Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

Dear Dawn: After I formally prepared for more than a year, my beit din and mikvah were going to be scheduled for this spring. Now they are postponed because of the shutdown. Im grateful for many things, and I continue to study. At the same time, Im disappointed. Theres no way to do the mikvah now. Standing in my shower while holding a cellphone with the rabbi officiating from afar will not be adequate! As for the beit din, conducting it on Zoom seems so impersonal even if that were possible, Id rather wait. I feel lost, not being an official member of my Reform synagogue in Oakland. I feel lonely. I yearn for the time when we can resume Shabbat and other communal gatherings together, not online. Getting closer to age 60, I am so eager to fulfill what I know is right for me. Im trying to be patient! Would love to hear your thoughts. Beth

Dear Beth: I am sorry you are having an especially tough time. I respect and agree with your assessment that an electronic mikvah would be less than satisfying. And a beit din on Zoom would lack the warmth of an in-person dialogue.

Here are a few things that I hope will help.

First, your rabbi certainly considers you a part of their community whether you are a member or not. He/she probably has spent more time with you than the average congregant due to your studies. Additionally, the only thing you cant do that a congregant can do right now is vote. Come the High Holidays, youll be there! I am confident your rabbi wants to be sure you are staying connected to your Judaism.

Ill bet your feeling of loneliness would be there at this time even if you were a member. The inability to be with others and not being able to go to the mikvah are feeding into each other.

Let me tell you a story thats been helping me. A member of my congregation survived the Holocaust as a hidden child. She was around 10 years old and was hidden in a bathroom. For years she saw little more than the bathroom.

Talk about boring and lonely. Yes, there was a family in the house around her, but no friends, no outdoors, no school, no peers.

When I feel like crawling the walls, I think of her. She is one of the sunniest personalities I know. Clearly her own character traits served her well at that time and in the decades since, as she has not carried a disabling grief with her; Im not sure I could do that. In tough moments I try to emulate her and to find my own internal strength.

Here are some suggestions to help you move forward.

Go for social-distancing walks with friends. Being in the physical presence of people who love you will help Email your rabbi and tell him/her of your difficult emotional status. Ill bet the rabbi can connect you with other members online (or by phone) who would enjoy being in touch. Be firm with yourself and use the internet as much as you can bear. I know it is not at all as good as real people, but it is what we have right now. It is our safe bathroom. Create a calendar of scheduled activities that you tell yourself you must do (even though they are online). Attend your congregations online services and Torah study. Get on email lists that are helping members keep in touch. (I can help you with this.) Take a class online. (I can recommend some.) Consider creating a daily prayer regime. You might add the Modeh Ani in the morning to get you off on the right foot. Get on email lists that send out interesting information frequently. Certainly your synagogue newsletter, but also My Jewish Learning, one of the major movements e-letters, whether Reform or other. Get this newspapers e-newsletter to be aware and a part of local Jewry, and perhaps the Times of Israel or New York Jewish Week to get an expanded look at Jewish life beyond the Bay Area. Find things you enjoy online theater shows, reading groups, gardeners exchanging wisdom, etc. Put them on your calendar. Set up Zoom or Skype visits with a friend at least every other day.

I want you to open your calendar each day and see things you must do for yourself. Treat them as seriously as you would for someone you were caring for.

Finally, keep a notebook of your Jewish practices and learning. I want you to be aware of how much you are already being Jewish!

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ADVICE: 'I can't finish my conversion because of Covid' - The Jewish News of Northern California

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

When I moved from New York to San Francisco more than 20 years ago, the only person I knew was my hubby. We were newly married, and I was looking for Jewish connections, which I had a lot of back East.

I cant remember how I ended up at a Hadassah luncheon. I must have seen a flyer. I went hoping to meet some Jewish women and ended up meeting one of my dearest friends. Shes known me since before our oldest was born and has helped me navigate marriage to motherhood and everything in between.

A few years later, I met a rabbi at a party for what was then called the Jewish Museum San Francisco (held in the Steuart Street lobby of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, which was then the museums small gallery space).

The rabbis wife was pregnant, and so was I. My husband and I ran into him shortly after the party, in the hospital both his wife and I had given birth within days of each other.

We kept in touch. The rabbis wife told me about a baby group at her husbands synagogue, Congregation Sherith Israel in San Francisco. My daughter and I attended the following week and then became regulars. This weekly baby group became the beginning of our building a strong Jewish foundation for our kids.

The rabbi suggested that I register our daughter for the Sherith Israel preschool, which we did. Looking back, I realize that having our children attend a Jewish preschool was critical to Judaism being at the forefront of our familys life. I made lifelong friendships. Over the years, weve celebrated Jewish holidays together and traveled to Israel.

When our older daughter began elementary school, we decided to have her attend Sunday school at Congregation Emanu-El, where weve been members now for more than 15 years. The synagogue has played an essential role in helping us raise our kids Jewish. The clergy and staff always make our kids feel special. This is the place where our children not only learned to love being Jewish, but where as high-schoolers! its still a cool place for them to be. The synagogue also has helped me be a better Jewish mother, a more thoughtful community member, and helped me dig in deeper personally and spiritually.

Our son attended Camp Tawonga every summer until he was too old to be a camper. It was a profound growth experience for him. The staff and counselors infuse Judaism into every aspect of camp life in such a spirited and beautiful way.

The JCC of San Francisco has consistently been a welcoming place for my family. Weve attended many community holiday celebrations over the years and have enjoyed taking the kids to talks there now that they are older. My daughter and I have gone to hear Gloria Steinem and Shirin Ebadi, our son to see Ren Redzepi and Bari Weiss.

In high school, when our daughter came up against a fellow activist student whose ideas about Israel and Zionism made her feel uncomfortable, the Jewish Community Relations Council was there for her. Im thankful they gave her the tools she needed to respond thoughtfully.

Through the years, our kids have taken advantage of many terrific volunteer programs, such as the Jewish Teen Foundation at the S.F.-based Federation and at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, among many others.

And I would be remiss if I didnt mention HIAS, the organization formerly known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, for bringing my grandparents to this country in the early 20th century.

I wouldnt be here today writing a column for the Bay Areas Jewish publication if HIAS hadnt made it possible for my grandparents to rebuild their lives safely in the United States.

During an afternoon walk after having just read an article about the challenges Jewish nonprofits are facing as a result of the Covid pandemic, I was reflecting back on what a lifeline so many of these organizations have been to me as a mother. I wish I had space here to list them all.

Im grateful to all of them, and to their hard-working employees, for helping me raise Jewish kids.

