fbpx

GET HOME DELIVERY! CLICK HERE »

ADVERTISE
pick up locations
HOME DELIVERY
donate

Jewish Journal

Connect. Inform. Inspire.

June 17, 2019

John Cusack Blames ‘Bot’ for Retweeting Anti-Semitic Meme

Leave a Comment / Online, United States /

Actor John Cusack admitted on June 17 that he shouldn’t have retweeted an anti-Semitic meme, claiming that “a bot got me.”

Cusack retweeted a post featuring a hand crushing down a group of people with a Star of David on the sleeve of the arm. The image also features a quote wrongly attributed to Voltaire and is typically attributed to neo-Nazi Kevin Strom. Cusack wrote in his since-deleted tweet, “Follow the money.”

Cusack later acknowledged that he shouldn’t have retweeted the tweet but claimed that the “context was a retweet about Palestinians hospitals being bombed.”

https://twitter.com/johncusack/status/1140760112023388160

The American Jewish Committee tweeted, “If only John had some sort of Hot Tub Time Machine to go back in time and stop himself from retweeting this.”

Others weighed in:

https://twitter.com/arielsobelle/status/1140786187671461888

Cusack has starred in “Being John Malkovich,” “Say Anything” and “The Sure Thing.”

John Cusack Blames ‘Bot’ for Retweeting Anti-Semitic Meme Read More »

US to Send 1,000 Additional Troops to Middle East As Tensions Rise with Iran

Leave a Comment / Online, United States /

The United States will be sending an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East while tensions increase between the U.S. and Iran, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan announced June 17.

Shanahan said in a statement that Iran’s “recent hostile power” necessitated the extra troops in the region.

“The action today is being taken to ensure the safety and welfare of our military personnel working throughout the region and to protect our national interests,” Shanahan said. “We will continue to monitor the situation diligently and make adjustments to force levels as necessary given intelligence reporting and credible threats.”

The additional troops come after the U.S. accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on June 13; Iran has denied involvement. The Pentagon released two photos on Monday showing Iran removing a mine from one of the tankers that hadn’t detonated and a hole on the side of the same tanker that purportedly came from a mine. The photos are evidence that Iran was behind the attack, the Pentagon argued.

Also on Monday, Iran threatened to breach the uranium enrichment limits set under the Iran nuclear deal in 10 days if Western countries don’t agree to a new nuclear deal after President Donald Trump exited from the deal in May 2018. Former International Atomic Energy Agency head Olli Heinonen estimated on June 5 that Iran could develop nuclear weapons in six-to-eight months.

The Trump administration has been ramping up sanctions against Iran, including possible sanctions cracking down on European countries’ trade with Iran.

US to Send 1,000 Additional Troops to Middle East As Tensions Rise with Iran Read More »

Palestinian Maintenance Man at West Bank Settlement School Accused of Raping 7-year-old Jewish Girl

Leave a Comment / Israel, Online /

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Palestinian working as a maintenance man at a school in a West Bank settlement was charged with the rape and abduction of a 7-year-old Jewish girl.

On Monday, a day after he was indicted in a West Bank military court, several right-wing lawmakers alleged that the rape was a terror attack, though the Military Advocate General’s Office said it found no evidence that the attack was nationalistically motivated. The indictment came after a 3-month police investigation, according to reports. The man denies the charges.

The accused, who is from the West Bank village of Dir Kadis, allegedly became friendly with the girl by giving her sweets, finally bringing her to a building near the school where he held her against her will and raped her. The girl reportedly told police that at least two other men who knew the accused Palestinian were present at the time of the rape.

The name of the Jewish settlement and of the girl and her family are under a gag order so that she will not be publicly identified.

Avigdor Liberman, head of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, called for the death penalty “for the heinous terrorist.”

“It’s not pedophilia, it’s pure terrorism, one of the most serious cases I’ve heard of in the past few years,” he said in a post on Facebook.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely of the Likud party in a tweet called the attack “sexual terror” and decried “how low can our enemies sink.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a tweet called the rape “shocking” and said it “shakes all of our hearts.” He called for punishment to the fullest extent of the law. This led Labor lawmaker Shelly Yacimovitch to note on Twitter that this is only the second time that Netanyahu has addressed rape, “and the other was also to offer nationalistic incitement.”

