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Jewish Journal

Connect. Inform. Inspire.

November 6, 2018

Jewish Democrats Celebrate Midterm Wins

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Democrats regained control of the House and won crucial gubernatorial races, with strong support from Jewish Democrats Tuesday night.

The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), endorsed 58 candidates including, Michigan’s Haley Stevens, Dianne Feinstein, and Max Rose, and invested more than six-figures in the midterm elections. They applauded Democrats on their historic and monumental election win Tuesday night.

“The 2018 midterm elections were a clear referendum on President Trump, and a rejection of his hateful policies and rhetoric. Jewish voters overwhelmingly and decisively rejected Republicans because they have enabled an agenda that is a betrayal of Jewish and American values,” Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) Executive Director Halie Soifer said in a statement obtained by the Journal.

Soifer also said that the Jewish voter turnout made the difference in securing Democrat victories in close races that proved essential to flipping control of Congress.

JDCA’s efforts to get out the Jewish vote included a comprehensive digital and print ad campaign aimed at reaching more than half a million Jewish voters across the country.

The organization organized hundreds of volunteers for canvassing and phone banking. Many of the 58 candidates JDCA endorsed in the midterm election won tight races for the House, Senate and Governor’s mansions. More than half of JDCA endorsees have won their races, including many seats that were flipped from red to blue (with results still coming in). Democrats’ election victory gives relief to many especially to Jewish Americans

“After the horrific attack in Pittsburgh, the Jewish vote – which has historically been in support of Democrats – was only solidified. Jews turned out in record numbers, and voted in record numbers for Dems,”  JDCA chairman Ron Klein said. “Tonight’s verdict is a resounding rejection of Trump’s politics of hate, division, and violence.”

Jewish Democrats Celebrate Midterm Wins Read More »

NYU Student Senate to Vote on BDS Resolution Through Secret Ballot

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New York University’s (NYU) student senate is planning on voting on a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resolution on Dec. 6 through a secret ballot.

The resolution, titled “Resolution on the Human Rights of Palestinians,” calls on NYU to divest from Caterpillar, General Electric (GE) and Lockheed Martin for doing business with Israel.

“NYU must dedicate itself to ethical conduct in its investment practices by divesting from companies that profit from human rights violations in Palestine and other communities globally,” the resolution states.

Among the student groups supporting the resolution include NYU’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter, NYU’s Jewish Voice for Peace chapter and NYU’s Young Democratic Socialists in America chapter.

The student senate reportedly chose the secret ballot for security reasons, as three students said “they had been threatened in the past for publicly supporting Palestinian rights,” according to the Washington Square News.

However, Hali Haber, CAMERA’s Director of Campus Programming, told JNS that having the vote be on a secret ballot show a “lack of transparency and accountability.”

“Until members of the assembly are willing to attach their own names to the resolution, nobody else should take their vote seriously either,” Haber said.

Six students will be allowed to give arguments in favor and against the resolution.

NYU President Andrew Hamilton has previously denounced BDS in an April town hall.

“The university will not participate in boycotting of academics based in Israel,” Hamilton said. “We believe in academic freedom and the free flow of ideas. Boycotting is antithetical to that vision.”

NYU Student Senate to Vote on BDS Resolution Through Secret Ballot Read More »

Voters Make Their Voices Heard Early at the Polls

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There was already a line of people waiting to vote in the midterm elections at the Burbank Youth Center at 6:45 a.m. on Nov. 6. Many held cups of coffee. Some were still in their pajamas. 

After casting his ballot, Michael told the Journal, “When results come in, [remember] there’s a difference between hatred and anger. There’s a difference between hatred and not getting your way.”

Just down the road in North Hollywood, more voters were lining up at Magnolia Boulevard and Pass Avenue to cast their ballots at 8:30 a.m. The line formed in both directions as the volunteers kept things organized. 

Andrea said, “I’m voting today because I’m tired with how lawmakers have been handling things. I’m hoping today our voice matters. It only took me 30 years to value local elections. They are so paramount.”