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Jewish community has been a lifeline to me as a mother. It's time to return the favor. - The Jewish News of Northern California

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

Even though its remote, you can still keep your connection to the theater strong with a diverse selection of virtual offerings this weekend. From livestream concerts, original cast readings, and conversations with Broadway stars to videos of new song releases and previously recorded full-stage performances, theres something for everyone. In addition to my top picks for Friday, June 12, of Finishing the Hat at 3 pm, and one in two at 7 (both of which I wrote about earlier, in separate features), the following choices represent a range of works to watch, to contemplate, and to enjoy.

Pipeline In solidary with #BlackLivesMatter, Broadway HD a digital subscription service offering streamed recordings of live performances is placing its 2018 release of Dominique Morisseaus Pipeline above its paywall, for everyone to stream for free, with or without a subscription. The story of Nya, a Black inner-city high-school teacher with concerns about her teenage son, Omari, following a controversial incident at his upstate private school, played at Lincoln Centers Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in 2017, where it was directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz and recorded as part of the Live from Lincoln Center series. In lieu of a fee, the founders of Broadway HD encourage viewers to make voluntary donations, as they have done, to Color of Change,NAACP Legal Defense Fund, andSouthern Poverty Law Center. To watch the timely 87-minute drama, go online.

The New World Mexican-born and New York-based musician, composer, arranger, and music director Jaime Lozano one of five artists selected for the 2020 Joes Pub Working Group residency at The Public Theater just released a vibrant new video this month of his bilingual all-Latino version of the titular number from Jason Robert Browns 1995 theatrical song cycle Songs for a New World. Featuring remote performances (mixed by Demin Cant and edited by Elaine Del Valle) of vocals by Andra Burns, Danny Bolro, Genny Lis Padilla, Natalie Toro, and Cedric Leiba Jr., with Jess Altamira on piano, Randy Landau on bass, and Dayron Cartas on percussion, the songs themes of arrival, departure, lifes choices, and the moment of decision hold personal meaning for Lozano (who wrote the Spanish lyrics), as a member of the American immigrant community. He noted that This show changed my life when I learned about it in 2005, as a young musical-theater director and composer in his native hometown of Monterrey. Tune in to see The New World on YouTube, or click on the video above.

We Are Here: A Celebration of Resilience, Resistance, and Hope Four leading NYC-based institutions the Museum of Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial to the Holocaust,National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene,Sing for Hope, andLang Lang International Music Foundation have enlisted a global network of more than 100 organizations from 26 states and countries to come together for a special program to foster the fight for social justice and fundamental human rights. The free 90-minute livestream concert event commemorates the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 77th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, in which 13,000 Jews died fighting Nazi oppression in April and May of 1943, and also speaks to the present time of rising antisemitism and systemic racism. A roster of renowned actors, musicians, singers, and civic leaders are scheduled to participate, including Mayim Bialik, Rene Fleming, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Joel, Lea Salonga, Jelani Remy, Lauren Ambrose, Steven Skybell, Elmore James, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Jackie Hoffman, Lang Lang, and many others. We Are Here will livestream on Sunday, June 14, at 2 pm EST; to view, click here.

The Government Inspector Off-Broadways Red Bull Theater, with a mission of revitalizing rarely seen classics for a current audience, continues its series of free livestream reunion readings with the original cast of its acclaimed 2017 production of Jeffrey Hatchers The Government Inspector, adapted from Nikolai Gogols 1836 Russian satire of political corruption, human stupidity, and self-delusion. Directed by Red Bulls Founding Artistic Director Jesse Berger, multiple award-winning actor Michael Urie leads the hilarious company (including Arnie Burton, Stephen DeRosa, Michael McGrath, and Mary Testa), all Zooming in from their own socially-distanced locations. The virtual reading will be enhanced with original music by Greg Pliska, and design elements provided by Alexis Distler and Tilly Grimes, the shows original set and costume designers. You can watch the broadcast of The Government Inspector on Red Bull Theaters website, Facebook page, Vimeo, or YouTube channel on Monday, June 15, at 7:30pm, and you are invited to make a tax-deductible donation, to help the non-profit organization stay connected and continue its digital programming during the ongoing COVID-19 shutdown of live theater.

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Diverse online offerings to watch this weekend - DC Metro Theater Arts

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

Less than a month after Leslie Nolan was named executive director of Canterbury Shaker Village, the world changed.

That meant Nolan had fallen into that unique, scary category, the one that forced new bosses brand new bosses to change strategy on the fly as the pandemic began moving.

I had to make some excruciatingly difficult decisions, Nolan said by phone.

She can breathe easier knowing that $103,000 has been raised to restore the historical, worn-and-torn structures on the property, led by a passionate push to revamp the old schoolhouse.

These are private donations raised over 24 hours in a coordinated effort by NH Gives, an affiliate of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits and its certainly good news for the rookie director.

In fact, plenty of New Hampshire nonprofits got good news Wednesday when the annual giving drive wrapped up. What they saw was a record $3.2 million raised across the state in a two-day blitz.

That infusion served as a bit of a reprieve for the village, which, like really all businesses and nonprofits, has suffered mightily over the past few months.

This has been an eye opener, but what can you do? Nolan said. But its okay because we are busier than ever. There have been a number of grant initiatives to help spruce up our buildings and restore them from stem to stern. Its to honor the Shaker tradition, how they care about one another and their community and their buildings.

The Shakers have a 200-year history in Canterbury and boast 700 acres and 30 buildings. They were one of a number of Shaker communities founded in the 19th century across the country.

The museum opened in 1969 to make sure the Shaker heritage would not be forgotten, and the site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1993.

But as a nonprofit, funding can be tricky. Then again, the rich history of the village and its importance nationwide is a strong fundraising tool. Donations, a minimum of $10, are suggested at Shaker events, but, as of now, thats a thing of the past because the whole complex has been closed since March.

That immediately put Nolan on the spot, forcing her to lay off two staff members. Events were canceled, impeding the flow of private donations and stripping the area of poetry, music, and history, and guided tours were gone.

The Community Clean-Up and Potluck was postponed in April. Then, last month, the Opening Day and Heifer Parade was postponed, followed by the cancellation of the13th annual Canterbury Shaker Village 5K race.

The buildings were deemed too small to create social distancing, but that hasnt stopped Nolan.

Shes tough, a world traveler, having restored a Jewish cemetery and founded a teen library while serving in the Peace Corps in Ukraine. She also worked for the Wilton Historical Society and attended seven schools because her parents moved a lot.

The coronavirus is a challenge, but Nolan is already charging forward with a summer schedule that she hopes can begin on time, or at least close.

She gushed about the free guided tour each Saturday and Sunday in July, and shes thrilled to have Juilliard School-trained cellist Jan Fuller, a Concord native, play each Sunday through July.

