The Jewish Observer(sm)
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Serving Metropolitan Los Angeles, and Beyond
22-28 Iyar, 5772 May 14-20, 2012 -- THE JEWISH OBSERVER, LOS ANGELES -- 470th Web Ed.
TOP NEWS
ISRAELI PARLIAMENT APPROVES LIKUD-KADIMA COALITION DEAL
Shaul Mofaz (right) will serve as one of Benjamin Netanyahu's deputy prime ministers, BBCi
Shaul Mofaz (right) will serve as one of Benjamin Netanyahu's deputy prime ministers, BBCi
JERUSALEM -- The Israeli parliament has approved a coalition deal between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and the Kadima party of Shaul Mofaz. The new government will have a majority of 94 in the 120-seat Knesset - one of the biggest in Israeli history. MORE>
ORTHODOX JEWS REDEFINES MARRIAGE: NOT THE SAME AS OBAMA’S
In the wake of President Obama’s sharing of his personal feeling that the millennia-old institution of marriage should be redefined in contemporary America, National Jewish Democratic Council Chair Marc R. Stanley declared his admiration for the president’s demonstration of the values of tikkun olam. MORE>
FRIENDS OF YEMIN ORDE HONORS PHILANTHROPIST CORDISH FAMILY
(l-r) Jon Cordish, Chaim Peri, Suzi Cordish, Michael Oren, David Cordish, Blake Cordish. Photo: Shmulik Almany
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Businessman and Philanthropist David Cordish and his family received the first Yemin Orde Tikkun Halev Award for their humanitarian and philanthropic efforts on behalf of at-risk children in Israel. MORE>
HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS TO OBSERVE 70th YEAR SINCE DEPORTATION OF JEWS FROM SLOVAKIA
BARDEJOV, Slovakia -- In what may be one of their final homecomings, a group of Bardejov Jewish Holocaust survivors, now all in their 70s to 90s, will be the honored members of an international gathering of people taking part in an ecumenical Solidarity Walk on Tuesday, May 15, at 10 a.m. at the train station in Bardejov, Slovakia to mark the 70th anniversary of the World War II deportation of 2,100 Jews. MORE>
WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS GIVES NOD TO ITALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR BEING A FRIEND OF ISRAEL
World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder meets with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti
ROME -- World Jewish Congress (“WJC”) President Ronald S. Lauder on Monday held talks with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Rome, Italy. At the Palazzo Chigi in Rome, the two men discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear threat and the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. Lauder thanked Monti for Italy’s continued support for Israel and its efforts to help restart peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. MORE>
BARDEJOV, Slovakia -- In what may be one of their final homecomings, a group of Bardejov Jewish Holocaust survivors, now all in their 70s to 90s, will be the honored members of an international gathering of people taking part in an ecumenical Solidarity Walk on Tuesday, May 15, at 10 a.m. at the train station in Bardejov, Slovakia to mark the 70th anniversary of the World War II deportation of 2,100 Jews. MORE>
WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS GIVES NOD TO ITALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR BEING A FRIEND OF ISRAEL
World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder meets with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti
ROME -- World Jewish Congress (“WJC”) President Ronald S. Lauder on Monday held talks with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Rome, Italy. At the Palazzo Chigi in Rome, the two men discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear threat and the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. Lauder thanked Monti for Italy’s continued support for Israel and its efforts to help restart peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. MORE>
ZOA PRAISES HOUSE FOR PASSING U.S.-ISRAEL ENHANCED SECURITY COOPERATION ACT
The Zionist Organization of America (“ZOA”) strongly praised the House of Reps for passing the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act (H.R. 4133) by an almost unanimous vote. The bi-partisan bill was introduced by Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and passed by a vote of 411-2. Voting against were Rep. John Dingell, (D-MI) and Rep, Ron Paul (R-TX). MORE>FDR INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS AWARD RE-ESTABLISHED
__________________CONCORD, NH - The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice stated that the FDR International Disability Rights Award will again be granted to a United Nations member state. The purpose of the award is to recognize that nation’s significant progress in implementing and meeting the goals and ideals characterized by the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. MORE>
NEWSMAKERS
OBITUARY: CELEBRITY HAIRDRESSER VIDAL SASSOON
Vidal Sasson, Wikipedia photo
Vidal Sasson, Wikipedia photo
LOS ANGELES - Vidal Sassoon's "wash and wear" styles contributed to a social revolution. Just as the feminist movement was looking for something new, he came up with sleek, easy styles that liberated women from the fussy, high-maintenance beehives of the '50s. MORE>
CHIEF RABBI PAYS TRIBUTE TO PLYMOUTH'S SYNAGOGUE
The building escaped major damage during the bombing
of Plymouth in World War II
The Chief Rabbi has paid tribute to Plymouth's Jewish community and its synagogue as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the city's Grade II-listed temple. Lord Sacks said the building in Catherine Street was an "absolute gem." MORE>