Andrew told the Journal, “I dropped off my mail-in ballot [this morning.] I’m voting today so we can take back the House and prevent America from becoming an authoritarian dictatorship.”

At the Burbank and North Hollywood polling stations, volunteers said it was the largest turnout they ’d seen for midterm elections.

At 9:30 a.m., voters at the Sherman Oaks United Methodist Church managed to enter and exit the two rooms filled with voting stations in under 10 minutes. A mix of young and older Democrats crossed the busy intersection to cast their votes while cheering, “Go, blue” and “Blue wave, baby!” 

“I’m voting to express my rights as a citizen and because it’s the right thing to do.”
— Dan, Sherman Oaks

Sue said, “I voted today because it’s an amazing thing to share your voice on an important day and to show Trump he can’t get away with everything.”

Dan said, “I’m voting to express my rights as a citizen and because it’s the right thing to do.”

Over on the Westside at around 9:30 a.m. at Pico-Robertson congregation B’nai David-Judea, a small line already had formed outside the entrance to the synagogue. A security guard asked people where they were from before allowing them inside the building. An empty Los Angeles Police Department patrol car was parked at the curb.

Inside, voters lined up at tables manned by volunteers, including a woman named Helenjane. She told the Journal that she volunteered during the elections for the first time three years ago after retiring from her work in luxury retail.

“I think we all volunteer for the same basic reasons,” she said. “It’s important. We want to be helpful. It’s one way to do your civic responsibility.”

Carrying his “I Voted” sticker, Democrat Stan Bookatz, 76, an optician, said the issues that were important to him in the election were “Health care, immigration, the normal headlines. I’m not a maven on politics, per se, but every vote counts.”

David Leiner said he was happy with how things have been going, citing the economy, less government regulation and fewer taxes. 

“I’m actually an independent,” the 46-year-old Orthodox Jew said. “I vote according to who is the best candidate.”

Leiner supported Donald Trump in the 2016 election and said Trump has proven to be the most pro-Israel president in his lifetime. He added that while he admits the president’s rhetoric on anti-Semitism has been divisive, he likes Trump’s policies.

“I don’t look at the president for morality choices,” he said. “I look at God for morality choices.” 

Alexandra from Sherman Oaks perhaps best summed up the ethos of Election Day when she said, “Vote with your heart. That’s what I told my 4-year-old today. It’s a tough thing to explain to a child but it’s honest.”

Ryan Torok is a staff writer, and Erin Ben-Moche is a digital content manager.

Voters Make Their Voices Heard Early at the Polls Read More »

L.A. City Council Approves Resolution Calling on UCLA to Cancel SJP Event

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The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 6 in favor of a resolution calling on UCLA to cancel the upcoming National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) conference.

According to a source, city councilman Paul Koretz introduced the resolution, which stated the concern that the conference “will promote anti-Semitism.”

“SJP members have posted violent anti-Semitic rhetoric on social media, ranging from calling for the annihilation of the Jewish people, to the admiration of Adolf Hitler and hateful calls to ‘kill Jews’ ‘kill all Zionists’ and ‘let’s stuff some Jews in the oven,’” the resolution states.

The resolution also noted that SJP’s website “comparing Israel to the Nazis” would constitute as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.

Additionally, the resolution stated the concern that SJP would be excluding students from attending the conference who are not approved by SJP or other pro-Palestinian groups on campus.

“A public university should not allow any group to implement a litmus test for event participation on their campus based on an attendee’s beliefs, religion, or national origin,” the resolution states.

Therefore, the resolution argued that this would violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act that “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in federally assisted programs or activities.”

“The Regents of the University of California should let UCLA know that it is not appropriate for SJP to have a meeting on campus, especially where many of the leaders of the organization are calling for violence against Jews,” the resolution stated. “It is never a good time to have this type of event, but given the atmosphere in the country, including the recent shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue and arson at synagogues in New York, it is inappropriate for UCLA to host such a conference.”

