San Diego Jewish World~July 11

Olmert to Syria: Let's negotiate a peace deal

JERUSALEM (Press Release)—Ehud Olmert made his strongest call yet for Syria to resume peace talks with Israel. Asked in an interview with “Al-Arabiya” television about recent peace overtures by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Israeli prime minister said: "I am willing to sit with him if he is willing to sit with me. We will talk about peace."

Both Jerusalem and Damascus have signaled since last year's Lebanon war that they want rapprochement, but personal remarks such as those made by Olmert on Monday have been rare. Olmert noted in the interview that "the Americans don't want to sit with" Assad, given Syria's alleged support for the Iraqi insurgency. In offering talks with the Syrian leader, Olmert appeared to be suggesting that Israel is willing to do so without Washington's blessing.

Syria has conditioned resuming peace talks on the return by Israel of the Golan Heights. Israel has rejected such preconditions and urged Assad to show good faith by first ending Syria's sponsorship of Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist groups.

The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress

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Current Mideast climate likened to year of Kristallnacht

JERUSALEM (Press Release)—Canada’s former justice minister Irwin Cotler has told a Jerusalem conference that “radical Islam threatens international peace, security and human rights” and moderate Muslims as well as Jews, amounting to an environment Israel has not seen since the rise of Nazi Germany. In some ways, 2007 was like 1938 for the Jewish people, Cotler said, referring to the year in which the Nazis began to burn down synagogues and systematically kill Jews. The conference, organized by the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, brings together Jewish leaders from around the world to discuss strategies to deal with threats and challenges facing Jewish people.

Cotler expressed concerns about a dangerous environment in the Middle East, combining Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Iran with the election of Hamas in Palestinian elections and emergence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon “as a state within a state.” While many of these developments are at least a year old the events “have not only intensified but congealed, constituting now what may be called a gathering storm.” He noted that when Hamas took over the Gaza strip and refugee camps in Lebanon, both erupted in violence due to the infiltration of Islamic militants.

“Since last year Iran not only continues to incite a Mideast Holocaust but now also denies that the European one occurred,” he said. “There’s been a quantum leap forward in Iran acquiring lethal atomic capabilities and increased state support for international and Mideast terrorism.” Cotler also criticized the UN Human Rights Council for passing many resolutions against Israel while letting offending countries off the hook, constituting “a country-specific indictment.” However, the Canadian parliamentarian stressed that “It is not 1938. There is a Jewish state as an antidote to Jewish vulnerability. There are non-Jews prepared to join together in common cause with the Jewish people and Israel’s not alone.” Israel could count on allies such as Canada and the US as well as developing relations with emerging powers such as China and India, he added.

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At least sexual escapades of politicians provide
Israelis a break from forecasts of possible war

JERUSALEM—It used to be said that all was fair in love and war.

Today the emphasis is sex, which we are enlightened enough to know is not always the same as love.

It began on last evening's news, with a report that the former brother-in-law of Haim Ramon had hired a firm of private investigators to reveal that the woman who accused Ramon of an improper kiss was something other than how she presented herself.

The timing was strange. Ramon has been convicted of sexual harassment, served his time in a public service job, and was at least partly refurbished by an appointment as government minister.

Not only did the former brother-in-law's effort seem superfluous, it did not work. The intended target of the investigation latched on to the fact that she was being harassed yet again. She reported it to the justice ministry, and produced a day of embarrassment for the private investigators, Ramon's former brother-in-law, and Ramon himself. It is too early to know if the minister will be unrefurbished. There are challenges claiming that his ministerial appointment was improper.

The next chapter appeared this morning in the weekly book review supplement of Ha'aretz. The lead review, on page one, is of a woman's book arguing that sex over 60 still has its merits. The cartoon that accompanied the review was explicit, even if the body portrayed was not of museum quality.

Early morning radio reported that yet another Member of Knesset was being accused of sexual harassment. By 10 AM his identity was public: a member of the Pensioners' Party. By 2 PM his accuser was on radio. She sounded like someone who, as reported, was an activist in the Pensioners' Party. She accused the MK, among other things, of telling her that she has a nice ass.

A mid-afternoon headline dealt with the latest claim being made to the Supreme Court, as part of its consideration of the plea bargain that did not include the weightiest charges against former President Moshe Katzav. Police records indicate that while questioning him, Katzav denied telephoning to one of his accusers, who had worked for him in the presidential mansion. Alas, records show that he phoned her 689 times, many of them after midnight.