CHABAD HONORS WOUNDED FEMALE IDF SOLDIERS
The building escaped major damage during the bombing
of Plymouth in World War II
The Chief Rabbi has paid tribute to Plymouth's Jewish community and its synagogue as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the city's Grade II-listed temple. Lord Sacks said the building in Catherine Street was an "absolute gem." MORE>
CHABAD HONORS WOUNDED FEMALE IDF SOLDIERS
Bentzi Sasson, photo
NEW YORK -- A group of 10 Israel Defense Force (IDF) female soldiers arrived in New York City on Sunday, May 6, as part of a 10-day trip hosted by Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side and accompanied by Chabad Terror Victims Project. MORE>
GROUP OF BRAZILIAN PASTORS VISIT THE HOLY LAND
(l-r) Stas Misezhnikov, Everaldo dias Pereira,
and Brazilia; Haim Gutin
A group of Christian pastors from Brazil arrived in the Holy Land last week as official guests of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. MORE>
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10 TOUGH JEWISH CHARACTERS IN MOVIE & TV
By RONN TOROSSIAN
“The Avengers” opened this weekend to the biggest film opening of all time – making over $200 million at the box office in a single weekend in cinemas in North America, and set to become one of only a handful of movies to gross $1 billion worldwide. Unknown to many is that these characters were created by three Jews (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon), and the film consists of an all-star team of Marvel Super heroes. These were some tough Jewish super-heroes – and has been documented by some, there are also real life avengers - heroes who took revenge upon those who killed Jews. MORE>
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“The Avengers” opened this weekend to the biggest film opening of all time – making over $200 million at the box office in a single weekend in cinemas in North America, and set to become one of only a handful of movies to gross $1 billion worldwide. Unknown to many is that these characters were created by three Jews (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon), and the film consists of an all-star team of Marvel Super heroes. These were some tough Jewish super-heroes – and has been documented by some, there are also real life avengers - heroes who took revenge upon those who killed Jews. MORE>
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COMMUNITY NEWS
AJU PRESENTS SPRING COLLOQUIUM
ADL SPONSORS YOUTH MISSION TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
ZIEGLER SCHOOL OF RABBINIC STUDIES TO ORDAIN 9 RABBIS
NEW EXHIBIT TO OPEN AT PLATT & BORSTEIN GALLERIES
LOS ANGELES -- The Arts Council of American Jewish University announced today that a new exhibit, Abstract: Expressing Ideas and Emotions through Color and Line, will open at the university’s Platt and Borstein Galleries on Sunday, June 10. MORE>
ARMONI STEPS DOWN AS CEO OF BEIT HATFUTSOT
Avinoam Armoni
AJU PRESENTS SPRING COLLOQUIUM
BEL AIR -- American Jewish University (AJU) Graduate School of Nonprofit Management is presenting their popular Spring Colloquium 2012, Wednesday evenings at 5 p.m. at AJU’s Familian Campus which began April 25. The public is invited free of charge. MORE>
BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO & CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL LA PROMOTE DISCUSSION OF CULTURALLY SENSITIVE CARE
LOS ANGELES -- A pediatric health care collaboration between Israel and Los Angeles was strengthened last week as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles hosted a visit from Shimshon Neikrug, MD, a research consultant at Beit Issie Shapiro. MORE>
ADL SPONSORS YOUTH MISSION TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
LOS ANGELES – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is hosting a sponsored trip to Washington later this year. Current sophomores (who will be juniors for the 2012-2013 academic year) interested in fostering understanding among diverse groups are invited to apply to participate in the Anti-Defamation League’s Grosfeld Family National Youth Leadership Mission to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. from Sunday, Nov. 11 through Wednesday, Nov. 14. MORE>
The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, one of two academic centers of Conservative/Masorti Judaism in North America, will ordain their 14th class of rabbis on Monday evening, May 21, at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. MORE>
LOS ANGELES -- The Arts Council of American Jewish University announced today that a new exhibit, Abstract: Expressing Ideas and Emotions through Color and Line, will open at the university’s Platt and Borstein Galleries on Sunday, June 10. MORE>
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BUSINESS
ARMONI STEPS DOWN AS CEO OF BEIT HATFUTSOT
Avinoam Armoni
NEW YORK -- After three years of leading Beit Hatfutsot through a period of unprecedented growth and achievement, Avinoam Armoni stepped down from his position as CEO in late March. MORE>
SPECIAL REPORT
COUNTING THE OMER TO SHAVUOT
High priest offering sacrifice, photo Wikipedia
Shavuot, also spelled Shavuos (Hebrew: שבועות ) "[Feast of] Weeks"), is a
Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of
Sivan (corresponding to late May/early June). It marks the conclusion of
the Counting of the Omer and the day the Torah was given at Mount
Sinai. It is one of the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals (shalosh
regalim) mandated by the Torah. MORE> High priest offering sacrifice, photo Wikipedia