An attorney for the girl’s parents from the Honenu legal aid organization said in a statement that the crime had been nationalistically motivated because the attackers allegedly told the victim that she had “deserved” the rape.

In February, a Palestinian man from Hebron admitted to raping an Israeli teen, 19-year-old Ori Ansbacher, for nationalist reasons.

“I entered Israel with a knife because I wanted to become a martyr and murder a Jew. I met the girl by chance,” Arafat Irafaiya, 29, told investigators.

Palestinian Maintenance Man at West Bank Settlement School Accused of Raping 7-year-old Jewish Girl Read More »

The Light of Memory

Leave a Comment / Blogs /

Sunday, September 16 was Father’s Day. Though my children remember it’s their responsibility to honor their dad, I often feel the need to create a more celebratory setting – a barbeque or brunch in our backyard, to make sure we gather, together, so we can toast the man of the hour, who not only worked hard to provide for his family, but who also guided and led through his work as rabbi so Judaism would remain central to his children. But this Sunday was also the Yahrzeit of my father, Benyamin HaCohen, a Holocaust survivor, whose youthful innocence and courage forced him to step into a leadership position in his own way, by virtue of his natural born talent to repair any mechanical device. The Nazis, alert to such talent, set him in front of numerous pieces of equipment over the war years (until being put in Dachau), including the infamous Enigma decoding machine. My dad’s skill saved his and some of his closest family members lives. After Shabbat I lit a candle to connect to this unique and special man, being reminded of this humble and loving man. Father’s Day is a mixed blessing as we can celebrate the dads that live as well as remember those that are gone.  

The rabbis, in their wisdom, opened a pathway for memory by using light, the flame of the candle, to ignite the warmth of the past. The burning flame of the Yahrzeit candle, lit on the anniversary of the passing of our loved ones, dances in front of our eyes reminding us of beautiful memories of shared moments, of the goodness and love that was showered upon us during our lifetime. The very first thing created by G-d was light, the supernal spiritual light that represents goodness, and each soul has a spark of this Divine light. In fact, Proverbs 20 states the “The soul of man is a candle for G-d.” Every soul lights the way for Divine goodness. It is a reminder that G-d needs us as much as we need G-d.

It is believed by some that by lighting the Yahrzeit candle we participate in the soul’s continual travels through the next world. In fact, a deeper look at the flame reveals multiple layers and colors. The glow of the black, orange and blue, often visible when we focus on its brilliance, has been aligned with the three parts of the soul, Nefesh (body), Ruach (mind) and N’shama (spirit). The powerful flame brings our own being into wholeness, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, touching us in a way that warms every part of our being. The resplendent flame also encourages continual action in this world so the departed soul will rise and ascend upward to the heavenly realm. It is believed that through our own acts of mitzvot and Torah study, we both atone for the departed soul (if needed) and gives pleasure to the soul, as Proverbs 13 reminds us, “Light of the righteous rejoice.”

The tiniest flame can light the largest space. The power of light, reflected in the beauty of the flame, enhances a moment in time and fills us with an inner glow. The Jewish calendar provides four times during the year for Yahrzeit rituals and each individual adds a 5th a personal and intimate moment on the anniversary of the soul’s departing so that we can continue to stay connected with those we loved and feel blessed for their presence in our lives.    

The Light of Memory Read More »

Official New Zealand Government Website Wipes Israel Off the Map

Leave a Comment / Israel, Online, Worldwide /

SYDNEY, Australia (JTA) — Immigration New Zealand, an official government website, published a fact sheet with a map of the Middle East that showed a “Palestine,” but not Israel.

Following a barrage of complaints on social media, the web page was removed, though screenshots remain.

The Israel Institute of New Zealand called for a retraction of the map.

“The most immediately obvious of the errors was a map labeling the whole of modern-day Israel as ‘Palestine,’” said the institute’s director, Ashley Church. “This is incredibly offensive and the equivalent of New Zealand Immigration displaying a map of the UK which removed Scotland and Wales and referred to the entirety of the British Isles as England.”

