Cailin Acosta

Los Angeles teachers union to vote on resolution endorsing BDS movement

(June 9, 2021 / JNS) The leadership of the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) is scheduled to vote in September on a proposed resolution that urges the U.S. government to end aid to Israel and endorses the BDS movement “against apartheid in Israel,” reported The Los Angeles Times. “As public-school educators in the United States, […]

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Middle East, USA

Can the Biden administration capitalize on an inexperienced Bennett-Lapid government?

By Dmitriy Shapiro (June 9, 2021 / JNS) With the likelihood that new leadership will be sworn in next week in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure from the role he has held for almost two decades has some worried about how an inexperienced leadership spanning the breadth of viewpoints will handle Israel’s important relationship

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Middle East, USA

More Than a Raceway: Novel Presents a Jewish Side of Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen by Eleanor Lerman; Mayapple Press 2021; ISBN 9781952-781018; 213 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is known for Watkins Glen International, a race car venue that permits ordinary citizens to take three laps around the track in their personal cars for a fee.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, USA

Exclusive – In the belly of the whale: Israeli sub simulates strike

Published by Reuters By Dan Williams INS LEVIATHAN, Mediterranean Sea (Reuters) – When fighting erupted in Gaza last month and rockets rained on Israel, the men operating its navy submarine Leviathan knew next to nothing. Deep beneath the Mediterranean sea, they were relayed only brief bulletins so as not to be distracted from their mission.

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Middle East

Cautious Optimism After Israel’s Political Deadlock

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — About three years ago my husband and I rescheduled our flight back to Israel from London, at considerable financial and personal cost, because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called a snap general election. We were determined to cast our votes in order to get rid of the party

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

ADL: Facebook’s 2-year ban on Trump ‘doesn’t go far enough’

NEW YORK (Press Release) — On Friday, Facebook announced that former President Donald Trump would remain banned on the social network until at least January 7, 2023, two years after he was initially blocked in the aftermath of the Capitol riot. Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt released the following statement in reaction to

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USA

Jewish Leaders Commend US Support for Restocking Israel’s Iron Dom

NEW YORK (Press Release) — Dianne Lob, Chair, William Daroff, CEO, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, on Friday issued the following statement: “We are deeply appreciative of the outspoken support from President Biden and his Administration, and from many on both sides of the aisle

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Middle East, USA

Optimism Extends Life Expectancy Among Seniors, Israeli Research Finds

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Happiness might lead to better health, but does it help you live longer? That’s a question that researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) took on in a longitudinal study they began back in the 1990s. They looked at the impact of optimism on longevity and found that maintaining a positive

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

US Defense Secretary Stresses ‘Ironclad’ Commitment to Israel’s Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The following are opening remarks from U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Israeli Minister of Defense Benjamin Gantz from their meeting at the White House on Thursday: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Minister Gantz, it’s a pleasure to host you here at the Pentagon. I

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Middle East, USA

White House Sends Letter to Holocaust Museum’s Solidarity Gathering After Antisemitic Vandalism

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Press Release) — On Thursday evening, The Florida Holocaust Museum hosted a #UniteAgainstHate solidarity gathering attended by a couple hundred local Tampa/St. Peterburg supporters of the institution. The Florida Holocaust Museum was attacked with abhorrent antisemitic vandalism on May 27 as part of a surge of antisemitism that has victimized American Jews

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USA

Live Theater is Ready to Return From Hibernation

By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Thank G-d for resilience, fortitude, and artistic directors like David Ellenstein. After our year-plus of hibernation, North Coast Repertory Theatre (NCRT) has put together a season of shows that is sure to delight everyone, young, less young, vaccinated, and bipartisan. Season 40 is filled with seven wonderful offerings.

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

UCSD Alum Josh Cohen a Hit in Israeli Premier League

By Times of San Diego Former UC San Diego soccer standout Josh Cohen is making his mark on the international scene, helping to lead his club to an Israeli Premier League title. Maccabi Haifa FC logged a 3-2 win over Hapoel Be’er Sheva FC on Sunday on the final day of the season. Cohen, a goalkeeper, helped Haifa to

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Middle East, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, USA

California Assembly Passes Measure to Hold Social Media Companies Accountable for Online Hate

SACRAMENTO (Press Release) — Following Wednesday’s announcement of his appointment as Chair of the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) successfully passed bipartisan legislation to regulate social media companies through the California State Assembly. The first-of-its-kind measure, known as the Social Media Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021 — or

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USA