Elsewhere, New Hampshires poet laureate, Alexandra Peary, will read on July 19, and Amanda Whitworth, the N.H. artist laureate, will dance at the Shaker Village on July 26.

Meanwhile, the facelift on all those buildings begins this summer, and the schoolhouse through recent years seems to have attracted the most attention.

Built in 1823, the one-room schoolhouse was moved to its present location, at the village, in 1863, when the Shakers raised the first floor 12 feet and added a first floor below it.

The Shakers loved moving buildings, Nolan said. And they were very innovative.

Times like this require someone with innovation and vision and patience, not to mention a high-octane personality to keep on top of the elements as they try to wear down this part of history.

We have a lot of things that need sprucing up here, Nolan said. Our buildings need a lot of work, roofs, painting, infrastructure, and the money will help us do it.

And while her job description changed drastically soon after taking the job, Nolan knows shell be leading by example, with enthusiasm playing a big part of what she needs to do.

I dont mean to toot my own horn, but Im optimistic, Nolan said. I have a pretty sunny personality.

Nice. Its been dark around here lately.

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Despite the pandemic, there's a lot of shakin' going on in Canterbury - Concord Monitor

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

This Friday (June 12), Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County is encouraging you to take the day off, if you can, to familiarize yourself with elected officials and to educate yourself on systemic racism in America. Whether that means participating in the Silent March at Judkins Park or taking action from home by donating to antiracist causes, there's tons of ways to show up for your local black and brown communities. Read on for this weekend's BLM-focused protests and demonstrations, virtual events amplifying black voices, and other happenings (like the Seattle International Dance Festival and a Pride Flag-Raising Ceremony in White Center). For more ideas, check out our picks for the best movies to stream this weekend or our guide to restaurants that are now open for dine-in service.

Black Lives Matter Seattle Statewide March and General StrikeIn a press conference Saturday, board members with Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County (BLMSKC) called for a statewide general strike and silent protest march on Friday, June 12. BLMSKC has made itvery clearthat it's had no part in organizing any of the demonstrations against police brutality that have taken place across Washington over the last eight days, and BLMSKC board member Ebony Miranda said they have not taken this decision lightly. The organization also announced an updated list of demands they say they delivered to Mayor Jenny Durkan, and they relayed her responses. Here are the demands and Durkan's responses. RICH SMITHFriday (various locations)

Free Drive-Through COVID Testing from BeyGood and #IDIDMYPARTIn support of black and brown communities and essential workers in Seattle, who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, Beyonc's BeyGood initiative and her momTina Knowles Lawson's#IDIDMYPART campaign are bringing free COVID-19 testing and essential supplies (such ascare packages, diapers, and toiletries) to South King County.For more free testing sites, check out this list. Sunday (Renton)

Seattle Children's MarchFrom gun control to climate justice, Seattle youth have shown that they're a force to be reckoned with when it comes to rallying community members to take direct action toward global causes. Today, students will lead a march fromGarfield High School to Bailey Gatzert Elementary School in solidarity with black Americans in Seattle and across the country. Saturday (Central District)

Note: Another planned event, the #BlackLivesMatter March for Black Lives on Sunday in Westlake Park, has a significant following on Facebook, but it is not being organized in conjunction with the official Black Lives Matter Seattle King County group. We recommend attending BLMSKCs Friday event instead.

Bear Witness, Take ActionCommonandKeke Palmerwill host this live multi-genre special celebrating YouTube's new $100 million funddedicated to amplifying black voices on the platform. Look forward to appearances and performances from the likes ofRoxane Gay, Indya Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Alicia Garza, Jemele Hill, andCarmelo Anthony. The event is free, but you're encouraged to donate to theEqual Justice Initiative after tuning in. Saturday

2(06) The BreakIn honor of Black Music Month, Central District black arts space Wa Na Wari presents a seven-episode series that puts a spin (this will become a pun in mere moments) on livestreamed DJ sessions you might've seen on the Instagram pages of artists like Questlove and DJ D-Nice recently. Each week, local hip-hop enthusiast Jazmyn Scott will pair two Pacific Northwest hip-hop DJs and task them with spinning a decade-specific set, from the 1980s to the present. Like last time, this week will focus on women in hip-hop. Saturday

The Ailey Spirit Virtual BenefitIn the spirit of the legendary black choreographerAlvin Ailey, this virtual performance features pieces by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, the Ailey School, AileyCamp, and soloistsAngela Bassett, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Tim Shriver, Bryan Stevenson, and Lorraine Toussaint. After the performance, join a virtual after-party withDJs D-NICE and Ms. Nix. Thursday

LOPsidedMixed-race artistBrian J. Evans examines his ownbiases in thisoriginal workof music, dance, and theater, whichpremiered as a live one-man show in Minneapolis in 2018 as a part of the Right Here Showcase. This digital version is made up of 12 videos, which can be viewed on their own or in succession.Saturday

Black Lit Book Club - Dread NationSistah Sci-Fi ("a cauldron of all things Afrofuturism; Afro-mysticism; Black sci-fi; and voodoo casting spells to uplift literature written by Black women") hosts a BIPOC-focused book club every second Sunday of the month. This time, gather virtually for a discussion of Justina Ireland's YA bestsellerDread Nation, a zombie book set during the American Civil War.Sunday

Matt Ortile with Ashley C. Ford: The Groom Will Keep His NameIn his new book of essays, Filipino American author andCatapult editor Matt Ortile recounts the xenophobia he experienced growing up in Las Vegas, and howtaking the name of his white husband made him believe for a time that it would help him "belong in America."Join him for a live reading with Town Hall. Thursday

Pride Flag Raising Ceremony in White Center"While residents will tell you that the unincorporated King County neighborhood, just south of West Seattle and north of Burien, has long been a gay hub, you could say this Pride is a sort of coming out of the closet for [White Center]. The fest, which started as a conversation over drinks between local residents Matt Maring and Jason Loughridge, quickly evolved into a neighborhood-wide celebration," wrote The Stranger's Chase Burns in 2018.The neighborhood will keep its Pride tradition going strong with a rainbow flag ceremony livestreamed from Triangle Park, with drag performances byCookie Couture and Old Witch. Saturday

Rainbow Truth or Dare Pajama PartyDelightful Seattle drag queen and bingo host extraordinaireSylvia OStayformore invites you to slip into something more comfortable, whip up some rainbow Jell-O shots (she'll give you a recipe, from the sounds of it) and play bingo to raise money for the West Seattle Senior Centers COVID-19 response funds.Friday