The fact sheet, which offered information about Palestinian immigrants to New Zealand, also identified East Jerusalem as “the designated capital of the State of Palestine.” There also was no mention of Palestinian terrorism, but information on the page said that Israel caused “massive repression of Palestinians” during the second intifada.

The web page also mentioned Israel’s “economic sanctions and a blockade on Hamas-controlled Gaza” with no further explanation.

“Our Immigration Minister needs to immediately apologize for the offending image and confirm that it does not reflect Government policy; Immigration New Zealand needs to issue a statement confirming that the website does not represent the views of the Ministry; and an investigation needs to be undertaken to find out who was responsible and to put in place measures to ensure that this does not happen again,” Church said.

Official New Zealand Government Website Wipes Israel Off the Map Read More »

Orthodox Union Establishes Kosher Food Lifeline 

Leave a Comment / Online /

The Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, has established Kosher Food Lifeline (KFL), a new division that helps existing food pantries, Tomchei Shabbos programs and other social services across the United States to provide Kosher food to Jews in need.

Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane told the Journal in a statement, “The Orthodox Union was founded over 120 years ago on the principle Jews must help their fellow Jews to practice the sacred mitzvot and keep Yiddishkeit alive in America. Creating access to kosher food, one of the most fundamental components of Jewish life, remains a priority even today, and we are eager to support the kosher food pantries and programs that provide critical access to kosher food to those in need.”

KFL offers need-based food programs, financial assistance, relationships with kosher food distributors, government grants and other logistical support.

Kedem, a food products supplier that emphasizes kosher, gluten-free and all-natural foods, provided a $200,000 grant to launch the new program before Passover 2019. 

Fifty-three partner organizations delivered over 150,000 pounds of Kosher-for-Passover food to more than 170,000 Jewish families in need around the U.S. including Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois, Rhode Island and the New York tri-state area.

“It was truly a win-win situation,” Kedem Vice President Charles Herzog said in a statement to the Journal. “Food insecurity is an important issue for us. We are always looking for ways to work with our communities and help where we can, and the OU’s Kosher Food Lifeline program ensured that we were sending exactly what was needed, where it was needed. We look forward to future partnerships with KLF and its network of Kosher food pantries.”

Individuals have kosher food-access challenges for a variety of reasons, including economic issues or limited mobility to physically obtain the food. The 215 food agencies in 24 states across the country provide low-cost or free kosher food to individuals and families who struggle to access food.

“Financial strains within in the Jewish community cannot be understated,” Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Allen Fagin said in a statement to the Journal. “As the OU tackles affordability issues on a number of fronts, we recognize those in our community who struggle each day to put nutritious kosher food on the table. We must work together to support the food pantries and agencies that serve them and the OU is uniquely positioned to do so given that we are the largest global Kashrut certifier.”

“By coordinating purchases and helping corporate food donors to direct donations where they are needed, we can increase efficiency, eliminate waste, bring prices down, and hopefully, help these agencies provide more nutritious, protein-rich kosher food to those who need it most,” Kosher Food Lifeline Founding Director Allison Deal said in a statement to the Journal.

Orthodox Union Establishes Kosher Food Lifeline  Read More »

Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found at Two Canadian Schools

Leave a Comment / Online, Worldwide /

Anti-Semitic and racist graffiti was found in two schools in Brandon, Canada on June 15, according to local police.

The Brandon police believe that the graffiti was spray-painted on Linden Lanes School and Vincent Massey High School during the hours of 4-5 a.m. Staff Sergeant Guy Roberts described the graffiti as featuring “anti-Semitic comments and logos” as well as “racial slurs including the N-word,” per the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Roberts also said that the schools were in the process of cleaning up the graffiti.

Brandon School Division Superintendent Marc Casavant told CTV News in an email, “These situations are unfortunate but a reminder in the work that lies ahead in educating a community.”

The police believe the suspect, seen on surveillance footage, is a male in his late teens or early 20s, wearing a black baseball hat and a black bandana covering his face.

