Shabbat shalom everyone! 

A sunny but cold day here in Sharon, MA, where we continue to isolate ourselves in the hopes of avoiding any new and more virulent strains of Covid. And, just as you thought it might be safe to venture a brisk walk to the mailbox, we now have to worry about Jews with lasers setting the forests on fire! How awful that during the week we honor Holocaust Remembrance, we have to endure anti-semitic attacks from the whack jobs from Q-Anon. Honestly, the secular world here in the US couldn’t get any stranger when a representative from Q-Anon actually gets elected to office, threatens to kill other members of congress, and then gets rewarded for it by the Republican leadership. WTF!? What world do we live in? This is nuts. We may have flushed the Orange Turd, but the bowl will need a good scrubbing for years to come in order to rid us of the stench he left behind. (I know, i promised not to bring him up, but I couldn’t resist extending the metaphor)

But, don’t get all ongebluzen about it, The Jew News Review is here to turn that frown upside down! But, before we get to that, a big announcement to all our faithful subscribers: 
The JNR Website is live! Just click here →http://www.jewnewsreview.com and you will be taken to an unparalleled website experience! You all are fortunate in being the beta testers for the site, leading up to our HUGE SUPERBOWL LAUNCH PARTY! And, incredibly, since we have pulled our Super Bowl ad this year, like other major sponsors, we now have enough budget left over to celebrate with free swag! So, check your mail box soon for a delivery with a special launch gift, courtesy of the JNR editorial staff. (I will be sending private emails to some of you for your mailing address). And hey, once you are on the website, as a thank you, be sure to click on the Follow button, which will probably appear in the lower right hand corner of your screen. By following us, you will automatically receive any updates on the blog via your email. Lucky you. And special thanks to Nathan Hirsh, our honorary web designer and all around mensch. 
And now, I know you have been on shpilkes all week waiting for it, so, here is the Jew News Reviewed for the week, courtesy of The Forward:

1.  Who is Elliot Broidy and why did 5 Rabbis support his getting a pardon from the Orange Turd? Is Broidy a modern day Raskolnikov? Nope. Yes, he is philanthropic and has donated to some great causes, but in short, he is just another rich sleaze bag who used his money and influence to get himself a pardon.
2. Is the definition of “Antisemitism” from the IHRA aiding in the “cancel culture” wars? Sorry to say, that seems to be the case. While this seems on the surface to be an esoteric argument, it has broad implications across Jewish organizations who are split over it’s adoption into federal law, which is being pushed by some Jewish organizations. And it will be interesting to see if the Biden administration adopts it or not.
3. A Jewish journalist writes about Evangelicals he lived amongst for decades: Will they apologize for supporting the Orange Turd? Don’t hold your breath.
4. Tu B’Shvat and Covid, what do a tree holiday and mask wearing have in common? Well, i guess they both save lives. Read more about it here.
5. Ossof’s predecessors: 3 Jewish Senators from the deep south were also the first 3 Jewish Senators in the country – Their legacy is nothing to be proud of. Oy.
6. The lost film masterpiece of Paul Newman, “On the Harmfulness of Tobacco” – A too long piece (started off very interesting, then i lost it) about a film directed by Paul Newman and starring Michael Strong (who?). If you are film buff, this is a good read. The film was hidden in an attic for 50 years, and probably should have stayed there. I think TCM is airing it soon.
7. “A funny thing happened on the way to Stockholm” – An excerpt from the Nobel winner’s new book. Seems like a really great guy, and I enjoyed reading this, although it did make me feel a bit under-accomplished. 

That’s all folks! And hey, I shouldn’t have to remind you of this, but let’s be extra careful out there!
Brad out.https://assets.forward.com/012921.pdf

Shabbat Shalom!
The inaugural fireworks had barely faded into the DC nightfall when on the 46th week of this awful pandemic, our 46th President used the power of his pen to begin healing our great nation. And so, while the inauguration of Joe Biden  thankfully brought our national nightmare to a weird and wonderful conclusion, the hard work of getting back to “normal” has begun.  For my part, “normal” will now mean no further mention of the Orange Turd in these blog postings. After 4 years of that awful human, I am done with ever mentioning him again, and while I know it’s naive to think 74 million of us will have a change of heart and mind,  I hope the courts will put a final end to whatever remaining power or national influence he may still possess. 