Dixon Place Criminal Queerness FestivalThe National Queer Theater and Dixon Place, in partnership with the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs andNYC Pride, will go virtual with this second annual festival celebrating LGBTQ+ playwrights. Saturday

Pride PromIf you're wondering what all the living icons of queer culture are up to this Saturday (we're talking Lena Waithe,Trixie Mattel, Billy Porter, Randy Rainbow, Big Freedia, Cyndi Lauper... and the list goes on) they're participating in Billboard's virtual Pride Prom. Tune in for performances, drag shows, "glam sessions," conversations on queerness, DJ dance parties, and more. Saturday

We're Still Here: Celebrating Pride in SolidarityEventbrite's virtual pre-Pride festival, curated in part by San Francisco Pride and New York City Pride, will celebrate the rights and struggles of LGBTQ+ and black communities around the world withqueer-centric dance parties, drag shows (including one from San Francisco's oldest LGBTQ+ bar), cocktail hours, history lessons, movie watch parties, and much more packed into a single day. Friday

Animal Crossing Pride Tea PartyEveryone's favorite quarantine pastime will serve as the inspiration for this virtual garden party with Friday Afternoon andThsaurus Tea. Dress up your Animal Crossing character in a cute Pride outfit and usher them to the Rainbow Garden for ajam session and bonfire on the beach. Saturday

An Evening of Pride & LiberationSeattle-based BIPOC drag performers likeAdra Boo, Taqueet$, Mila Skyy, LChi, and spoken word artist Ebo Barton will fill out this Pride night hosted by Simone Pin, a burlesque company owned by womxn of color. Saturday

Battle for the Ballot: Women and the VoteWith the US presidential election around the corner, now's as good a time as any to learn about the history of women's suffrageand the racial discrimination endured by women of color that pervaded the movement.Presented in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Washington and League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County.Saturday

Life in a Pandemic - Norman Lear and Rita Moreno in Conversation with RuPaulThe E.G.O.T. winner Rita Moreno and the legendary producer Norman Lear will chat virtually with drag legend RuPaul for a conversation about Lear's sitcom One Day at a Time, which was adapted in 2017 as an animated special starringLin-Manuel Miranda. Sunday

Glazer's Photofest: Virtual EditionPhotoFest boasts a weekend-long bill of photography events including talks from a few dozen speakers, free workshops, interactive demonstrations, photo walks, and sales. This year's virtual event kicks off with a workshop on cinematic portraiture with Jonathan Thorpe and wraps up with an exploration of wildlife photography with Olympus explorer Brooke Bartleson.Saturday-Sunday

Maple Valley Virtual Arts Fest 2020No need to find a ride to Maple Valleythis arts festival will take place on Facebook this year, bringing live music performances, artist demos, and kid-centric activities.Saturday-Sunday

Her Effortless Brilliance: A Celebration of Lynn Shelton Through Film and MusicAcclaimed Seattle director Lynn Shelton died too soon, and the grief felt by her fans, collaborators, and loved ones comes through in this documentary by Shelton's longtime friendMegan Griffiths. It's free to watch on YouTube and features a star-studded lineup of appearances, including Emily Blunt, Kaitlyn Dever, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark and Jay Duplass, Jeff Garlin, Joshua Leonard, Sean Nelson, Michaela Watkins, and Reese Witherspoon, as well as live music from her partner Marc Maron, Andrew Bird, Ben Gibbard, Laura Veirs, and Tomo Nakayama.

Bramling CrossEthan Stowell presents Beef Storm, a pop-up featuring gourmet hamburgers and other beefy delights. Preorder for pickup from noon-5 pm, and look forward to round two next weekend. Saturday-Sunday (Ballard)

MamnoonThe Middle Eastern-inspired favorite is catering to pizza lovers with Mama Zaa, their first pizza pop-up. Choose a time slot online to pick up your Neopolitan slice with "Levantine flair" from 1-4 pm.Sunday (Capitol Hill)

Serious TakeOutStop by the Tom Douglas pop-up to pick up your Ros Porch Party Box ($38) for National Ros Day (June 13). The first 20 people to order will get a pair of pink sunglasses.Saturday (Ballard)

Happy Hour: Virtual PlanetariumMix up your favorite cocktail and join Pacific Science Center expertsMarshall Styczinski, Katy K., and Sarah Wyer as they take you on a visual journey through constellations and planet mythology.Thursday

Bang on a Can MarathonThis virtual music marathon will bring you six nonstop hours of performances by composers and classical musicians from around the world, including new work byKendall Williams and the world premiere ofSusanna Hancock's Everything in Bloom. Sunday

Digital Mirage: Online Music FestivalElectronic music outletsProximity and Brownies & Lemonade rescheduled this online music festival to show support for Black Lives Matter last weekend, and the LA-based organizers are pledging to give all donations this weekend to theEqual Justice InitiativeandColor of Change. Dance in your living room to sets from Chet Porter, Chromeo, Shiba San, Malaa, Softest Hard, SG Lewis, and many others. Friday-Sunday

Essentially Ellington: Virtual International FestivalThe Lincoln Center's 25th annual festival highlighting young jazz musicians will take place digitally this year, kicking off withWynton Marsalis's Zoom conversation series Skaine's Domain, featuring Essentially Ellington alumni. If you've ever heard Seattle's Garfield High School Jazz Band play live, you won't be surprised that they made the finals and will be participating in the festival, along withSeattle JazzED and bands fromRoosevelt High School, Mountlake Terrace High School, and Mount Si High School.Thursday-Friday

Live From Our Living Rooms: Cancel Rent Now!Vera Project and the Washington Bus will demand rent relief for those affected financially by COVID-19. This virtual benefit will feature sets from AJJ, Nana Grizol, Ratboys, Ian Sweet, Bad Moves, Your Heart Breaks, and other local rockers on Vera TV. Saturday

Nite Wave Anniversary ShowKicking off with a Duran Duran and Billy Idol tribute night, thistwo-night anniversary version of the high-energy show will bring an '80s jukebox to your living room.Friday-Saturday

NW Seaport Virtual Chantey SingThink fondly of the Northwest Seaport as you sing maritime folk songs from your home.Friday

The Warren G. Hardings Virtual GetdownJig to uptempo bluegrass with local string band the Warren G. Hardings, courtesy of Nectar. Sunday

We are Here: A Celebration of Resilience, Resistance and HopeIn commemoration of the75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 77th anniversary of theWarsaw Ghetto uprising, this online concert presented by theMuseum of Jewish Heritage, theNational Yiddish Theatre FolksbieneandSing for Hope, and other organizations will featureWhoopi Goldberg, Rene Fleming, Billy Joel, Lang Lang, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Joyce DiDonato, Mayim Bialik, and many others. It will also feature a new work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composerJohn Coriglianobased on a text byKitty OMeara. Sunday