According to B’nai Brith Canada’s annual audit in April, anti-Semitic incidents in the country rose from 1,752 in 2017 to 2,041 in 2018, a record high for the third straight year. B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights Director Ran Ukashi said, “This represents the third straight record-breaking year for anti-Semitism in Canada, reflecting a ‘new normal’ regarding the landscape of anti-Semitism here.”

Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found at Two Canadian Schools Read More »

ADL CEO Calls Malaysia PM’s Anti-Semitic Remarks ‘Disturbing’

Leave a Comment / Online, United States /

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed’s anti-Semitic comments at a June 17 speaking appearance at Cambridge Union “disturbing” in a tweet.

Cambridge Union Speakers Officer of the Union Adam Davies asked Mohamed, “Why do you say that the Jewish people in general are inclined towards money?” Mohamed responded, “I have some Jewish friends, very good friends. They are not like the other Jews, that’s why they are my friends.”

Mohamed’s answer prompted laughter from the audience.

Greenblatt tweeted, “Unclear what is more disturbing: Malaysian PM Mahathir’s #antiSemitic comments or the audience’s laughter in response. Shameful that the Cambridge Union saw fit to provide a platform to this unrepentant anti-Semite.”

The American Jewish Committee similarly tweeted Mohamed’s comments “should have drawn horrified gasps, not laughter.”

Cambridge Union defended their decision to invite Mohamed in a statement posted to Twitter, saying that Davies and members of the audience challenged the Malaysian prime minister on prior anti-Semitic statements. They also claimed that the video showing laughter from the audience was “selectively edited.

The U.K. Campaign Against Anti-Semitism disputed Cambridge Union’s defense, arguing that Mahathir’s past statements were only “meekly” challenged that “the laughter came from across the crowd, including your own members.”

Mahathir has a long history of anti-Semitic remarks, including a 2012 blog post stating, “I am glad to be labeled anti-Semitic.” Malaysia lost the opportunity to host the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships after the Malaysian government barred Israeli athletes from participating in the tournament.

ADL CEO Calls Malaysia PM’s Anti-Semitic Remarks ‘Disturbing’ Read More »

Why Does My Age Matter?

Leave a Comment / 50 Plus, Blogs, Los Angeles /

I recently read an article about the popular show Sex in the City, which, as I am sure you recall, was about 4 women in New York and their much-discussed romances. In the article they interviewed the writer, Candice Bushnell, who said that she was writing a new book and creating a show called “Is there still sex in the city.” The show will be in a similar vein about women, relationships and friendships, but it will be about the age group of women in their 50’s and 60’s. As much as I enjoyed some of the episodes of the show and even watched the movies, my initial thought was that it would be fun to watch a show about women in my age group. Then I thought, hold on a moment, my life is certainly different from someone in their 20’s or 30’s, but for any woman who is single and wants to be in a relationship, the issues discussed in the earlier show, are just as relevant to older women. Even if a woman is over 50, she may still want to meet her Mr. Big (without the years of drama of course), she would still love to have fun nights out with her friends, she may still want to start a new career… in many ways a woman over 50 has dreams and goals that are quite similar. It made me wondered why there has to be a different show for a different age group, even though I understood the reasoning. The fact that we are “older,” does not mean we cannot change direction, start over or have complicated love lives and that there is no more Sex in the City after 50!

Things have definitely changed for women. In my mother’s day, once the kids were out of school you had hobbies if you were not working and starting a new career was not as common as it is today. If you were single you did not meet men in a bar or party, you were introduced by family or something more demure. One night stands were definitely not a thing, although I am pretty sure they happened. There are many women today, who, even after 50 have gone back to school to study for a new career and is taking a completely different direction. However, for those who do, there is a whole other issue to consider. When we were younger we merely had competition from other people of the same or similar age, who might be vying for the same job. Now, however, even if an older woman is more qualified, there is often the issue of an employer preferring a younger person. In fact many businesses are filled with young, hip people of both sexes (think Google or YouTube) and an older person would kind of stand out like a sore thumb. We may be just as creative, work as hard, have as much energy and up on the latest of whatever is trending… but we are not considered for many positions because of our AGE! Ridiculous!