There are also reports of impending war: Syria is strengthening its forces opposite the Golan Heights, and its spokesman is ridiculing Israel's posture with respect to peace talks. Just a month ago the government collected our gas masks, in order to clean them and update the medications in each kit. Now the word is that there are not enough gas masks ready for distribution.

The latest prediction of Iranian nuclear weapons is 2009. United Nations officials want Israel to turn over to it a bit of land that Israel has occupied since 1967, even before experts figure out if the area is part of Lebanon or Syria. Hezbollah is said to have more missiles than prior to last year's war. There is still no word that the two Israeli soldiers missing in Lebanon are even alive, despite last year's truce agreement requiring their release. There has been another rain of rockets and mortars on southern Israel.

Mathematical formula identifies which genes are
under responsible for sicknesses caused by viruses

HAIFA (Press Release)—Joint research by Dr. Leonid Brodsky, of the Institute of Evolution of the University of Haifa, and Dr. Milton Taylor, of Indiana University, led to the discovery of a mathematical method which can identify which genes in our bodies conduct the battle against the various viruses that attack us. In their research, they identified 37 genes out of 22,000 possible genes which fight the hepatitis C virus.

"When we know which genes are responsible for fighting the viruses which attack our liver, we will be able to look for the medications which will activate these genes most favorably," said Dr. Brodsky. The team conducted clinical trials, supported by NIH – NIDDK, which included 400 patients at eight different centers in the United States. The results will be published in the prestigious journal PLOS ONE.

The hepatitis C virus, found mostly among many patients who have had a blood transfusion or who share needles, attacks the liver and in extreme cases can cause cancer of the liver. At present, there is one well know medication, interferon, used to treat the virus; however, while some patients respond to the treatment with interferon, others do not. In this research, the clinical study was combined with the mathematical model developed by Dr. Brodsky. The study identified 37 genes which are key for patient response to treatment.

"In the specific case of hepatitis C, we have now isolated the genes that show which patients will respond to treatment. Until now, all patients received treatment for an extended period of time without knowing whether or not they would respond. In the future, we hope to find other medications that will be more effective in activating all of the 37 genes." summarized Dr. Brodsky.

He further explained that this mathematical model is not limited to identifying the genes which fight viruses that attack the liver. It can also be applied further in the fields of medicine, biology and agriculture.

The preceding story was provided by the University of Haifa

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U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman calls on Ghana to
change its anti-Israel ways at United Nations

WASHINGTON , DC (Press Release) - U.S. Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (Democrat, New York), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, on Tuesday, July 10, joined a congressional initiative to encourage President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana to review his country’s anti-Israel bias in the United Nations.

Together, with a group of representatives including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Democrat, Maryland) and Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Republican, Missouri), as well as Representatives Shelly Berkley (Democrat, Nevada) and Jim Saxton (Republican, New Jersey), Ackerman noted that “with several resolutions scheduled for this session that could potentially establish an anti-Israeli bureaucracy within the United Nations, it is crucial that Ghana use its vote to eliminate bias and stand up for the rights of the Israeli people.”

In the current session of the General Assembly, Ghana has supported seventeen anti-Israel resolutions, all of which were opposed by the United States. Twice in 2007 Ghana has voted for U.N. Security Council resolutions that would have restricted Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Gaza. Ghana’s voting record in the one-year-old Human Rights Council, as well as the Council’s overall record, has disappointed human rights activists around the globe.

The preceding story was provided by the office of Congressman Gary Ackerman

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Jewish liaison group to Vatican asks Pope Benedict XVI to clarify what Latin (Tridentine) Mass will say about Jews

The collaborative achievements of IJCIC with the Vatican over the past 40 years and "Pope Benedict XVI's own commitment to the Catholic-Jewish relationship, lead us to believe that there can surely be no intention to turn the clock back in terms of our bilateral relationship" the letter states, adding: "We are accordingly inclined to trust those who read this new permission to use the Latin Mass not to include the portions which were considered to be delegitimizing to Jews and pray that we will receive confirmation from you that this is indeed the case."

The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress
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U.S. Rep. Susan Davis advances legislation to permit
returning Armed Forces personnel to defer loans

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (Democrat, California ) supported student loan relief legislation in the House that also included her effort to ease student loan burdens experienced by certain members of the Armed Forces.

