March 2, 2015

'The Jewish Journey' Eyes 350 Years of Migrations to America

Los Angeles — (JTA) — “You survive, you honor us by living,” said Martin Greenfield, now a New York master tailor, recalling his father’s words after he was liberated from the Buchenwald concentration camp.

The quote could easily be taken as the theme of “The Jewish Journey: America,” a PBS documentary tracking the migrations over 350 years of Jews fleeing Latin America, czarist Russia, Nazi Germany and the Muslim world for these shores.

The one-hour program, opening with a majestic rendition of “America the Beautiful,” will air on PBS stations nationwide in March and April. The show is produced, directed and written by Andrew Goldberg, who has become the semi-official Jewish chronicler for PBS, with such productions as “The Yiddish World Remembered” (2002), “Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century” (2007) and “Jerusalem: Center of the World” (2009).

While many Jews arrived in the United States seeking refuge from persecution, millions more came for economic reasons – to build better lives for themselves and their children in the New World.


Read more: http://forward.com/articles/215719/the-jewish-journey-eyes--years-of-migrations-to/#ixzz3TD121U6N

Starts March 3rd, but apparently not in all places as it is NOT showing in Oklahoma!

http://www.pbs.org/jewishamericans/jewish_life/index.html

March 2, 2015

Why the silence of the left on anti-Semitism?

THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP!

On February 15, 38-year-old volunteer security guard Dan Uzan was shot and killed outside a Copenhagen synagogue during a bat mitzvah celebration. A month earlier, a gunman executed four customers at a kosher grocery store in Paris.

In May 2014, a gunman killed four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels. In 2012, a gunman murdered three students and a teacher at Toulouse Jewish primary school in south-west France. Eight-year-old Miriam Monsonego was shot point-blank in the head.

You might discern a common theme to these shocking crimes. Seventy years after the Holocaust, Jews are again being murdered in Europe for being Jews.

These recent outrages are but the tip of an anti-Semitic iceberg. About 7000 French Jews made aliyah (migrated) to Israel last year. For good reason. Jews make up 1 per cent of the French population, but half of all racially-motivated crimes during 2014 targeted Jews. In recent weeks several hundred graves were defaced at a Jewish cemetery in north-east France; in Germany a synagogue in the city of Wuppertal was firebombed.

more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/why-the-silence-of-the-left-on-antisemitism-20150301-13qn5p.html

February 21, 2015

A Lesbian Couple Have Married After 72 Years Together And It Will Melt Your Heart

(Yeah, I know this was from September of last year, which is why it isn't in LBN...but damn, this is awesome!)

Here are Vivian Boyack, 91, and Alice Dubes, 90, at their wedding.





Story here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/a-lesbian-couple-have-married-after-72-years-together-and-it#.llx6NRWok

February 17, 2015

I am "gay" married! (ETA....thanks)

Actually, I am just married. There is no such thing as "gay" marriage. There is only "marriage." There is nothing special about my marriage, other than it is now legal in my state. Did you notice I italicized and bolded the word "state"? Yeah, that is what makes my marriage "special." It is only legal in my state and 36 others (there are 50 states) and not on a federal level. So, ever wondered what a difference it can make?

Well, for one, my home and possessions can't be claimed by the State if my husband were to die (G-d forbid). Unknown or distant relatives can't roll up and take my shit (or his, if it were me to go). I don't have to get documentation to visit him in the hospital or get his medical records. And this year, I am not a "dependent", I am a "spouse." So, instead of a return of $750 from Federal, it is now almost $5900! I don't have a job. I don't work from home. I take care of our home, but now, it is different. To be clear, it isn't just about the Benjamins, it is about being EQUAL! Well, kinda. See, if we were to move to one of those other 13 states, well, I am back to being a "dependent."

The Supreme Court is supposed too take up this issue soon. Many are already popping their champagne corks. Don't. It is very possible they will rule in our favor, but don't think for a moment the haters will stop trying to declare me and my husband second-class (or worse) citizens. Already we are seeing states trying to fight marriage EQUALITY. To this day, we are seeing efforts to overturn women's reproductive rights, and, in many places, they are still limited. Too many are becoming complacent; thinking the battle is over, or almost over. We have to stay strong, be loud, and continue to demand that gay people are entitled to being seen as citizens; human.

My marriage is boring. It is nothing spectacular. It is routine. But, I love my husband, please remember I should be entitled to share the rewards (and responsibilities) of that love.

[hr]

ETA: I wanted to say thank you to all the people who wished us well. It was very kind. I think, however, I didn't make the point I intended. LOL! We got married in November of last year, so as of today, we have been married 3 months. I was trying to point out how, for years (for us), that our 'partnership' had several disadvantages but once being allowed to legally marry, many of those disadvantages evaporated. The tax situation was just one glaring example of how unjustly and unequally we were treated because of our sexual orientation.

That said, it was nice to see all the well-wishes again. :giggle:

I apologize for my point being a bit convoluted, but I hope people do see how something as simple as marriage "rights" makes a huge difference in the life of someone they know.

February 3, 2015

Daddies and their doggie sing in the car