Sadly, women over 50 seem to be treated as though they are invisible. To add insult to injury, when an older woman goes to parties, they complain that while they may meet some great men, those men prefer to chase after the women who are much younger. I spoke to a friend of mine, Lori Hart, who is in the beauty business and who is, at the tender age of 65, also reinventing and restructuring her life. Lori specializes in anti-aging treatments and told me how so many women at legacy ages, come to her studio feeling that they somehow have to compete with younger women for dates and this often leads them to trying awfully scary plastic surgery procedures as well as fillers and injectables.

I know this topic has been discussed and discussed but it took on a whole new meaning when she told me that often this search of perfection and youth starts as early now for women in their 30’s! Lori has had her own run-in with liposuction that left her with digestive issues and does not believe in any harmful treatments or surgical procedures. Women have in fact, searched her out to help with botched procedures. Well, I will let Lori tell you in her own words. Click on the link to read Lori’s experiences with women who search for youth in all the wrong places.

Thank you for spending this time with me!

Daliah

Why Does My Age Matter? Read More »

The Fringe Festival Grows Up

Leave a Comment / Blogs /
I have been covering the Hollywood Fringe Festival, held here for the past ten years, for six years now. I’ve also been going to the 2019 Fringe Festival this past few days, and simply could not be more impressed at how this festival has evolved and grown into a world-class performing arts celebration.  Seats are filled, ticket sales are up, and the quality and variety of these live performances are remarkable and diverse. The shows are impressively and professionally produced, often on quite limited budgets.
Ben and Stacy Hill, and a caring and dedicated staff and team of volunteers work tirelessly to bring the community top-notch entertainment, theatre, musical acts, comedy, dance, and solo performances.  This year, the overall quality and variety of shows are simply breathtaking. Fringe Festivals were started in Scotland in 1947, on the fringes of the snooty Edinburgh International Festival.  Now fringe festivals are all over the world, and are a well-spring of independent, emerging artistic talent. Fringe festivals provide invaluable opportunities for creative folks to polish their art, network and gain invaluable production experience.  They also give their hosting communities huge economic and cultural benefits.The Hollywood Fringe Festival is one of the largest fringe festivals and is ever expanding, with more shows, larger audiences, and ever-higher quality productions as the years fly by.The Hollywood Fringe Festival opened on June 13 this year, and runs through June 30th.  It is held near Santa Monica Blvd. and up and down the street near Highland and Vine, with other venues sprinkled north and south in Hollywood nearby.  I highly recommend you check out the festival, and see at least a few of the outstanding offerings this year. All the information, schedule, and descriptions of the performances are available here.

They also have a delightful YouTube channel called Fringe TV that shares videos of many of the events and parties. If you can’t get out to the festival, at least screen some of the YouTube Fringe TV videos online. They’re most entertaining.

In addition, there is an excellent free book called Hollywood Fringe Festival Guide – 2019 which covers all the events, schedule, ticketing information, and details on nearby restaurants and bars.  The Fringe guidebook is available for free at Fringe Central, at 6450 Santa Monica Blvd., and at the various venues and theaters of the festival.

Fringe Central is right in the heart of the festival. This is a friendly, colorful bar with a Fringe Concierge where you can sip a drink, buy Fringe merchandise, and mix and mingle with fellow Fringers, staff members, and other live theater lovers.

You can also buy a Fringe button for $5 that gives you $1.00 off tickets and discounts at Fringe Hotspots, and $1 off drinks at Fringe Central, etc. Many of the local restaurants and bars offer 10% to 15% discounts to Fringe participants, too. A complete list of discounts available is in the Hollywood Fringe Festival Guide.

The Festival also has wonderful opening night and closing night parties which are open to the public where you can meet and mingle with the talented performers, meet some of the staff and fellow Fringers.  They throw great parties that are simply too much fun.

One of the most delightful things about Fringe shows is the chance to meet and congratulate the casts and crews of these shows immediately after the performances.  These dedicated performers work tirelessly to perfect their art, and very much deserve our admiration and support.