The language added by Davis in the College Cost Reduction Act (H.R. 2669) would allow reservists and members of the National Guard a 13-month deferment for paying student loans upon retuning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"After sacrificing in Iraq and Afghanistan on our behalf, we owe our service members a transition period as well as chance to readjust back to civilian life,” said Davis, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and a cosponsor of the bill. “The other provisions in this bill will reduce the cost of higher education and increase access for all of those who dream of attending college.”

H.R. 2669 would cut interest rates on student loans in half, strengthen Pell Grants, and provide loan forgiveness for those in public service. The bill passed the House on a vote of 273-149.

One inequity facing student reservists or National Guard members deals with loan deferments once they return from activation. Civilian college students are given a grace period after graduation to transition to the workforce and find employment.

Unfortunately, reservists must begin to repay student loans immediately at the end of their activation – if they do not return to college right away.

With a significant percentage of our service members in both Iraq and Afghanistan returning home with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other anxieties, it can be difficult to return to college or to hold down a job until the service member receives proper treatment.

Davis’s provision is supported by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

The preceding story was provided by the office of Congresswoman Susan Davis

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LA JOLLA, California—Like the road to Hell, the road to Gaza has been paved with good intentions. The vertiginous ascension of Hamas to power was not a Deus ex Machina phenomenon, descended from Heaven in the blink of an eye; it was aided and abetted by would-be do-gooders whose intentions were "good,” but with disastrous results. These were the main players: Fatah, Israel, and the U.S.

For years, Arafat and, after him, Abbas, refused to disarm, when they could, the fledgling terrorist group Hamas, and allowed the proliferation of a multitude of armed militias. Arafat was a master in manipulation, co-opting and buying his adversaries, and he could prevent a decisive bloody showdown; Abbas lacks the charisma and the skills of his mentor. Fearful and weak to the extreme, he even declared that "our rifles will never be used against our brothers, they are directed only against our enemies, the Israeli occupation." He got what he deserved.

Prime Minister Sharon, in an act that astonished the world, single-handedly and in defiance of all internal opposition, evacuated the Gaza strip in July 2005, uprooted 9,000 Jewish inhabitants and withdrew the military. This resulted in an open and unchecked smuggling of arms, the proliferation of weapons factories, and the shelling of Israeli towns; it also made Hamas militarily stronger than Fatah, and led to its military triumph in Gaza..

The Bush administration, in early 2006, still naively believing in "transforming the Arab Middle-East" by forcing and consolidating Democracy, compelled Israel and Abbas to reluctantly accept the idea of allowing the terrorist organization Hamas to participate in the elections. We know the results: a resounding electoral victory for Hamas that humiliated Abbas and his Fatah-PLO so-called "moderate" party and opened the way for a terrorist Hamastan, a vassal of Iran.

Bush, Abbas and Sharon's successor, Ehud Olmert, are in charge, at the lowest of their standing with their own people and the world, and this bodes ill for any concerted action coming from them, which, as we are beginning to see, is a repeat of past disastrous performances (throwing billions of dollars half of which will find their way to Swiss banks, appointing "special envoys," convening the useless "quartet" and repeating ad nauseam the now-obsolete mantras of "two-state solution" and the usual list of concessions Israel must make for the sake of the "peace process." This defies common-sense. Einstein once defined "insanity" as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

The "iron curtain" that has descended on Gaza has reshuffled the cards in the Middle-East . The new situation is certainly fraught with danger but it also presents a unique opportunity .The dark cloud has one silver lining: For the first time in 40 years, the West Bank, geographically cut from Gaza, has now blissfully been cut politically and thus, the thorniest obstacle that is called "the free passage" between Gaza and the West Bank, has been resolved. Now is the most propitious time for a daring turnabout of 180 degrees : the establishment of a Jordanian-Palestinian Confederacy.

The dangers of "politics as usual " are multiple:
First, Hamas is not dead in the West Bank. It has gone underground, biding its time. There are also Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups. Fatah itself is not made of angels; before its humiliating defeat, the majority of terrorist acts were done by Fatah's groups, not by Hamas.

Second, Hamas (and other Arabs) propaganda has already called Abbas a traitor, a lackey of America and Israel. Hamas' leader accused Abbas of violating the law. "We are,” he said, “the legitimate government because we have been elected by the people; the new Abbas government is illegitimate because it serves the enemy [ America and Israel]." (Jump to continuation)

Jews in the News
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Like you, we're pleased when members of our community are praiseworthy, and are disappointed when they are blameworthy. Whether it's good news or bad news, we'll try to keep track of what's being said in general media about our fellow Jews. Our news spotters are Dan Brin in Los Angeles, Donald H. Harrison in San Diego, and you. Wherever you are, if you see a story of interest, please send a summary and link to us at sdheritage@cox.net and we'll acknowledge your tip at the end of the column. To see a source story click on the link within the respective paragraph.