Koretz said in a statement, “As we work to increase security at Los Angeles Jewish community institutions in light of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue massacre, bringing the SJP conference to Los Angeles in which leaders and members exhort to ‘kill all the Jews’ and ‘stuff some Jews in the oven’ is also a significant threat to public safety. “

Additionally, Koretz sent a letter to UCLA Chancellor Gene Block expressing similar concerns to what was mentioned in the resolution as well as pointing out that SJP members were involved in a May disruption of a Students Supporting Israel (SSI) event on campus.

“As a UCLA alumnus and as the City Councilmember representing the Fifth District that includes UCLA, I am shocked and disappointed that the University would allow such an event to occur on campus,” Koretz wrote.

Koretz later added, “Although UCLA has a responsibility to allow freedom of speech, our campuses should never become an environment where students of any origin are harassed, bullied, or prohibited from learning.”

On Oct. 31, UCLA issued a cease-and-desist letter to National SJP for using the UCLA Bruin Bear playing with a Palestinian kite as their logo for the conference. NSJP tweeted on Nov. 5 that UCLA’s cease-and-desist letter was “discriminatory” and that they are “extensively reviewing our legal rights with our attorneys.”

UCLA has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the Journal as of publication time.

L.A. City Council Approves Resolution Calling on UCLA to Cancel SJP Event Read More »

2018 Midterm Results and What It Means For U.S. Jews

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Polls have closed in six states and most of Florida s Midterm election day comes to a close in the East Coast. With this in mind, information about the where the House will swing is up in the air.

If Democrats want to take back the House during the “blue wave” they will need to rely on Virginia. The Democrats’ need to win in the 10th District where according to CNN, “both parties say Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock is unlikely to hold onto her seat in the DC suburbs.”

Sen. Tim Kaine is projected to win for a second term in Virginia beating out far-right Republican candidate Corey Stewart. Stewart has been accused of supporting white nationalists, an allegation he has denied. According to the New York Times, Stwearts early opponents Nick Freitas, sent out an email in June telling voters to “reject Corey Stewart’s dog-whistling of white supremacists, anti-Semites and racists.”

Stewart has also amplified President Donald Trump’s rhetoric toward the media and Democrats, accusing them of being an “angry mob.”

Indiana and Kentucky votes have started to roll in favoring Republican candidates while Florida and Virginia are showing Democrat support.

Here in California, earlier Tuesday Darrell Issa announced that Democratic Jewish candidate Mike Levin could win and replace him.

“My district was never in play this cycle. And so it was never funded and quite frankly we know the results already and there will be a Democrat representing La Jolla to Solana Beach for the first time in a number of years,” he told Fox News.

Issa represents California’s 49th Congressional district, which covers the coast between  San Diego and Long Beach. Diane L. Harkey is the Republican running to replace him.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is the projected winner for Vermont while Sen. Bill Nelson is projected to win Florida with 51.9% of votes.

Polls are still open in California and close at 8 p.m. PT (11 ET). Polls close on the East Coast at 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. We will update when more information is given.

Update: CNN is projecting that Democratic state Sen. Jennifer Wexton, will take a Virginia House seat.

Update: Voter registration around Los Angeles has slowed down due to problems with machines. According to ABC7 Long lines formed at First United Methodist Church in North Hollywood and in Lanark Park in Canoga Park. Ballot boxes were jammed or reportedly broken at both locations. As a result, voters who had sample ballots were allowed to vote using provisional ballots. All other voters were asked to return to the location later Tuesday.

The boxes have since been replaced and the four hour wait times have halted.

Update 6:06 p.m. PT: The Florida governor race and Senate race have moved to lean Republican. Marsha Blackburn is projected to win and keep her Senate seat in Tennessee with 62% of the vote.

Update: 6:30 p.m. Garlin Gilchrist, the running mate of Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer, is under fire from the Jewish community for supporting Hamas and demonizing anyone “kissing Israel’s ass.” These remarks were made on Twitter almost a decade ago.

