Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A News Briefs ............................... 13A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 44, NO. 50 AUGUST 14, 2020 24 AV, 5780 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ USC student leader resigns (LOS ANGELES, CA) — StandWithUs is disappointed to learn that a Jewish student at University of Southern California has stepped down from student government as a result of anti-Semitic harassment from her peers. USC student government Vice President Rose Ritch announced her resignation in a statement, writing that she has been “harassed for weeks ... because I openly identify as a Zionist, a sup- porter of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.” She stated that “an attack on my Zionist identity is an attack Rose Ritch on my Jewish identity,” and that stepping down was “the executive director of Campus only sustainable choice I can Affairs at StandWithUs. “Any make to protect my physical effort to deny equal oppor- safety on campus and my tunities, such as serving in mental health.” student government, based We strongly condemn the on an individual’s identity is anti-Zionist anti-Semitism dangerous and unacceptable. that led Rose to feel that giving We continue to stand with up her leadership position was Rose and other USC students Palestinian arsonists scorch the biblical heartland of Israel necessary for her well-being on campus,” said Rena Nasar, USC on page 15A Arab arsonists set fire to the ancient Susya archaeological site in Judea during Tisha B’Av. “This is among the activities of our ‘peaceful neighbors’ when they aren’t building on our land,” said Natalie Sopinsky, a resident of Susya. The fire spread threatening the old synagogue ruins. Israel firefighters battled the blaze and saved the synagogue, Philly Fed says no which had a special place in Jewish history. It served as a refuge for Jews following the revolt against Romans, led by Bar Kochva. The archaeological finds at the site revealed what Jewish life was like in the post-Temple era. to local NAACP By Marcy Oster The NAACP national lead- ership announced Wednesday (JTA) — The Jewish Federa- that it will not cut ties with Massive explosions rock Beirut, killing tion of Greater Philadelphia Muhammad, the Philadelphia said it will not work with the Tribune reported. It cited an local chapter of the NAACP email statement from NAACP dozens and injuring hundreds over “an alarming amount of spokeswoman Austyn Ross bigoted and anti-Jewish sen- saying that the national (JNS) — A massive fire, fol- was initially blamed on a ma- timents” on his social media leadership was “saddened lowed by an enormous explo- jor fire at a warehouse for fire- channels and the mosque he and deeply disappointed by sion, rocked Beirut on Tuesday, works near the port, though leads. the harm caused by Mr. Mu- causing a mushroom-cloud- the country’s general security Rodney Muhammad “still hammad’s actions” and that shaped shockwave damaging directorate later said the blast has yet to fully apologize for Muhammad “now recognizes nearby buildings, including was caused by confiscated his most recent actions,” the the offensive nature of the the official residence of the “high explosive materials,” federation said in a statement imagery and post.” Lebanese president, Michel without providing further updated earlier this week. National NAACP Presi- Aoun. It shattered windows, details, CNN reported. The statement also said that dent Derrick Johnson and overturned cars and caused As of Tuesday afternoon, while the federation would Muhammad will meet with debris to fly across the Leba- at least 27 people had been continue to work with the community and faith leaders nese capital. reported killed and 2,500 in- national office of the NAACP in the coming weeks to “open It’s unclear what caused jured, according to Lebanon’s and other local chapters, “our a dialogue and continue the the explosion, which occurred health ministry. There have obligation to oppose hate and educational conversations,” between the Port of Beirut and been reports that the city’s discrimination will prevent the statement said. the city’s central district. It hospitals are full, and that us from working with the In a widely reported state- doctors were operating on Philadelphia chapter while ment released a week ago, patients in hospital parking Mr. Muhammad is employed Muhammad said “I do regret lots and hallways. there.” the insult, pain and offense “What we saw looked like Last month, Muhammad it caused to all, particularly Hiroshima or Nagasaki. It’s posted a meme on his pub- those of the Jewish commu- absolutely unprecedented lic Facebook page known nity, by this unfortunate in Lebanon’s history,” said as “the Happy Merchant,” episode.” Beirut Gov. Marwan