But what a great inauguration! I am gaga over Lady Gaga, and our 22 year old Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, was just amazing! Could this be a “new normal” for inaugural celebrations? What a great day for our country, but as i said, the hard work has just begun. And I have no doubt we will be cleaning out the bureaucratic chametz for many months to come.  Most importantly, we desperately need Joe’s leadership to help stop this awful pandemic and get our people safe, our kids back in school, and our economy back on track. So, let’s go Joe! 
“When day comes we step out of the shade,aflame and unafraidThe new dawn blooms as we free itFor there is always light,if only we’re brave enough to see itIf only we’re brave enough to be it”
Now, on with the review of the review of the news for Jews, courtesy of The Forward:

1. Who’s who in Biden Jew-ville – “Get your program here!”  If you want to know more about the line-up of Jews in leadership positions in the Biden administration, here is all you need to know. It’s an all-star line-up of highly qualified and talented folks. Let’s hope that like the recently departed Hank “The Hammer” Aaron,  they hit the ball out of the park!
2. Israeli weddings in Utah? Since there are no civil marriages in Israel, and no-one can travel anywhere due to the pandemic, Israelis have turned to online weddings performed by officiants in Utah to get around the crazy orthodox rules. If they are looking for a good officiant in Massachusetts, my brother-in-law Daniel comes highly recommended. 
3. Bernie’s mittens – Apparently the woman who makes them has received orders for over 6,000 as of two days ago, but she is not making any. Who knew Bernie the schlep would become such a fashion maven?!
4. Inauguration: The first day of the rest of your life – So says Jodi Rudoren, The Forward Editor. No big fan of Joe, but her opinion piece thinks he is the right guy with the right message at the right time.
5. “A Jew and a Black minister walk into the Senate..” – No, not the beginning of a joke, but a neat little story about the bible used to swear in John Ossof, the new (and Jewish) Senator from Georgia.
6. What do Covid and refrigerators in LA have in common? – You really don’t want to know. Pretty disturbing story about how the spike in Covid deaths in the LA county area have impacted the mourning process for the Jewish and broader community. Ugh.
7. Schumer rises to the top – A short piece about the hard working New York Senator who now represents the most powerful position ever held by a Jew. Such a mensch!

That’s all for now. And hey, let’s be extra careful out there! Even if you got vaccinated! (yeah mumsy!)
Also, look for the official Jew News Review website launch during the half-time show of this year’s Super Bowl. It’s a SuperJewReview! In case you want an sneak peak, here is the link you have been waiting for!
Don’t forget to follow me!
Brad out.https://assets.forward.com/012221-new.pdf

Shabbat shalom friends and fellow Hebrews! 
Another crazy and disturbing week in our nation’s history. It gave me pause to reflect upon the good old days, and a memory of the daily ritual I happily and naively performed at the John F Kennedy Elementary school in Holbrook, MA: The reciting of The Pledge of Allegiance. Most of us here are old enough to remember “I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Now, forgetting all the controversy around the changes made to Francis Bellamy’s original 1892 version, what I fondly remember was how proud I was to perform that patriotic ritual at the start of every school day. Now look where we are. How the F did we get here! Books will be written about how events, mega trends, social media, racism and other factors contributed to the rise of the Orange Turd, that he is just a symptom of a much deeper, systemic root cause or causes. As for me, even though I have voted for many of them in the past, I blame the Republicans (the party of Lincoln!).  I know that sounds simplistic, but hey, in my lifetime there is a clear pattern in this country – A Republican administration takes over, creates a shit show, then we vote in a Democrat to clean up the mess. The Dems are the party that follows the elephant around the circus with a bucket! Now we have Joe Biden, chief of the bucket brigade, older than dirt, but seemingly up to the task. Let’s pray we get through this week without any more violence and Joe and crew can bring back One Nation, with liberty and justice for all. 