“I’m suck [sick] of politicians and Evangelicals kissing Israel’s ass regardless of what they do in the name of ‘defense’,” Gilchrist wrote on Jan. 4, 2009.

Tweets were found this week after Whitmer declined to take a stance on the BDS movement at a town hall event.

Whitmer is currently leading in the polls against Republican Bill Schuette. Michigan candidates have been a hot topic when it comes to anti-Israel and anti-semitism rhetoric. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat running unopposed and expected to be elected from the state’s 13th Congressional District as the first Muslim woman in Congress, supports BDS and revoked her two-state solution stance after the primaries. Republican House candidate Lena Epstein is running in Michigan’s 11th District and invited a Messianic rabbi to pray on behalf of the Jewish community following the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Shooting.

Republican Mike Braun is flipping Indiana red in the Senate taking Sen. Joe Donnelly’s place. Fox News is projecting an 82 percent chance the Democrats take over the House and a 68 percent chance Republicans win over the Senate.

Democrat Ilhan Omar has defeated Republican Jennifer Zielinski in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional district. Omar is the first Muslim woman elected to U.S. Congress.

Ilhan Omar is a Somalian woman who came to the United States through a Kenyan refugee camp at the age of 12 and was elected to the Minnesota House in 2016; she is currently running for Congress in the district vacated by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who is running for Minnesota attorney general and has past associations with Louis Farrakhan. As she is gaining notoriety, some of her past tweets on Israel are coming under scrutiny.

The Journal reported back in August that Omar In 2012, Omar tweeted, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evils of Israel.” When someone on Twitter accused Omar of being “a proud Jew hater” Omar responded: “Drawing attention to the apartheid Israeli regime is far from hating Jews. You are a hateful sad man, I pray to Allah you get the help you need and find happiness.”

Update: 6:45 p.m. Jewish progressive Jared Polis wins his governor’s race in Colorado beating State State Treasurer Walker Stapleton (R). Polis makes American history being the first openly gay man elected governor.

Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 29, wins election to U.S. House in New York’s 14th congressional district making her the youngest woman elected in Congress. She defeated economics professor Anthony Pappas. Ocasio-Cortez has been wishy-washy when asked about finding a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Jewish veteran and Democrat, Max Rose, defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Dan Donovan in New York’s 11th Congressional District. The district contains Staten Island and a sliver of Brooklyn and was the only district in New York City to vote for President Trump in 2016. Now, a Democrat will serve in Congress.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won re-election to the Senate Tuesday beating Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke, in one of the closest races of the 2018 midterms. This was the first time in 20 years where Cruz faced serious opposition.

Polls just closed in California, Hawaii, Part of Idaho, Oregon, North Dakota and Washington.

ABC News and Fox News are projecting that Gavin Newsom will become the next governor of California

Precincts in New York are reporting that Antonio Delgado leads by 10 percentage points over John Faso with 53 percent. Delgado who raised Jewish is projected to win New York’s 19th House District.

California’s Dianne Feinstein will retain U.S. Senate seat in California, ABC News projects. Feinstein, 85, won her bid for a fifth term representing California in the U.S. Senate, extending her career in politics that began in 1969.

Congressional candidate Katie Hill, a 31-year-old Millennial, is
running to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Knight in California’s
25th district.

Knight, the only Republican currently representing an L.A.
County-based district, ran a controversial campaign ad featuring an
air force veteran who had posted anti-Semitic and racist videos
online. The Knight campaign ultimately took down the ad.

California’s 25th district includes Santa Clarita, Simi Valley and
part of the Antelope Valley. It is Hill’s hometown.

The Congress 25th district has been on the Democrat’s radar ever since
former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton carried it in 2016. Hill
stepped down from her job as executive director of People Assisting
the Homeless, or PATH, to run for the seat.