Aboud. an image that the Anti- Gov. Tom Wolf and Attorney “What we are witnessing is Two explosions rocked Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020. Defamation League says is General Josh Shapiro, both a huge catastrophe,” the head commonly used by white Jewish, reportedly have called of Lebanon’s Red Cross George tensions between the ter- “no reason not to believe the supremacists. The meme for Muhammad’s resignation. Kettani said, reported Maya- ror group Hezbollah and reports from Beirut that this included photos of Ice Cube, Muhammad is up for reelec- deen. “There are victims and Israel, which included an was an accident.” DeSean Jackson and Nick tion in November, according casualties everywhere — In attempted infiltration into Similarly, Hezbollah has Cannon, Black celebrities to the Tribune. He is the all the streets and areas near the Jewish state last week also denied any link to Israel. who recently posted anti- minister of a North Philadel- and far from the explosion.” and another attempted by A senior Hezbollah official Semitic comments on social phia mosque affiliated with Lebanon’s Prime Minis- an Iran-Hezbollah-linked told OTV Lebanon that any media, and the quote “To the Nation of Islam network. ter Hasan Diab declared a militia from Syria into the suggestion of Israel’s involve- learn who rules over you, The Nation of Islam’s leader, national day of mourning. Golan Heights late Sunday. ment was false. simply find out who you are Louis Farrakhan, has made a Aoun called for “urgent” talks In response, Israel struck “There is no truth to ru- not allowed to criticize,” number of anti-Semitic com- for the Supreme Council of several Syrian military mors about an Israeli strike falsely attributed to French ments over the years. Defense. Ambulances have targets on Monday. against Hezbollah weapons philosopher Voltaire but been called in from around Israel has denied any in- in the port,” a source told which originated with Kevin the country with the Lebanese volvement in the explosion the station. Strom, an American neo- Army sending in reinforce- at the port. Foreign minister Nevertheless, there has Nazi. (Jackson and Cannon ments. Gabi Ashkenazi told Isra- have apologized.) The blast comes amid el’s Channel 12 that there is Beirut on page 15A The post was later removed. PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, AUGUST 14, 2020 Enhance your understanding of the Middle East with Avi Melamed, hosted by Temple Israel the opposite. Under President knows how to lay out a briefing His strategic use of photos, program, he broke down the Erdogan, Turkey is engaged clearly and succinctly,” said maps, and other pictorial very complex network of Iran in multiple — and severe — Rabbi Joshua Neely. aides significantly enhanced and its proxies throughout the conflicts with regional and Melamed is also a former the content and helped em- region, all of whom are aiming global powers. However, Israeli intelligence official phasize key points,” he said. to wipe Israel off the map. All in his quest for hegemony, and senior official on Arab In addition to his public ser- of this is very complicated, as of July 2020, Erdogan affairs. In his public service, vice work, Melamed has also and he was able to break can also mark significant he held high-risk government, co-authored “Separate and down the various parts into achievements. This briefing senior advisory, intelligence, Unequal: Israel’s Rule in East understandable segments, explores Erdogan’s foreign and counter-terrorist intelli- Jerusalem” and wrote “Ubru- allowing us to better follow policy as well as the current gence positions in Arab cities si: The Novel.” His newest the very complex dynamics of and expected results on the and communities throughout book, “Inside the Middle East: Israel’s neighborhood. I look region and on Israel. the region — often in very Making Sense of the Most forward to the next program Melamed is a strategic intel- sensitive times — on behalf of Dangerous and Complicated in the series,” said Meitin. ligence analyst and an expert Israeli government agencies. Region on Earth” is a GPS to Email [email protected] on current Arab and Muslim Dr. Bob Kaplan attended help navigate the dramatically or call 407-647-3055 to regis- affairs and their impact on Melamed’s two previous ses- changing Middle East. ter and receive the Zoom link. the Middle East and Israel. sions and is looking forward Debbie Meitin attended In order to continue bringing He is the founder and CEO of to the final talk. “Leveraging Melamed’s earlier talks as in exceptional educational Inside the Middle East: Intel- his broad background and well. “He explained the back- speakers and programs, please Avi Melamed ligence Perspectives. 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