Fortunately for Joe, he will have a lot of help from the many Jews he has appointed in the cabinet and as his advisors. Our loyal reader, Jeff Davis, shared the following, once more demonstrating how Jews disproportionately continue to contribute to, and significantly impact the country and culture:
TRUMP lost the presidency and by doing so, he has (thank G-d) allowed A Jewish Senate Majority Leader (Schumer) to replace Moscow Mitch,A Jewish White House Chief of Staff (Klain),A Jewish Attorney General (Garland),A Jewish Secretary of State (Blinken) & Deputy Secretary of State (Sherman),A Jewish Director of Homeland Security (Mayorkas),A Jewish Federal Reserve Chairwoman (Yellen),A Jewish Covid Coordinator (Zients),A Jewish CDC Director (Walensky),A Jewish Member of Council of Economic Advisors (Bernstein),and don’t forget a Vice President (whose husband & kids are Jewish). Joe Biden (whose nickname is the “mensch”) is appointing this Jewish “minyan”, which includes the top-tier, most important and influential government positions! By now, you likely know all about Kamala Harris’s husband, Jewish dad and future Second Gentleman (Second Dude?) Doug “Dougie” Emhoff. Not only is he the spouse of the first-ever woman to serve as Vice President of the United States, he’s also the first Jewish person to fill this role. Such naches!   But as an ardent observer of all things political, I would be remiss to overlook President-elect Joe Biden’s Jewish relatives — of which there are many. In fact, all three of his kids married into Jewish families — which means Biden is the grandfather of some pretty adorable Jewish kids.  

Now, what about the news of the Jews this week? Well, as you can imagine, stuff about the orange turd and insurrection, a pandemic killing thousands daily, a take down of Fran Lebowitz’ new Netflix series, an obit/story about the recently deceased Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, and a rather fun piece on Elvis Presely, the Jew! And hey, stay tuned for some exciting previews of JNR’s website which will officially launch at half-time of this year’s Super Bowl! Here you go folks! Enjoy! 

1. Portraits of a Pandemic – Photographer Alon Goldsmith tries to capture the boredom of how locals in greater Los Angeles are handling sheltering in place. Boring indeed. 
2. One portrait of Sheldon Adelson – His politics aside, Sheldon was a great Jewish American Horatio Alger. From humble beginnings in Dorchester and Blue Hill Ave, he became a force in Jewish and Israeli circles and a hugely successful business man and Casino magnate.
3. Republican Jews want a reckoning – And may not donate until they get one and the Orange Turd disappears.   I suggest they completely rebrand and start a new party and I would be happy to donate.
4. “Pretend it’s a City” – Pretend you like Fran Lebowitz, but you may not like this review of her new Netflix series. This one is for serious New Yorkers who like to listen to Jews whining and complaining about the City that never sleeps. I will probably sleep through this one.
5. What does “Impeachment” mean in Hebrew? Much more than you think. An interesting read, you will discover the biblical origins of “Fake News”!
6. The Jewish Elvis? I love this story, and I know I joke about finding the Jewish angle on everything, but this time it’s not such a wide angle!
7. Jon Ossof giving patrilineal Jews a good name – Like Ossof, the author is a patrilineal Jew who was called a “mutt” by his friends. Interesting angle on growing up Jewish in Georgia.

That’s all for now. And hey, let’s be extra, extra careful out there. This new strand of Covid is spreading like wildfire.
Brad out. https://assets.forward.com/011521.pdf

Shabbat shalom my fellow JNRers. Today, I am not in a very good mood. 

On November 4, a majority of the country decided the orange turd should be flushed, and in a pandemic-riddled demonstration of our democracy, we pulled the chain. But unfortunately for our great country, (but fortunately for all of you) the metaphor ends there. If only it were as easy as flushing the turd away. No my friends, a more appropriate metaphor would be the lancing of a boil. For while there is some immediate relief upon said lancing, there is the ugly, oozing mess that follows, and the risk of infection. Last Thursday was an ugly, oozing mess. Like probably most of you, I watched the mess unfold live on gut-wrenching television. It was appalling, and scary, and I couldn’t help but think of the similar feelings I had watching the 9/11 tragedy unfold. And the nonsense continues, and the country now has to deal with the infection otherwise know as Trumpism, that will continue to haunt and divide the nation for years to come. I hope and pray for Joe Biden to be the antibiotic the country needs to finally heal the now lanced boil and national infection called Donald J. Trump. And please, please, Pence and Republicans, if you have any moral backbone left, flush the orange turd immediately.