For our Jewish Journal friends, the Fringe Festival ties to Jewish culture and history are numerous and varied.  There is a show called “Shiva for Anne Frank,” a one-woman play written and performed by Rachel McKay Steele; numerous other productions by Jewish actors and writers, and Clementine (reviewed below) which is based on the true story of an actress/mother and her daughter and son.  She is married to a Jewish man in real life, and their two children are Jewish.   Many of the productions feature Jewish actors and writers.  Also, the Opening Night party for Fringe Festival itself was held at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Anita May Rosenstein Campus, a well-known Jewish philanthropist and descendant of the May Co. Department stores founder.

If you are hungry, there are food trucks offering delicious treats to keep up your energy as you trek from one show to another.  Every dish I’ve had from their food trucks has been tasty and nicely presented.

I recommend arriving early to secure a parking spot nearby.  There is on-street parking, and some lots in the area, but if you arrive early you can stroll along and peruse the many theatres in the area, grab some of the postcards describing the shows, and enjoy Fringe Central or other venues in the area.

All of this information is in the Fringe Guidebook which is available at Fringe Central, and on-line at hollywoodfringe.org.

And just starting this year, there is a comfortable new Starbucks at Santa Monica Blvd. and Vine.  Yummy coffees, sandwiches and treats, and open until 10 pm, and 11:30 pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

Below are just a few reviews of the performances I have seen already.  I will return again to see more shows and update here as I do.  I just wish I had the time and energy to see all 400 shows!

Here are capsule reviews of shows I attended in the order that I saw them:

“Monkey Mind” A delightful comic/tragic take on a young singer’s journey from a depressed teen to a gifted singer, all encouraged by her voice teacher.  She tells her to ignore her Monkey Mind of doubt, discouragement and negativity.  Just delightful, outstanding singing too.  This show was written by a renowned Los Angeles voice teacher Terri Weiss.  Her own students cast the show, and from the talent they display, her teaching skills are formidable.  Directed and choreographed by John Coppola (yes, he’s related), this is a bright, diverting, and uplifting gem.

“My Trans Wife” This extraordinary show tells the true life story of a couple who started as a man and a woman, and became two women, told by the couple that actually lived through it.  It is a heartfelt, fascinating tale, told with gentle humor, searing honestly, and a special kind of grace only two people who have been through such a remarkable journey could share.  Outstanding and not to be missed.  I will return to see the show again soon, something I rarely do.

“Clementine” OK get out your tissues, this one will shatter your heart.  I have never seen a better, more emotionally searing description of motherhood and the impossible task that entails, written and performed by an incredibly talented writer and actress telling the true story of her own life.  Remarkably brave, this 75-minute long solo performance bounces back and forth, as parenting itself does, from remembering your own childhood, to seeing yourself in your children.  It beautifully and perfectly captures the exhaustion, joy and everyday challenges and thrills of creating a new life.  Poetically written and masterfully acted.  I’m weeping as I write this review, it moved me so. Simply unforgettable.

“Scarlett Fever” This unusual and delightful production uses dance, drumming, music, movement, and poetic dialogue to tell the story of the casting of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind.  Written/directed and choreographed by the incredibly talented John Wuchte, it’s a venue for his technique he calls Tribal Acting.  Tribal acting is “a hybrid of viewpoints and Suzuki that incorporates live percussion” (from the program).   Most enjoyable!  A wonderfully talented cast as well.

Lots of photos I took are available on my Flickr page here:  flickr.com/joybennett

My congratulations to Ben and Stacy Hill and their dedicated staff, and to all the performers and crew in this year’s festival.  It is a remarkable accomplishment, and a wonderful gift to the residents and visitors of Los Angeles.

Note the Hollywood Fringe is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  All proceeds from ticket sales are given back to the participating artists and theaters.  Consider making a tax-deductible donation yourself to support this incredible festival at hollywoodfringe.org/donate.  Support the arts: they are the essence and highest expression of our shared humanity.

The Fringe Festival Grows Up Read More »