The race between her and Knight is expected to be a tight one. Though
Knight is a two-term incumbent, Hill has garnered some high profile
supporters, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose
political action committee has contributed to Hill’s campaign. She has
also been endorsed by the likes of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and
received $2,700 from the Democratic Midterm Victory Fund, according to
opensecrets.org. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti is among those who have
worked to raise money for the fund.

Hill is openly bisexual. She is married to man and the two live
together on an animal rescue farm in Santa Clarita, according to the
bio on her website.

Nate Silver’s election forecasting site fivethirtyeight.com says Hill
has a more than 63-percent chance of winning the seat. Her victory
would turn blue a district that has been red since 1993.

California, the most populous U.S. state, has 53 congressional
districts. Polls closed here at 8 p.m.

CNN called the race for Florida’s Ron DeSantis at 8 p.m. PT. The ex-GOP congressman had a lead of 79,000 votes with 99 percent of precincts reporting, “barely edging out Democrat Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee who was vying to be the first black governor in Florida’s 173-year history,” according to Rolling Stone. DeSantis is known for his relations with white nationalists and racist remarks. He dodged the conversation when forced to condemn his racist supporters. On Fox News, he even used the phrase “monkey this up” when referring to Gillum’s progressive ideals.

Before California votes were even finalized, Democrats had claimed almost all 23 seats needed to take back House. Republicans will continue to hold reign over the Senate. Democrats also won governorships in Midwest states Illinois, Kansas and Michigan.

Early polling results show a lead for Republican Duncan Hunter for San Diego’s 50th District. Hunter is up against Democratic small business owner Ammar Campa-Najjar.

2018 Midterm Results and What It Means For U.S. Jews Read More »

Club Cancels Israeli Water Polo Match in Spain Due to BDS Pressure

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Screenshot from Twitter.

An Israeli women’s water polo match was canceled on Nov. 5 in Spain due to pressure from the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

The match, which was set to occur on Nov. 6 as part of the European championship, was initially scheduled to take place at the Nautical Club in Molins de Rei, a Barcelona suburb. However, the club backed out of the event, a move that reportedly “shocked” the Israeli team, according to Haaretz.

Revital Gluska, president of the Israeli Water Polo Association, told Channel 10 that she had initially thought the cancellation was due to an “internal matter.”

“But then the [Israeli] embassy in Spain contacted me, and said that the city council there caved into BDS pressure,” Gluska said.

Gluska added that the city’s mayor and the head of the Spanish Olympic Committee apologized for the matter.

The match was rescheduled to occur at a different Barcelona suburb on Nov. 6.

“It is very upsetting when politics interferes with sports,” Gluska said. “We will continue to focus on our mission for this visit, promoting Israeli water polo and closing the gap with a top world [champion] team.”

As the Journal has previously reported, Spain’s courts struck down municipality BDS laws earlier in 2018 after efforts from The Lawfare Project.

Club Cancels Israeli Water Polo Match in Spain Due to BDS Pressure Read More »

It’s Not Just About the Ice Cream

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Last week, I was stunned with an announcement from Ben & Jerry’s about a new flavor “celebrating activists who are continuing to resist oppression, harmful environmental practices and injustice.” Financial grants were provided to four organizations that Ben and Jerry’s felt represented social activism. I was horrified to learn that one of the organization’s receiving the grant was the Women’s March, primarily founded by Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory, both vocal and virulent anti-Semites.

Sarsour presents herself as a “proud anti-Israel activist” who champions boycotting Israel. At the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention this past September in Houston, Texas, Sarsour called “for the dehumanization of Israelis.” Her co-chair, Mallory, is also a vocal supporter of Louis Farrakhan, a long time virulently anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader. On Instagram last year, Mallory posted herself alongside Farrakhan calling him the “GOAT,” which means “Greatest of All Time.” More recently, Farrakhan has referred to Jews as “termites” (the same words the Nazi’s used) and Satanic. This week, Farrakhan has traveled to Iran and called for the destruction of America and of the State of Israel.