Opening NightBroadway fanatics can join musical theater stars for a virtual gathering filled with songs, scenes, and more from this past year. Highlights include a performance of Stephen Sondheim's Companywith Patti LuPone,Katrina Lenk, and the rest of the cast and a monologue from The Sound Inside with Mary-Louise Parker. Thursday

Poetry in America Live featuring 'Finishing The Hat' by Stephen SondheimIn honor ofStephen Sondheims 90th birthday, this edition of theSheen Center for Thought and Culture's Poetry in America Live series, hosted by PBS'sElisaNew, will focus on "Finishing The Hat" from the musical Sunday in the Park with George.Special guests include Tony Award nomineeMelissaErricoandNewYorkerstaff writer and authorAdamGopnik. Friday

Seattle International Dance FestivalIn lieu of the Khambatta Dance Company's annual in-person festival, this two-week-long virtual event will bring interviews, full-length performance videos, behind-the-scenes looks, and more to your computer screen. All the videos (including performances from Sweden's Virpi Pahkinen Dance and a Seattle spotlight with local dancers Hope Goldman, Leah Mann, Lucie Baker, Sojung Lim, Elise Beers, and Cameo Lethem) have been uploaded, so you can watch them in whatever order you please. Friday-Sunday

Aaron Bobrow-Strain: The Death and Life of Aida HernandezThe story of Aida Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant whodreamed of moving to New York to teach dance and be reunited with her son, but who instead faced deportation to her birth country (Mexico), is not an isolated one in the US, which is in part what makes it worth reading about.Aaron Bobrow-Strain's bookThe Death and Life of Aida Hernandez frames Hernandez's story as part of the ongoing crisis at the US Southern border. Join him for a virtual Town Hall reading. Sunday

Quarantine Book Club: 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodieis a captivating story of betrayal.Modern Librarylists it as one of the 100 best novels of the 20th century.It was eventually made into a movie starring Maggie Smith, who won a best actress Oscar for playing Miss Jean Brodie. At the end of the four weeks, we will watch the movie together, and compare it to the book.I just taughtThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodieas a book-club class at Hugo House over the course of four weeks this past winter, and it went really well, all the students loved the book, and one of them, amazingly, was the bestselling novelistMaria Semple, who said afterward: "Christophers passion and insight left me near-delirious with an excitement and optimism Ive since carried into all my reading and writing. I loved teaching this class so much, and I want to make it accessible to as many people as possible, so I'm offering it at a fraction of the cost of similar classes elsewhere, and (just like we do the silent-reading party) on a sliding scale. Pay what you can. CHRISTOPHER FRIZZELLE Saturday

Virtual It's About Time Writers' Reading SeriesHear new works from local writers Kristen Millares Young, Jean Ferruzola, and Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum in this Seattle Public Library series. Thursday

Virtual Play Reading Series Titus AndronicusEnjoy a casual reading of Shakespeare's tragedyTitus Andronicus from the comfort of your home.Sunday

Socially Distant Sidewalk SaleFantagraphics and Georgetown Records will celebrate their reopenings this weekend with a big ol' outdoor sale of items accumulated during their closures. Bring a mask and practice social distancing while you engage in some touch-free browsing. On Saturday,Laura Knetzger will be signing copies of her new Bug Boys collection. Saturday-Sunday (Georgetown)

Chase the LightPhotographic Center Northwest's annual fundraiser will move online, inviting people from all over the world to submit photographs. Once all submissions are in on June 15, judges will select one image from each participant (there isn't a specific theme, but keep in mind that the showcase is family-friendly, so maybe no butts) to be featured in a pop-up exhibition (June 20) benefiting Northwest Harvest.Saturday-Sunday

An Equinox Tribute to Georgetown CarnivalIn the absence of the Georgetown Carnival this year, Equinox Studios will host an art gallery that reintroduces Gardens of Gusto, a vertical garden installation featured at the 2018 carnival. There will also be socially distant studio tours and demos, live music, and other performances that you can see in person from your car or at home on your computer.Saturday

Print Show: Online Group ExhibitNeed some new art on your walls? For the month of June, Ghost Gallery prints by local and national artists will be available for viewing and purchasing. Thursday-Sunday (opening Thursday)

Virtual Opening for Meggan Joy's Battle CryMegan Joy's digital collages depict women's bodiescomposed of thousands of individual photographs of botanicals and wildlifein various stages of conflict. See the exhibition online, and get a virtual tour from gallery owner Judith Rinehart and Joy herself on the opening night.Saturday-Sunday (opening Saturday)

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The 45 Best Things to Do in Seattle This Weekend: June 11-14, 2020 - TheStranger.com

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trapped in a labyrinth of his own making. He still sees a historic opportunity that cant be missed to go ahead with his plan to do something that no previous premier has dared: To annex territories in the West Bank. The opportunity being the fact that US President Donald Trumps proposed peace plan allows him to annex major chunks of Palestinian land, including the Jordan Valley.

But that was the easy part. The problems and challenges are piling up, blocking his way as he attempts to meet the July 1 deadline he set himself to go ahead with full or partial annexation. On Sunday, Netanyahu met with 11 settlement leaders who do not oppose Trumps plan and revealed a number of interesting developments. He said that the White House has not yet given him the green light to go ahead with annexation. He added that the territory to be annexed may be less than what was originally planned, and that maps for the annexation are yet to be drawn.

Moreover, Netanyahu stated that, although Trumps plan includes forming an independent Palestinian entity, he does not call it a state. In short, Netanyahu, who had embraced Trumps plan when it was revealed at the White House in January, wants to pick and choose certain parts of the plan without committing to anything in return. Not that the Palestinians, the Arab states and the international community back the plan. On the contrary, the Palestinians have rejected it and on Tuesday submitted a counterproposal for a demilitarized state to the Middle East Quartet. President Mahmoud Abbas had also declared last month that all Oslo-related agreements with Israel and the US were null and void. European countries have threatened Israel with sanctions if it goes ahead with the illegal annexation, while Jordan warned of a massive conflict with Israel as a result. Key Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE made their position clear in rejecting the annexation, while Riyadh reiterated its support for the two-state solution.

But, ironically, Netanyahus real problems come from inside his Cabinet and from the Israeli security and military cadre, as well as from the Israeli public. Last week, a number of settlement leaders expressed opposition to parts of Trumps plan, while the chair of the Yesha Council, an umbrella group representing Jewish settlers, has said that Trump is no friend ofIsrael. The settlers object to the plans proposal to create a Palestinian state; even when that state will be on less than 50 percent of the West Bank a noncontiguous mishmash of territories and enclaves with no real sovereignty.