*Columnist Gerry Braun of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that there are two people District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis feels so close to she believes she would have to ask the Attorney General to conduct the investigations if ever serious allegations were made against them. They are San Diego Mayor (and former Police Chief) Jerry Sanders and Sheriff Bill Kolender. Braun, with tongue firmly inside his cheek, refers to the trio as the "Axis of Virtue."

*Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says he has a feeling in his gut that Al Queda would like to attack the United States sometime this summer. But the gut feeling was not sufficient to raise the official threat level, he added. The story by E. A. Torreiro of the Chicago Tribune is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*It's much like fantasy baseball or football, but this is a game for political junkies: fantasy Congress, in which members of the House of Representatives or Senate receive points for introducing bills, pushing them through committee, getting final passage, but lose points if they get bad publicity. Right now, the member of Congress earning the most points for her online fantasy backers in Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, California). The story by Jonathan Abrams is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Aaron Feldman, owner of Sunroad Enterprises, has agreed to tear down the top two stories of his 180-foot building by October following mediation with the City of San Diego. The story by Jeff McDonald and David Hasemyer is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (Democrat, San Diego) lost his temper in a hearing after an official of the International Boundary and Water Commission testified his agency planned to upgrade a treatment plant in San Ysidro instead of investing in a plan to treat sewage right in Mexico by Bajagua's (a company taking its name from Baja California and agua, the Spanish word for "water") . The story by Dana Wilkie of the Copley News Service is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Adding to Israel's worries if he is right, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Hamas is permitting Al Qaeda to come into Gaza—a charge Hamas denies. The New York Times New Service brief is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Character actor Charles Lane, a familiar face with hundreds of movies to his credit, has died at age 102. The obituary by Claudia Luther is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Controversial legislation to require neutering of most dogs and cats was headed to its first State Senate committee test. Its author, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (Democrat, Van Nuys) said the measure has aroused more comment than the "Death with Dignity" assisted suicide bill that was defeated last year. The story by Patrick McGreevy is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*The commutation of the prison sentence of I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby by President George W. Bush was disapproved of by 66 percent of the American population, a new USA Today-Gallup Poll has found. The Associated Press story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*State workers are back on the job in Pennsylvania after Gov. Ed Rendell and the Legislature hammered out a deal that allows them to be paid. The story is in today's Los Angeles Times.

* U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (Republican, Pennsylvania) and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (Democrat, New Mexico) have worked up a bipartisan compromise on a bill that would limit the amount of emissions of gasses that trap heat in the atmosphere, thereby causing global warming. Under the legislation industries which produce such gasses could purchase credits from others. The story by John M. Broder of the New York Times News Service is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Playwright John Barons testified in the Phil Spector murder trial that shooting victim Lana Clarkson was not suicidal. The Copley News Service story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*After hearing former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona testify that his speeches often were censored by the White House, Rep. Henry Waxman (Democrat, California), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said a surgeon general must be independent if he is to have credibility. The story by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaraslovsky expressed pleasure over the hiring of William T. Fujioka to the powerful position of county executive. The story by Susannah Rosenblatt and Jack Leonard is in today's Los Angeles Times.

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News Sleuths: Israel and neighbors

Watching the media gathering and reporting the news of Jewish interest

Date: July 11, 2007
Place: United Nations
Time: 12:00 p.m., New York time
Briefing Officer: Marie Okabe, Deputy Spokesperson for Sec'y Gen'l Ban Ki-moon
Source: United Nations transcript
Subjects: Israel-Gaza, Israel-Lebanon

QUESTION: Just want to find out about this Israeli-Gaza crossing that we’ve been talking about. Has anybody spoken with the Israeli authorities [inaudible] these construction materials and so and so forth, [inaudible]UNRWA operations have just been halted as a consequence of that begin and if yes, then what is the result?

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON This is something that we were discussing the other day in this room. The Secretary-General has on a number of occasions raised this issue of the importance of the Gaza crossings being opened with his interlocutors on the ground. Numerous UN agencies are obviously constantly in touch with the authorities about trying to get humanitarian assistance and aid across. So this is an ongoing process. Specifically who spoke to whom, I don’t have that kind of detail today.

