low-income

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USA

Haifa fire: Reform movement creates emergency fund; J Street mourns loss of life

  NEW YORK (Press Release) — In cooperation with The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) has established the Carmel Fire-Israel Emergency Fund to help Israel battle the worst fire in the country’s history. Funds will be distributed via the Israeli Reform

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Middle East

Wikileaks shows Arabs consider Iran, not Israel, the true threat to Middle East

By Abraham H. Foxman NEW YORK — The leaking of millions of American diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks is a disturbing phenomenon primarily because it will make future diplomacy more difficult and, in particular, will undermine U.S. credibility in such matters. However, the documents’ revelations should finally put to rest the double game that the Arab

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Travel and Food

Documentary asserts Sweden’s Queen Silvia’s father profited from Jewish factory seized by Nazis

STOCKHOLM (WJC)–A television documentary, to be broadcast next Sunday, will accuse the late father of Sweden’s German-born Queen Silvia, Walter Sommerlath, of making a fortune from a factory seized from its Jewish owners by the Nazis. Sommerlath was a member of the Nazi Party since 1934, something he denied in 1976 when his daughter married

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Travel and Food

Cuban Jewish community leaders deny contacts with Alan Gross

HAVANA (WJC)–The leadership of Cuba’s Jewish community has denied having worked with the jailed American contractor Alan P. Gross, whose family claims he was on the island help Jewish organizations gain better access to the internet. Cuban authorities have accused Alan Gross of espionage, though they have not pressed charges despite keeping him in custody

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Travel and Food

Not your heart, but your bacteria, may influence your choice of mate

TEL AVIV (Press Release)― Could the bacteria that we carry in our bodies decide who we marry? According to a new study from Tel Aviv University, the answer lies in the gut of a small fruit fly. Prof. Eugene Rosenberg, Prof. Daniel Segel and doctoral student Gil Sharon of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Molecular

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Travel and Food

JFS appeals for votes to win Pepsi grant for Hand-Up Pantry

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Jill Borg Spitzer, chief executive officer of Jewish Family Service, has sent the following message to be conveyed to readers to seek their help in fighting hunger: December 1 marked the first night of Hanukkah. It also marked the first day of voting in a new month of the Pepsi Refresh

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San Diego Calendar, San Diego County

Watchdog group on government interference with religion criticizes censorship of Smithsonian art exhibit

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–A video that was part of an art exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., should not have been pulled at the behest of government officials and aggressive religious groups, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Americans United criticized U.S. Reps. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Eric Cantor

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Travel and Food