In the wake of the largest anti-Semitic attack in the history of our country just over a week ago in Pittsburgh, I was shocked that three days later, Ben & Jerry’s, founded by two individuals who identify as Jewish (and sold to Unilever in 2000), would personally make an announcement of providing grants to various groups who best represent “Resistance.” The news was all over the Internet and news outlets.

So, with little options on my end, I threw out the Ben & Jerry’s in my freezer and emailed the ice cream supplier that services the eight stores that we own in the greater Los Angeles area. I asked them to remove all Ben & Jerry’s products. I also copied a contact at Ben & Jerry’s that I found on the Internet and told them what I was doing with a decision to no longer carry Ben & Jerry ice creams. I posted my opinions and concerns on my personal Facebook page.

I was surprised how quickly I received an email from the Ben & Jerry’s organization with a press release about the grants from the company. The email also requested that they speak with me the next business day.

According to Ben & Jerry’s press release, it stated about the grants that “The mission of Women’s March is to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change. Women’s March is a women-led movement providing intersectional education on a diverse range of issues and creating entry points for new grassroots activists & organizers to engage in their local communities through training, outreach programs and events. The Women’s March is committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect.”

I eagerly looked forward to my call to enlighten Ben & Jerry’s about leaders Sarsour and  Mallory and that the Women’s March was anything but what they described. I wanted to share with them that Sarsour has repeatedly told the world that you can’t be a feminist and a Zionist. Sarsour has stated, “that nothing was creepier than a Zionist” and that she suggested cutting the genitalia of women she didn’t like. I wanted to share with the Ben & Jerry’s organization that this past July Sarsour publicly wished a “Happy Birthday to Assata Shakur” (AKA Joanne Chesimard) who remains on FBI’s most wanted list.

I wanted to share with the Ben &  Jerry’s organization that Mallory has also publicly praised Fidel Castro, the former president of Cuba. It was during his regimen that he rounded up (arrested) gay people and put them in Cuban concentration camps.

After a brief exchange of emails, a call was scheduled for me with Ben & Jerry’s senior marketing executive Christopher Miller and two other staff members at the company. The power of my comments on my Facebook post seemed unbelievable to me.

But what happened during “our” call today was shocking and deeply disturbing.  Miller was absolute and committed to Ben & Jerry’s support of both Sarsour & Mallory and the Women’s March itself. They informed me that they were supporting organizations  that were consistent in their concept of progressive change, core American values and democracy. I told them that these women did not represent core American values and democracy and their words were hateful and damaging. I added that if these are spokespeople for America, we all need to be concerned!

I was then told by Miller that Unilever was the real victim because they sold products to Israel in the face of BDS (Boycott, Divestment & Sanction) threats and retaliations against American companies. They actually stated that they still sold products in the “occupied territories” and that Ben & Jerry’s operates in a unique manner in Israel with a licensee that allows them to appear to Israel focused. All proceeds from the license are not shared with Unilever, but are donated to causes as not to appear to truly support Israel.

I shared with the Ben & Jerry’s representatives my work on fighting anti-Semitism, racism and hatred in the United States. I shared with them that my husband & I were honored by the ADL three years ago as Humanitarians of the Year. I also shared our ongoing work to support police and first responders.

I discussed inclusiveness, especially in Israel. I told them that I currently was working with the Jewish National Fund to build the finest culinary academy in the world in the northern region of Israel. I shared our vision to utilize education and food to drive prosperity and bring people together. I continued to inform them that we were also building medical centers in the north of Israel that would improve the lives of so many people across religions. I told them about the many organizations that I am involved with and how we work to support children of all backgrounds in Israel giving them programs, clothing, meals and hope for the future. And love…

I ended my call with the Ben & Jerry’s representatives more disappointed than before it began. I realized a sad fact that this is the new anti-Semitism.  I realized that I am too protected in my bubble living in my pocket of Los Angeles & Beverly Hills. I had not faced aAnti-Semitism in almost two decades. And now, corporate representatives from a product that I sold and served in my own home were informing me about their struggles and sacrifices specific to a relationship to Israel.