QUESTION: Can you comment on the accuracy of reports that are claiming that the UN has recommended that the Shebaa Farms go back to Lebanon?

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON: On that, the UN has not asked the Government of Israel to hand over the Shebaa Farms to the United Nations. The United Nations cartographer continues his work to determine the geographic scope of the Farms. His mandate is not to determine the sovereignty over the Shebaa Farms. That issue will be decided through discussions with the parties, that is, Lebanon, Syria and Israel. And the Secretary-General remains engaged in that issue.

QUESTION: May I assume that when this cartographer has completed his work, the report will be published and available to us?

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON: Yes.

Date: July 11, 2007
Place: White House
Time: 12:03 p.m., Washington DC time
Briefing Officer: Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary
Source: White House transcript
Subjects: Arab League-Israel

Q My question is that as far as terrorism is concerned, President Clinton was speaking at Indian American group in Washington, at the Convention Center, and he said that doctors who supposed to save lives, and they became to take lives of the people, who we can trust now -- and those happen to be also Muslim doctors. My question is here that Arab League is sending a delegation to Israel for peace. Is the President asking Arab League and OIC to send delegates and also the United Nations to educate the Muslims and to come out, Muslim leaders, against terrorism?

MR. SNOW: I think you're making a big mistake there, Goyal, in assuming that Islam is something that enjoins doctors to kill. I think President Clinton was making a wise and smart point, which is that doctors should not be killing.

Date: July 11, 2007
Place: State Department
Time: 12:43 p.m., Washington DC time
Briefing Officer: Sean McCormack, spokesman for Sec'y of State Condoleezza Rice
Source: State Department transcript
Subjects: Israel-Lebanon

QUESTION: There is a (inaudible) report saying that the United Nations has come to the conclusion that their Shabbat Farms are in fact Lebanese territory and not Israeli territory and that they proposed to the Israeli Government that it hand it over to the Lebanese and that it be patrolled by UNIFIL forces. Do you have anything on that? If that were to be their conclusion, would you expect Israel to hand the territory --

MR. MCCORMACK: I'll have to take a look. I'll have to take a look to see if the UN has come to that conclusion and if so, how would we react to it. I'll check for you.

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Taking stocks of Bonds: will Bud Selig be there for 756?

The man convicted of leaking secret Grand Jury testimony about Barry Bonds and his possible use of steroids to journalists pleaded in court for leniency, saying he should be treated at least as well as I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby was. According to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Troy Ellerman joined a growing list of defendants around the country who argue they are entitled to the same treatment as Libby. ... Speaking of Bonds, he is just four home runs away from Henry Aaron's all-time record of 755. The San Diego Unoin-Tribune reports that there is a lot of speculation among sportswriters whether Aaron or Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig will be on hand when Bonds hits 756. One problem, of course, is that no one knows in what game that might occur and meanwhile both men have their own lives to attend to. Bonds, in Sports Illustrated.com story says he doesn't blame them for not necessarily planning to be on hand for the milestone event.

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Moish Lewis' speed on the base path carries
Modi'in to 8-7 victory over Petach Tikvah

GEZER, Israel— It came down to the wire at Kibbutz Gezer with the Modi'in Miracle and the Petach Tikva Pioneer knotted at seven runs apiece in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Modi'in's Israeli rightfielder Moish Lewis hit a groundball to third base, just beating out the throw as the winning run scored and the Miracle took the 8-7 victory.

This was a game in which Modi'in's pitchers kept on digging holes, but the offense continuously dug them out of trouble. Dominican catcher Eladio Rodriguez had another stellar night, going 3-4 with hisfifth homerun of the season and two RBI to raise his average to .559. Modi'in's leadoff and number two batter, Noah Walker and Adam Harwood, also provided some offensive spark on a night in which they each hadtwo hits, a homer, two RBI, and two runs scored as the Miracle improve
to 6-5.

Meanwhile at Sportek Field in Tel Aviv the Netanya Tigers snapped the Tel Aviv Lightning's six-game winning streak, beating the Lightning
4-1.

Netanya relied on the outstanding pitching of their right-handed Columbian, Rafael Rojano, who pitched a complete game giving up just one run on five hits while striking out six and walking four.

Rojano didn't need much support in this one, but centerfielder Josh Doane did his part by going 2-2 with a 2-run homerun in the third inning. The win puts the Tigers at 4-5 on the season.