So-called Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Rafi Peretz last week said that Trumps peace plan has clauses we cannot accept,adding that we will not accept the establishment of a Palestinian state in my homeland. I will oppose any mention of recognition of a Palestinian state in the legislation to come. In response, Netanyahu told the settlers that, if annexation was brought to a vote before the Knesset, it would be done independently from the other stipulations in Trumps plan.

Former Israeli military and security officials have warned Netanyahu that annexation would have no real value for Israel but would add security risks. Others have questioned whether Netanyahu understands the political and demographic consequences of annexation on Israels survival as a democracy. On Saturday, tens of thousands of Jews and Arabs protested against the planned annexation in Tel Avivs Rabin Square, indicating the rupture that annexation would bring to an already divided Israeli society.

US officials have not recently commented on the planned annexation not since Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a one-day visit to Israel last month. But a source close to White House officials told this writer that the US position is clear that annexation is part of the plan and not the full plan. The source said that the Trump administration is not committed to the July 1 deadline and that it still hopes the Palestinians will resume contacts to discuss the plan in the coming weeks. If they fail to do this, the US would allow Netanyahu to go ahead with gradual and partial annexation, without being specific. It may be restricted to Israeli settlements as a first phase and may not include the Jordan Valley.

He wants to pick and choose certain parts of the Trump plan without committing to anything in return.

Osama Al-Sharif

This would present Netanyahu with the exit he is looking for. He would fulfill part of his pledge, satisfy the settlers, and remain uncommitted to recognizing a Palestinian state. Restricted annexation that excludes the Jordan Valley may also save the peace treaty with Jordan.

One would question the wisdom of Abbas decision to sever contacts with the White House at this critical juncture. The source told me that Trump would be ready to put everything on hold if Abbas made a telephone call to the Oval Office. The Palestinian side has accepted engaging with the Middle East Quartet at this point, but neither Israel nor the US is showing any interest.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point-of-view

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Why Netanyahu may be relieved if annexation plan is scaled back - Arab News

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

Photo Credit: Miri Tzachi / Wikimedia Commons

Moti Yogev served as a colonel in the IDF and Knesset Member for the Jewish Home Party for seven years. Considered one of the leaders of the Religious Zionist community, he also headed the Bnei Akiva youth movement.

When placed 11th on the Yamina list for the 2020 elections, he resigned from politics, maintaining that the leaders of the dati-leumi community had lost their way, placing personal ambitions above Religious Zionist ideology. The Jewish Press spoke to him about the ongoing division plaguing the Religious Zionist camp.

The Jewish Press: In light of Yaminas dismal gains in Israels most recent election, and the subsequent coalition agreement that left Yamina out in the cold, how do you see the future of Religious Zionism?

Yogev: First, the Religious Zionist community was, and continues to be, one of the most influential forces in Israels growth and development in almost every sphere from its ever-expanding network of Torah institutions; to its great contribution toward the physical and spiritual strength of the army; to its leadership role in settlement throughout the country and Zionist education; and to its presence in agriculture, commerce, hi-tech, and medicine always with great mesirut nefesh for the betterment of Klal Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael.

But there has been a downfall in its political representation and power. From a potential 12 Knesset seats, we garnered only six in the last election. Our meager representation today in the government demands serious soul-searching on the part of the Knesset members who brought the Religious Zionist community to this all-time low.

Many people argue that religious MKs in Likud will look out for the interests of the dati-leumi community and that there is no need for separate, sectoral parties like Yamina.

I estimate that 50 percent of the dati-leumi community voted for Likud in the last election. This derives from a desire to participate and have a positive impact on all spheres of Israeli society. We want to be a part of the ruling government in order to infuse it with the spirit of Zionism and Torah. It also derives from disillusionment with the petty in-fighting and endless power struggles amongst dati-leumi Knesset members.

But there is no doubt that a strong and unified national religious party could benefit the dati-leumi community far more than a broad national party like the Likud, in which vital Torah concerns can get lost in the overall picture and secular worldview of the majority of its members.

In what areas, for example?

For instance, Religious Zionist education, which combines a commitment to Torah with its essential connection to Eretz Yisrael and the building of the nation in Zion. Also, regarding the sovereignty issue: It seems Bibi is determined to proceed with the Trump plan as is meaning, granting the Arabs a Palestinian state in the center of Israel.

And it seems that several of the [religious] members of Likud are likely to cave in when Bibi pressures them to follow the party line or else. That scenario is far less likely to happen with a strong independent Zionist party that sits in the coalition alongside of Likud to its right and that believes that the Land of Israel is our eternal inheritance from Hashem, which cannot be chopped into pieces and handed over to an enemy.

But Mafdal, the original religious Zionist party, was often very wishy-washy on key decisions concerning ceding land to the Arabs precisely because it wanted so desperately to remain a part of the ruling coalition.

That, I believe, is one of the reasons Mafdal [no longer exists]. A whole generation of younger voters, raised on the strident Torah teachings of HaRav Tzvi Yehuda Kook regarding absolute Jewish sovereignty over Eretz Yisrael, disliked the lack of backbone in the party.

But guarding the wholeness of Eretz Yisrael [is not the only purpose of a dati-leumi party]. A strong Religious Zionist presence in the government can have far greater success in advancing the level of Torah observance in the state, in the IDF, and in the national secular and religious school systems.

Unfortunately, over the last decade, the political union of the countrys Religious Zionist community was dominated by party leaders who were not particularly religious, or not religious at all. This caused a lot of voters to stray.

So whats the future of Religious Zionism?

I am optimistic. We need to unite the community by regaining its trust. This means to stand strong and uncompromising regarding our rights to all of Eretz Yisrael, even if that means arousing the displeasure of President Trump.

It means insisting that Shabbat is Shabbat on a national level, and it means safeguarding the values of Torah in all facets of Israeli society in the IDF, the justice system, in our classrooms, and in the fight against immorality and the breakdown in traditional family norms.

Concurrently, a nationwide primary must be conducted, open to the entire Religious Zionist community, for the election of political leaders so that the bad air currently surrounding the movement can be cleansed and the ranks to renewal and change according to the will of the public can be opened.

Why would the existing leaders of the community agree to such an open election when it would jeopardize their jobs?

Precisely because of this obstacle, the initiative must come through a grassroots movement originating in the Religious Zionist community itself and not with its current political leaders.

Do you see yourself as one of the candidates?

For 50 years, I have striven to serve the nation of Israel in whatever capacity I could, and I will be happy to do whatever I can in the future to help raise the banners of Torah and Zion.