I am proud that the State of California and  the City of Beverly Hills have Memorandums of Understandings with the State of Israel (MOU’s). I am proud that my city celebrates Jewish Heritage Month at the Los Angeles City Hall and  Israel’s 70th in the City of Beverly Hills. I am proud that the state of California has outlawed BDS.

There is a new anti-Semitism rearing its ugly head in the United States  and elsewhere. There are standards and kindness for other people and there is another one for Jews. There is also an increase in white nationalist supremacists brazenly speaking against Jews and  other minorities. I am asking people to wake up and and not accept these acts against Jews and Israel. I am asking that we fight the scourge of anti-Semitism and other acts of racism and indifference to others. We need to share our voices and say that providing grants to individuals who openly refer to Jews and Israel in horrific words and terms is not acceptable in 2018. We can not and will not accept anti-Semitism in any manner. That we expect decency and inclusiveness for all no matter where they live.

And sadly, when the call was over, I had to acknowledge that it’s not just about the ice cream…

Gina Raphael co-owns Mickey Fine Pharmacy & Grill in eight locations across Southern California

It’s Not Just About the Ice Cream Read More »

Members of the Tribe Show Up to Vote

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The Midterm Election Day is here and Jewish Americans all around the country are headed to the polls to cast their votes. If you think the famous members of the tribe are skipping out on fulfilling their civic duty, you’ve got another think coming. Here’s a roundup of our favorite nice Jewish celebrity boys and girls who are celebrating Nov. 6 all over social media.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp1_-bKFqHh/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpxLU1th2Vq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpzb5v-lhBF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://twitter.com/Racheldoesstuff/status/1059506119498842112

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp2C8nYlbDj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp0IaZknqf8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://twitter.com/amyschumer/status/1058536804310224896

 

Members of the Tribe Show Up to Vote Read More »

Two Nice Jewish Boys Episode 114 – Sufism: An Islam of Peace and Love

Leave a Comment / Podcasts, Two Nice Jewish Boys /

Like it or not, the 21st century is the century of Islam. This 1,400-year-old religion has around 1.5 billions believers, and its philosophy and morals are profoundly shaping the world in which we live.

Like any religion, Islam has its beauty as well as its dark sides. To some parts of western society, Islam is associated with warmongering, cruelty and terror. To others, it’s just another religion to be respected alongside Judaism and Christianity.
Many know the story of the two most dominant streams in Islam, of Sunni and Shia, forever torn in a nasty conflict fueled by ancient grudges and bad blood. But amidst the wars within Islam and the wars it’s fighting with western society – certain streams in the religion remain quiet in the dark, waiting to be discovered. One such group is the Sufis.
Sufis are a mystical sect of Islam, established around 200 years after Muhammad. They believe in peace and love, and they live in poverty, dedicating their lives to helping others.

Dr. Sarah Sviri is a Professor Emerita at the Arabic Language and Literature department at The Hebrew University. She is an extremely prominent scholar of Sufism, and her book, The Taste of Hidden Things, depicts her lifelong studies.

She joins us to talk about a lesser known side of Islam.

Prof. Sviri’s book on Amazon, and her page at the Hebrew University website

Main photo by Schorle

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Two Nice Jewish Boys Episode 114 – Sufism: An Islam of Peace and Love Read More »

Rosner's Domain Podcast

Yaacov Lozowick: Is America Getting More Anti-Semitic?

Leave a Comment / Podcasts, Rosner's Domain Podcast /

Shmuel Rosner and Yaacov Lozowick discuss the history of antisemitism and the possibility of its return to the US.

Yaacov Lozowick is an Israeli historian and writer. He was the director of the archives at Yad Vashem and Israel’s Chief Archivist at the Israel State Archives.

Yaacov Lozowick

Follow Shmuel Rosner on Twitter.

Yaacov Lozowick: Is America Getting More Anti-Semitic? Read More »