The night's final game at Yarkon Field saw the Ra'anana Express beat up on the first-place Bet Shemesh Blue Sox in a 15-6 laugher.

Leftfielder Ben Field led the Express offense with a 4-4 night to go along with an impressive six RBI. After Bet Shemesh put up two runs in the top of the first, Field brought the Express back with a 3-run double. Ra'anana's shortstop Donnie Mott, Jr. also had a big night, going 2-3 with two RBI and three runs scored to help the Express win for the third consecutive game.

Summaries:
                        1   2   3   4   5   6   7     R   H   E
Petach Tikva    0   0   3   1   0   1   2     7    6    2
Modi'in            0   0   3   1   3   0   1     8   14   0
W: Nate Rosenberg (1-0); L: Ari Alexenberg (0-1); HR: Shuki Friedman
(1), Ryan Crotin (2), Adam Harwood (1), Noah Walker (2), Eladio
Rodriguez (5)
                         1   2   3   4   5   6   7    R   H   E
Tel Aviv            0   0   0   0   0   1   0    1    5   1
Netanya             0   1   2   1   0   0   0    4    6    0
W: Rafael Rojano (2-1); L: Adam Crabb (3-1); HR: Josh Doane (1)
                          1   2   3   4   5   6   7     R   H   E
Bet Shemesh      2   0   0   0   2   2   0     6    5    1
Ra'anana            3   4   2   2   0   4   x     15 11   3
W: John Thew (2-0); L: Ben Pincus (0-1); HR: None

Standings:
Team                             W    L     %     GB
Bet Shemesh Blue Sox   10   2    .833      –
Tel Aviv Lightning          8    3    .727    1.5
Modi'in Miracle               6    5    .545     3.5
Netanya Tigers                4    5     .444    4.5
Ra'anana Express            5     8     .385    5.5
Petach Tikva Pioneers     1    11    .083    9.0

Thursday it will be the Modi'in Miracle hosting the Netanya Tigers at 5 pm at Gezer Field and at Sportek Field in Tel Aviv the Petach Tikva Pioneers visit the Tel Aviv Lightning, also at 5:00 pm. In the late game at Yarkon Field at the Baptist Village it's the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox at the Ra'anana Express at 7:00 pm. For directions to the
fields visit www.IsraelBaseballLeague.com.

Once again the schedule for Sunday, July 15 is as follows:
Gezer: Bet Shemesh Blue Sox @ Modi'in Miracle at 1:00 pm followed by
Modi'in Miracle at Bet Shemesh Blue Sox at 5:00 pm
Sportek: Netanya Tigers @ Petach Tikva Pioneers at 5:00 pm
Yarkon: Ra'anana Express @ Tel Aviv Lightning at 6:00 pm

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Broadway's Susan Egan performs here Sept. 29

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – J*Company Youth Theatre, a program of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus, is pleased to announce its 15th Season Kickoff Event, Susan Egan in Concert: the Belle of Broadway.

The event is sponsored by Garden Communities, with additional underwriting by Richard and Kathy Lenhart and Family and an anonymous donor. Egan will perform on Saturday, September 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla.

Egan, one of Broadway’s most celebrated contemporary performers, was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as the original Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. She was also critically acclaimed as Broadway’s longest-running Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and is New York’s latest Thoroughly Modern Milllie. The Los Angeles Times calls her voice “the perfect Broadway instrument.”

In concert, Egan sings classics from composers such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, the Gershwins, Harold Arlen, Kander and Ebb, Jerry Herman, Alan Menken, and Stephen Schwartz, as well as some of New York’s new generation of composers, with a “galvanizing presence” and “first rate comedic skills,” creating a “high-voltage” performance that critics salute as “an all night conversation with your best friend.” She has been an audience favorite in venues across the country.

Tickets for Susan Egan in Concert: the Belle of Broadway are $30-$36, and are available at 858-362-1348 or online at www.lfjcc.org/jcompany.

Priority seating will be given to Underwriters. Those wishing to become an Underwriter should contact Aaron Huniu, Managing Director, at 858-362-1155 or aaronh@lfjcc.com

Susan Egan in Concert: the Belle of Broadway is the kickoff to J*Company’s Disney-themed season which includes productions of Disney’s High School Musical, Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS, Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida, and Disney’s 101 Dalmatians KIDS. Subscriptions and single tickets are currently on sale for this extravagant 15th Anniversary Season. Go to www.lfjcc.org/jcompany for more information.