Another scary element of Thursday’s oozing mess that was widely noticeable, was the many images of anti-semitic shirts, hoodies and signage brandished quite boldly by the dumb-ass hooligans ransacking our Capital. And the pre-insurrection rally even featured a newly elected US congresswoman, Rep. Mary Miller R-Illinoise, quoting Hitler in some kind of weirdly positive way.  Not surprising that during the last 4 years the incidents of hate and anti-semitism rose to record levels and these gray-matter lacking morons showed the clear connective tissue between that rise and the elevation of the orange turd and his hate mongering.  I don’t even want to repeat or display any of the anti-semitic garbage from that god-awful day. Scary shit.

So, enough venting. Of course this week’s JNR from our friends at The Forward is dominated by essays, opinions and articles on the insurrection attempt. So, here you are folks. Not exactly enjoyable, but some good reading:

1. A dark day for Democracy – Indeed. Jodi, The Forward editor, does her own bit of venting and provides some interesting perspectives.
2. Ossof’s better half – Nice story about the achievements of the high school sweetheart our new savior and Senator married. Such a nice Jewish couple!
3. The film “Hester Street” a model of modern Jewish womanhood? Some good yiddish scenes, and an interesting film from the late filmmaker Joan Micklin Silver. 
4. A guide to the hate groups that stormed the capital – Not easy reading, but always good to know your enemy.
5. A Trump voter’s guilt trip – Sorry, I don’t have any patience for anyone from Trumpland anymore. Anyone who thinks “they didn’t sign up for this” but supported him, clearly were wearing blinders, or fell for the con artist’s sham. 
6. Capital Coup the work of one man – Yes, completely agree. It was always going to end this way. I always felt Thursday was inevitable given the trajectory of hate and divisiveness he started and fostered for so many years.
7. Isaac Bashevis Singer – Interesting story about the first Yiddish writer to receive the nobel prize in literature (1978) and now a museum in his honor has been established in the former Jewish section of Warsaw Poland.

That’s all folks. So, let’s all be extra careful out there. 
Brad out. 

L’dor V’dor and so much more!http://click1.e.forward.com/vvfddfjvvzhnzztdnkgbtnmbcfnkggfghbkzfjykmhghp_nrqqyrwjwnqpqwqfqpyf.html

Shalom to all and a happy freaking new year!
There is not enough space, nor attention spans, to convey or summarize in one email all that we have been through in the year 2020.  So, no greatest hits or “year in review” from me as I think we all know what that list would look like and I would rather focus on the positives. But, if you are interested in reading a few great summaries, here are a few links you might enjoy but, warning, they aint pretty. The first is from Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, who will also be the first JUD speaker next week. Here is the link to her summary of the year, and why we cannot simply forget about 2020 and move on.   https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/the-trumperdammerung-is-a-fitting-end-to-2020?utm_source=onsite-share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=the-new-yorker&mc_cid=6a636a6a0d&mc_eid=55440fe7bd  The second is the latest installment from Heather Cox Richardson (FYI, great story about her in the NYT this week) and here is the link to her recap. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/december-30-2020?r=2pvlx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&utm_source=copy
On a more personal note, this plague of a year had a few silver linings. First, there is nothing like new life (and vaccines) to renew hope and get me kvelling again. My son and daughter-in-law will be having our first grand child next April, and, they also bought a house in Sharon! And my amazing daughter completed her residency at MGH, passed her Board certifications, and started a new job at PM Pediatrics in Dedham. But, the kvelling doesn’t end there, as the JNR also celebrated many milestones this year, including:

• Doubled our readership from 23 to 46! – Including two new additions this week, Cousins Barry and Sara Goverman and long time family friend, Barbara Howard. If my linear algebra is correct, this puts our subscriber base on pace to surpass the New York Times’ (6,500,000) by the year 2039. 
• No increase in our subscription fee while continuing to provide unparalleled and rich content on news impacting Jews – In a stunning and unanimous vote (1-0) by the JNR Board of Director, introducing a pay wall for the JNR was soundly defeated.
• Introduced a new logo and branding campaign including t-shirts (more swag coming in 2021!) – Feedback on our t-shirts has been nothing short of fabulous! 
• Developed a new website and procured a twitter handle, all part of a broader social media strategy which will be formally launched later this month.
• Upgraded JNR office space – The room where it happens got a make-over in 2020 adding a white board and turntable to spin and play my favorite Klezmer tunes while creating the weekly JNR Review. I bet you didn’t know that the work klezmer is a combination of the Hebrew word for a vessel (“kley”) and melody (“zemer”).