* * * * *

The Jewish Press also recently spoke with Baruch Gordon, founder of Israel National News and longtime commentator on the Religious Zionist community, on the same topic.

How would you summarize the present situation?

There are three talented political figures at the head of Yamina, which is sitting in the opposition for reasons no one seems to understand. The three are Bezalel Smotrich, Naftali Bennett, and Ayelet Shaked.

Lets begin with Smotrich.

Betzalel was born and raised in the atmosphere of the Bet El Yeshiva where his father taught Talmud and Jewish thought. Betzalel grew up in the ranks of hardcore Religious-Zionist yeshivos and institutions and is clearly the most religious of the three.

Naftali Bennett, a graduate of Israels most elite IDF commando unit, lives in Raanana and represents Religious Zionist values in their most liberal form and, for better or for worse, that sector holds an important part of the national camp.

Ayelet Shaked a declared non-religious woman whose father is from Iraq has successfully led multiple grassroots initiatives and organizations before entering the political area.Shaked performed significant tasks in her career advancing both right-wing and religious values. Rav Chaim Druckman, head of the hesder yeshivos, said at one point that she is the Member of Knesset who had done more for the Hesder yeshivos than any other politician.

She also made huge advances in her term as Justice Minister in balancing the judiciary to represent more conservative values, and fell short of making a total revolution only due to Netanyahus hesitations and opposition to her initiatives. Today, Netanyahu would likely support those very same initiatives for judicial reform.

What about Rabbi Rafi Peretz, head of the Jewish Home Party, who split from his partners in Yamina to join the unity Government?

Rabbi Rafi Peretz ran an outstanding pre-military Torah academy and did some important things as Chief Rabbi of the IDF. However, in his political career, he has made a series of mistakes and lost the support of many Religious Zionists. I do not see him as having a future at the helm of a political party.

Moti Yogev says a great many people expressed their dissatisfaction with Bennett and Shaked by voting for other parties.

The main criticism against Bennett and Shaked is that their loyalty to a Religious Zionist party is known to be temporary, ever since they bolted the party in the second election of 2019 in an attempt to start a new rightwing, secular and religious party to vie for Likud voters. That attempt failed to pass the minimum threshold for entering the Knesset by a small number of votes.

As a result, they wasted the equivalent of almost four Knesset seats.Many Religious Zionist voters havent forgiven them and assume not without reason that the moment that Netanyahu steps down, the door will be open for them to enter the ruling Likud party in leadership positions, a door through which they will walk without hesitation.

Is the Smotrich, Bennett, Shaked trio stable enough to avoid a split in the ranks?

Up until now, they have worked together in harmony and with mutual respect. Smotrich is, however, the only one who really grew up on pure Religious Zionist values. In my opinion, in any political format that the Religious Zionist party takes in the future, Smotrich will emerge as the leader most loyal to the sectors values.

Perhaps his most important task while in the opposition will be regaining the trust of Religious Zionist voters to fully support their own party in a future election rather than, out of protest and disillusionment, voting for charedi parties, Likud, or splinter Religious Zionist parties that have zero chance of passing the minimum voter threshold.

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What's The Future Of Political Religious Zionism? Interviews with a Former MK and the Founder of Arutz Sheva - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

Palestinians also suffer the 'knee-on-neck' hold by Israeli police. (Photo: File)

By Benay Blend

In the wake of the police killing of George Floyd there have been massive protests in major American cities. Their demands have ranged from reforming the police to dismantling the institution altogether.

In Palestine, too, response to the shooting of Iyad Halak, an unarmed, autistic man on his way to work in Jerusalem, has sparked dissent. Their calls run the gamut from liberals who refuse to denounce the Zionist state to those who understand that the system needs undoing.

In both cases, the underlying problems are systemic. Indeed, the Ramallah-based Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy tweeted the above drawing of Halak and Floyd with Palestine Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter written above them. [Iyad] and George were victims of similar systems of supremacy and oppression. They must be dismantled, the advocacy group said.

In Loaded: A Disarming History of the Second Amendment (2018), Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz provides the historical context for the origins of policing in America. Rooted in slave patrols, the original patrollers hunted down escaped slaves to avert their owners loss, and also to discourage slave revolts through insurrection.

Early militias had other missions, equally racist as well as grounded in the protection of private property. According to Dunbar-Ortiz, the Virginia force was founded for a specific purpose: To kill Indians, take their land, drive them out, wipe them out. Moreover, militias went after indentured European servants who had thoughts of fleeing before their contracts expired.

With so much emphasis on the sanctity of private property, its no wonder that coverage of the recent protests in America focused on what the media described as looters, the breaking of windows, burning of property, and stealing of goods that in some cases accompanied the calls for change. Significantly, in an article published several years ago, Raven Rakia explains that the difference between riots and protests depends on skin color. In America, that distinction makes sense, given the origins of the police as protectors of private property.

One cannot discuss the immorality of damaging property, Rakia continues, without devaluing the rage that brought protesters to this point. You, too, have to decide which one you value more: human life or property. Given the historical racialization of property, along with the devaluing of Black lives, Rakia cautions against paying too much attention to mainstream media. Instead, she proposes that our survival is dependent on our persistence, i.e. working on building and existing in the type of world wed like to see.

Just like the media, Rakia writes, is part of what were up against, so are the police, at least in the form that they exist at this moment. Calling for reform of the police is a liberal measure that has shown time and again that it does not work.

I Cant Breathe: How Israels War Technology Contributes to the Subjugation of the American People

From the Palestinian Chair, and other forms of torture methods used by the US army to the militarization of the American police and the massive security apparatus used to spy on and monitor ordinary Americans, Israels war technology is now part and parcel of the everyday American life.In this episode of Palestine Chronicle TV, editors Ramzy Baroud and Romana Rubeo discuss the Israeli involvement in shaping state-sponsored violence, which is currently at full display in American streets. From crowd control tactics to the knee-on-neck hold, which killed African American man George Floyd on May 25, PC editors will provide a range of evidence that implicates Israel in the routine violence meted out against US citizens.Join us Wednesday, June 10 @ 12 pm PST (10 pm Palestine time) and be part of the discussion.

Posted by The Palestine Chronicle on Wednesday, June 10, 2020

For example, Campaign Zeros Cant Wait Campaign proposes a set of eight reforms that they assert would reduce police killings by 72 %. In response, a coalition of police and prison abolitionists charge that the program is both dangerous and irresponsible, posing a set of reforms that has already been proven ineffective. Moreover, it coopted the movement by diverting attention away from the goal of police and prison abolition with a slate of reforms that do not reflect the demands of criminalized communities.