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'Jewzapalooza' Sept. 9 concert to launch NYC's Oyhoo Festival

NEW YORK, New York (Press Release)—On September 9, New York City impresario Michael Dorf and Downtown Arts Development, Inc. will present Jewzapalooza, a free out-door concert in Riverside Park, as part of an early launch for the 4th Annual Oyhoo Festival. Commencing October 20 - October 28, the 4th Annual Oyhoo Festival will feature over 40 live performances at some of the foremost venues throughout Manhattan. Please be sure to include these events in your listings and "Critic's Choices." Interviews and photos are available upon request.

Over the past three years, New York City has been home to the most celebrated Jewish music and arts festival around the globe with premier appearances by such distinguished entertainers as Sarah Silverman, Lewis Black, Matisyahu, Neil Sedaka, Dave Brubeck, John Zorn, Philip Glass, Regina Spektor and Balkan Beat Box. The Oyhoo Festival is highly recognized for its unprecedented programming and innovative production of novel cultural and entertainment industry events. Previous years have included such special events as The Jewish Music Awards, Homage to Lenny Bruce & Free Speech, The Israeli & Palestinian Hip-Hop Concert Series, Harmony on the Hudson and Klez for Kidz.

The Jewish music industry conference, Schmooze is one of the festival's many highlights as leading arts presenters, journalists and artists alike come together for a two-day forum discussing various opportunities on the advancement of the Jewish cultural sector. A fortune setting for notable Jewish thinkers to collaborate on the development of the arts within the international community, Schmooze 2007 will be held on Monday, October 22nd & Tuesday, October 23rd at the UJA- Federation of New York (130 E 59th Street).

A vibrant weeklong affair honoring the evolution of Jewish culture and its unequivocal impact on American culture, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg extended notable support to the Oyhoo Festival with his participation in last year's Gracie Mansion event announcing the official 2006 festival line-up. Garnering interest from a broad demographic, founder and executive producer Michael Dorf comments that, "music, heritage and culture are elements of Judaism that unite us all. It transcends denominational, ethnic and geographic boundaries. Hence, the Oyhoo Festival is a unique opportunity for all of us to share the wonderful culture that brings us together."

On September 9th, Jewzapalooza will mark the first installment of the Autumn festivities, with an estimated 5,000 concert-goers at the 2006 extravaganza. Past artists have included the pioneering Matisyahu and Hadag Nahash, an Israeli chart-topping hip-hop act who's garnered critical U.S. press attention from Rolling Stone, New York Times and San Francisco Chronicle. 2007 Grammy Award winner and hit "kid maven" Dan Zanes will kick off this year's jubilant line-up. Pegged by the Village Voice as the "funniest and wildest" klezmorim band, recent Bonnaroo Music Festival performers the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars will also hit the stage along with NYC-based artists Pharaoh's Daughter and Chana Rothman. In an unprecedented U.S. appearance by several members of Israel's eminent Solomon family, four of the brothers will band together with their respective ensembles (Hamakor, Soulfarm, Moshav Band) bringing their original music and age-old Jewish songs from the village of Moshav Modi'im to American audiences. An all-day event showcasing the hottest talent in contemporary Jewish music, Jewzapalooza offers an outlet for Jewish musicians to be heard by thousands of New Yorkers.

Considered the largest Jewish music and arts gathering in the world, the 4th Annual Oyhoo Festival hosts yet another all-star cast of acclaimed talent and exceptional events, spotlighting the creative richness of Jewish culture and its burgeoning influence on mainstream America. The Oyhoo Festival is produced by Michael Dorf and Downtown Arts Development, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the production of unique and compelling artistic programming via arts festivals, musical presentations and educational activities. The official 2007 Oyhoo Festival schedule will be announced on Wednesday, August 15.

Confederation...
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Third, the corruption in the ranks of Fatah that has caused their defeat is still rampant in the West Bank, and a sudden massive infusion of millions of dollars will exacerbate it and provide more ammunition to Hamas and other dissidents. (It has been reported that the looters in Gaza have found bags of gold in Fatah leader Dahlan's home, and other luxury items; they also looted Arafat's house and trampled on his Nobel Prize and other files and memorabilia).

But Hamas' occupation of Gaza is a momentous event, a blessing in disguise. It offers a precious opportunity for the main players to be innovative and pro-active.