All for now, and hey, let’s be extra careful out there!
The JNR will return next week with its usual weekly review of the news about Jews. 
Brad out. 
                           2020 JNR Swag

                The room where it happens

Shabbat Shalom to you all! 
A few announcements from the JNR staff:
– A big welcome to two new members!  Bill Edelstein, a long time college pal (and co-benevolent dictator) and Fran and Ockie, friends of me Mumsy.

– And speaking of me Mumsy, happy 90th birthday to her!

– Lastly, since The Forward is not publishing their weekly reviews during the holidays, the staff at the JNR have decided to take a shabbatical until The Forward returns. I know this will come as a major disappointment to all you faithful readers, but think of how happy you will be upon our return in the new year!

So, a happy and healthy new year to you all!
And remember, let’s be careful out there!
Brad out.

Shabbat Shalom fellow JNR people!
As the vaccine continues to roll out to our front line workers and most vulnerable, it also brings with it the hopes we can eventually return to being our more normal social selves. But until then, I can’t emphasize enough our need to take all precautions. There is no quick fix here, no surge protector you can buy from Amazon. So, be especially careful out there and make smart decisions. No more therapeutic massages for me or trips to Newbury Comics to browse some new vinyl, at least not until herd immunity is achieved. No greater sacrifice could I consider. Seriously, be safe out there, this shit is too real and too deadly not to take seriously.
This week, amid all the positivity of vaccine distribution, the secular news was consistently fouled by the continuing transition nonsense emanating from the Orange turd and his cult following. We continue to look more like a banana republic than a shining city on a hill, but this too shall pass and history will ultimately record that our democracy was strong enough to withstand the worst instincts of men, and that our constitution, however imperfect it may be, and despite the complicity of a morally corrupt Republican party, kept tyranny in check.  Thank you James Madison and the rest of the framers.
Meanwhile, Jewish news also had it’s controversy. The Forward this week, i think for the first time in it’s virtual history, had to reissue it’s on line daily due to an improper subject headline that claimed the Anti Defamation League was responsible for un-inviting a muslim leader who was scheduled to appear on a panel to discuss, (irony dripping here), “After 4 Years of Division, Tension and Bigotry, Now What?” However, the big mistake made by The Forward was attributing the de-panelling to the wrong organization. Good for The Forward for correcting the error, bad for the JUD for de-panelling and not hearing an important voice from the Muslim world, no matter how dissenting. 
Now, what you have all been waiting for, The News of the Jews in review:

1. Is it beginning to look a lot like Sukkoth? – According to this story, New York City outdoor dining venues are starting to resemble elaborate sukkahs! How lovely! But while it might help keep restaurants in business and bring back the brunch, is it safe? Jury is out, and the snow is not helping either.
2. Liberal Jews de-platforming dissenting opinions – As mentioned above, this created quite a stir among Jewish groups this week. IMHO, this is yet another example of the trend in liberal circles to ignore vs engage, and not a point of view shared by the editorial board of the JNR.
3. Frum flush:  Jews at the World Series of Poker table??!!  I’m all in!!! –  Nobel prizes? Check. Female chess champion? Check. Oscar winners? Check. Texas Hold’em? Yup, check that box too! Jewish leadership in the arts, sciences and entertainment world abound, way beyond our proportionality. But we have now joined a new club, in spades. This story is about an Orthodox Jew, Gershon Distenfeld, who has made it to the final table in the coveted poker competition! What does Gershon do when he is not playing poker online? He writes a blog. There may be hope for me yet.
4. Moroccan Jews getting a lift from new peace deal? – Not sure there was a war going on, so calling the new agreement a “peace deal” might be a misnomer, but nevertheless, Moroccan Jews (yes, there are more than a minion) who have emigrated from Morocco during a diaspora that started in 1948, can now be re-united with their families in Morocco. This is great news for the Moroccan Jewish community and this is an interview with a few Moroccans around the world.
5. Chicken Soup not good for you???? Holy crap, it might be the end of the world as we know it! – This piece raises the question of salt content in this venerable staple of my wife’s diet. It’s still good for the soul, so throw caution to the wind and keep slurping your soup! (pinkies up, or course)
6. Max Rose is Jewish and running for Mayor of New York City – And I thought anyone with the name Max had to be a Jewish tailor. I hope Max wins, he seems like a nice Jewish boy.
7. A Chanukah story from Aushwitz – Elie Wiesel tells a story of courage from the hell of a concentration camp, or was it from Maccabean times?
8. New York Accents – A book review of EJ White’s, “Tou talking to me? The Unruly History of New York English” – Didn’t interest me, but it might interest others.