In the end, as the abolitionist organization Critical Resistance recently tweeted, 8 Cant Wait will simply improve policings war on the poor rather than abate it. Given the racist history of policing in America it seems that efforts aimed merely at reform might be as likely to succeed as diversity training would have been for the owners of chattel slaves.

Similarly, Zionism has its roots in the founding of Israel in 1948, an event that for Palestinians is commemorated yearly as the Nakba. In the introduction to A Map of Absence: An Anthology of Palestinian Writing on the Nakba (2019), Atef Alshaer relates that for Palestinians, May 15th is a day darkened by the memory of replacing their homeland with displacement and uncertainty.

Given that history, there is no way to reform a colonialist regime in which racism was embedded from the start. To be truly pro-Palestinian, writes Rima Najjar, one must be anti-Israel, anti-Zionist. Like American police officers who took a knee in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, but before had not supported former quarterback Colin Kaepernick when he did the same, Israeli Zionists are adept at camouflaging what Najjar terms a new kind of colonialismmore benevolent, more philanthropic, a system made more appealing by offering economic aid.

In both countries, the structures that have upheld racism and colonialism have got to go. There is no acceptable reform. In America, as Bill Ayers writes: Policing, surveillance and prison are the last entitlements, while every social need and priority is hollowed out or eliminated, and the occupying police forces are brought in to manage the predictable crisis.

In a better world, defunding the police, continues Ayers, would reflect the peoples priorities, financed by funds formerly allocated to the departments. Gone would be military equipment and weaponry, training with Israeli forces, and all other accouterments appropriate only for an occupying army. In its place, operations would be under community control, a democratically chosen review board to whom police forces would be held accountable.

Defunding the police is only one facet of what needs to be done to bring about a world in which the people want to live. In Israel, the end-game in the best possible scenario will be one democratic state with equal rights for all. The One State Foundation offers one blueprint, an initiative that would grant equal rights regardless of religion, as well as recognition and repair,

of past and present injustice and wrongdoings, including the acknowledgment of the Palestinian Nakbato take place. UN resolution 194 on the right of return or reparation for Palestinian refugees and their descendants provides a firm basis for a first step, but recognition and repair go beyond that, since injustice and dispossession after 1948 would also need to be addressed in the process.

We must resist, claims Robert Jones, Jr., even if defeat is imminent. Jones warns that superficial and incremental reforms will not lead to liberation. Instead, he calls for a reevaluation, a dismantling, a process that might require fire. He cautions, though, that if James Baldwin was correct, that the rainbow wasa promise, then what have we to lose that hasnt been lost already?

The same holds true for Palestinians, particularly as Israels plans for annexation move forward. On the other hand, as one after another disaster unfolds, writes Alshaer, so do the efforts of Palestinians to become agents of their history.

They inhabit their own stories, Alshaer contends, not only as victims of a major historical injustice, but also as agents of the development of Palestinethe idea and the living reality (p. xviii). In this way, by making clear the historical context on which liberation rests, the movement to make both Palestinian and Black Lives Matter will make headway.

Benay Blend earned her doctorate in American Studies from the University of New Mexico. Her scholarly works include Douglas Vakoch and Sam Mickey, Eds. (2017), Neither Homeland Nor Exile are Words: Situated Knowledge in the Works of Palestinian and Native American Writers. She contributed this article to The Palestine Chronicle.

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Defund the Police, Dismantle the Zionist Regime: Two Necessary Sides Of the Coin - Palestine Chronicle

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

Browse >Home / News / Department of Communication representative added to discussion of commitment to International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

June 12, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk

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A representative from Australias Department of Communications will be included in discussions about Australias commitment to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) after concerns were raised in Senate Estimates about an article published by the ABC.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has welcomed this move.

The inclusion of a communications expert will strengthen Australias commitment to fighting antisemitism and Holocaust denial, Dr Colin Rubenstein, AIJACs executive director, said.

I note that at the 2020 IHRA meeting, member countries, including Australia, expressed deep concerns about rising antisemitism. AIJAC welcomes the decision by the Australian Government to extend its IHRA working group to include a representative from the communications area.

In March this year, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz asked ABC managing director David Anderson whether he knew about the widely-used IHRA definition of antisemitism. Anderson noted he did not. Senator Abetz then raised an article published by the ABC, written by Salman Abu Sitta, called The moral case against Zionism.

Among other objectionable comments, Abu Sitta wrote Racism and apartheid are intrinsic to the Zionist doctrine. Without the forcible expulsion of Palestinians, Israel could not have existed as it is today. There is not a single acre of land acquired by Israel in 1948 that was gainedwithoutrecourse to military force.

While the ABC did not see it necessary to remove Abu Sittas opinion piece, it published a counter-argument from the Zionist Federation of Australia titled What Salman Abu Sitta misrepresents about Zionism.

Senator Abetz noted in Senate Estimates that Abu Sittas piece was potentially in breach of the internationally respected IHRA definition of antisemitism by seeking to dismiss the entire Jewish nationalist movement, Zionism, as racist.

Australia, as a member of IHRA since June 2019, convenes an inter-departmental committee to ensure Australia upholds the requirements of IHRA.

AIJAC understands that this committee comprises representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Attorney Generals Department. Now that committee will be extended to include a representative of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, which has responsibility for both the ABC and SBS.

AIJAC

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Posted By admin on June 12, 2020

US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters / Jonathan Ernst.

The leading pro-Israel organization in the US praised President Donald Trump on Thursday for issuing an executive order that authorized American sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) employees involved in probes of the US military in Afghanistan and the Israeli military in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In a tweet, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) said it applauded Trump for countering what it called illegitimate, politically motivated investigations into the US and Israel.

Announcing the order, a statement from the White House noted that despite repeated calls by the United States and our allies to reform, the International Criminal Court has taken no action to reform itself and continues to pursue politically-motivated investigations against us and our allies, including Israel.

In a press briefing on Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed the ICC probes as a mockery of justice.

June 11, 2020 2:16 pm

Were also gravely concerned about the threat the court poses to Israel, Pompeo said. The ICC is already threatening Israel with an investigation of so-called war crimes committed by its forces and personnel in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.

Pompeo added that given Israels robust civilian and military legal system and strong track record of investigating and prosecuting wrongdoing by military personnel, its clear the ICC is only putting Israel in its crosshairs for nakedly political purposes.

Its a mockery of justice, he declared, adding that more than 300 members of Congress from both parties had written to him urging that the United States support Israel in the face of the ICCs lawless, politicized attacks.

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Trump Praised for Executive Order Countering 'Mockery of Justice' Probes by ICC Into US and Israeli Militaries - Algemeiner

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