Well, that’s all for now. And hey, let’s be really, really careful out there. (skip the massages for a while)
Brad out. https://assets.forward.com/121820%20(1).pdf

Shabbat Shalom and Chappy Chanukah!
I am usually one who bashes the pharmaceutical industry for the legal chicanery they and the US government have perpetrated on the addicted public for so many years, but this week, they are my heroes. We now have a vaccine! And while it may take a while for my place in line, there is now much hope that we can eventually return to some form of normalcy by summer 2021. And for those with any skepticism about the FDA and the approval process, I can assure you from my own personal experience working with them on approving a medical device, that they are consummate professionals that take their role very seriously, and are driven by science and data, not any pressure or pronouncements from an orange turd transitioning from the White House to the Jail House.  
One of the things I love about The Forward is it’s ability to find a Jewish angle on just about anything! So, in keeping with that mission, I decided to google John Lennon and Jews since this week marked the 40th anniversary of his assassination. Turns out that a reporter for the Voice of Israel interviewed him in 1969 and asked the star Beatle if he knew any Jewish songs to which he replied ‘Only Hava Nagila, ha-ha-ha.’ The reporter then taught him to sing two lines from the Hebrew song “Oath to Jerusalem” which he did, and you can listen to it via this link: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-tv-broadcasts-clip-of-john-lennon-singing-oath-to-jerusalem-in-hebrew/ I decided to honor the great legend by visiting Newbury Comics and buying Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, vinyl version of course. 
So, let’s look at the News of the Jews from the week, courtesy of, you guessed it, The Forward:

1. Chanukka: Festival of Lights? Celebration of a miracle? Or a holiday that like Judaism, bucks tradition? – You be the judge of this critique on a point of view I don’t share, that Chanukka/Judaism is too rigid and inflexible to be adapted to different interpretations and practices. Bah humbug!
2. “Puupy for Chanuka”: finally a new song to add to the very short Chanukah song book – Sorry, call me old fashioned, but I just can’t get into the rap thing, even though I am a fan of beat poetry and can appreciate the artistry. But there is just no comparing the mellifluous sounds and songs of the Christmas song book to this lyrical drumbeat, although the lyrics are quite clever. Here is a link if you are interested in hearing “Puppy for Chanukah” by Daveed Diggs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8MkeIo2bUE
3. Legendary Latkes – If you don’t have an air fryer, or an amazing son-in-law who owns one, this might be the recipe you have been waiting for! Or just pick up a box at Trader Joe’s in the frozen food section.
4. Orthodox Jews leaving Lakewood, NJ for a nearby neighborhood and the impact of that migration – Who cares? Not me….i suggest you skip this one.
5. Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts new Jewish Director has a rocky start, but making changes – A racial incident at the museum heightened museum director, Teitelbaum’s social justice sensitivities and paved the way for some interesting ways of making the museum more inclusive – Being from Boston, I was surprised by this news, and found it an interesting read about our own iconic art institution.
6. A TV show called “Big Mouth” apparently cleverly written with a Westchester Jewish sense of humor – Havn’t seen it, so can’t comment, but I am generally not a fan of animated shows. I suggest we defer to the Rosen crew to give us the lowdown on this one, as they grew up in the area.
7. The Right now turning their venomous attacks on scientists – Nothing surprises me anymore about what shameful and treasonous lengths the right will go to in order to hang onto power. I wish it were not so.
8. Orthodox and a Biden supporter? Not an easy balancing act apparently – Among the orthodox, not surprising that Biden supporters might feel a bit stigmatized.

All for now, and hey, let’s be extra careful out there! This surge is freaking awful!
Brad out. https://assets.forward.com/121120_shabbat.pdf

Shabbat Shalom, hey!
Hello to all, and congratulations for making it through another week as our country continues it’s embarrassing Lewis Carroll-like journey down the proverbial rabbit hole and through the looking glass. All eyes (and lots of money) have turned toward Georgia as, literally, the stakes could not be any higher.  And who would have thought a large and relatively new Asian-American population could play a swing vote role in suburban Georgia?
And if you are wondering how Jew’s will  fare in a Biden administration, one need only look at his cabinet choices, chock-filled with brilliant and accomplished Jews! (Janet Yellen – Treasury, Alejandro Mayorkas – Homeland Security, Antony Blinken – Secretary of State, Ron Klain – Chief of Staff, just to name a few). Not that being Jewish (Steven Miller, for example) is all that matters, but these folks are brilliant and highly competent and reflect the spirit of a new President who values competence and diversity. 
And speaking of brilliant Jews, a big welcome to JNR’s newest members this week! Our Aunt and Yiddish expert, Millie Berman, cousin and oyster expert Marcia Berman, and my west coast and recently re-connected first cousin Eve Levine. Big Shaloms to you all!
And now, on with the Jew News of the week, courtesy of The Forward:

1. Intermarriage and the Birthright-Israel Debate – Two articles reviewing the impact of the Birthright program on Intermarriage. After a decade and sponsorship of over 750,000 mostly happy participants in this program, only Jews could find ways to criticize vs celebrate a program that ultimately connects young people (and we have a few JNR’s who participated) with Israel and their Jewish Heritage. Is it “Pilates Judasim”, strengthening the core and trusting good results to follow?” You be the judge. Worth the read. 
2. The Jewish connection to Arlo Guthrie’s famous “Alice’s Restaurant” – Alice Brock, THE Alice from the famous song (which we listen to at noon every Thanksgiving except this one) is Jewish, suffering from COPD and living on Cape Cod. What a great story about a recent fundraiser, promoted by NPR, that crowd-raised money for her medical support. 
3. Do we need more Emanuels in the Biden Administration? – Is Ezekial enough (Coronavirus task force), or should Biden include brother Rahm? Rahm is certainly a lightning rod for criticism of all kinds. But IMHO, the more Jews the better!
4. Not all Jewish intermarriages are alike –  According to this Jewish gentleman who doesn’t like his intermarriage being compared to Kamala Harris’s. Sure, i get it. Meh.
5. Mosul struggles to recover from ISIS rule, and restore it’s Jewish past – A very uplifting story about how one man risked his life documenting the evils of ISIS in Mosul and is determined to restore the religious communities devastated during ISIS reign of terror.
6. Life in Gaza is complicated –  But this former Gazan and his wife, now living in San Francisco, try to cut through the complications with photography.  The lens may not lie, but peeling back the layers of craziness in this part of the world is not an easy task, and not accomplished with just the lens.
7. Interview with a Conservative Republican who wants to win over Labor – I’m not buying it, just putting lipstick on the power-grabbing pig, but draw your own conclusions!

All for now, and hey, now more than ever given the crazy surge going on everywhere, let’s be careful out there.
Brad out. https://assets.forward.com/pdfs/120420.pdf

Happy Sunday everyone!
I was flooded with inquiries about the status of this week’s JNR issue, so here’s the story. The Forward did not publish their usual PDF summary this week (due to the holiday), hence, I have given the JNR staff the weekend off. I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend. For my Canadian friends, I was wondering if there is an equivalent tradition to the US Presidential pardoning of the turkey….maybe Trudeau pardons a moose? So, while searching Google on that thought, I did run across this curious item from CNN Canada. Here is a link to learn more about this new danger to our Moose brethren north of border.  https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/22/americas/canada-warns-moose-lick-cars-trnd/index.html

All for now, and hey, let’s be careful out there! 
And stay tuned for a new JNR issue next weekend!
Brad out