Latest news with #TreeofLife
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Left-wing antisemitism is swiftly surpassing the right
With the smoke still in the air from an Egyptian Muslim's terror attack that set non-violent Jewish protesters on fire in Boulder, Colorado, there's finally a critical mass of concern about growing violent antisemitic hate in America from somewhere other than conservatives. For my whole life antisemitism has been a fact of life for conservatives like me. Cranky retirees and bald-headed young people alike espoused conspiracy theories and hatred of Jews from the fringes of our political world. People like William F. Buckley fought to keep them out of the mainstream, but millions of conservatives voted for vile anti-Jewish haters like Pat Buchanan. So in 2018 it didn't come as a surprise that the man nearly my age who killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh was a right-wing crank who frequented Nazi-friendly social media sites like Gab and idolized the fringey Proud Boys. A couple years later when the Biden administration targeted the right for special attention from the Justice Department and the FBI for the potential violence of homegrown extremists, I didn't really object. Yes, there was left-wing violence like the 2017 attack on Republican congressmen at a bipartisan baseball game by a loopy old Bernie Sanders supporter, but it didn't seem like there was the same cesspool of violent hate on the left as there was on the right. That is changing. It turns out that while the Biden administration was on its politically convenient crusade against right-wing haters, they (and I) missed a parallel antisemitic culture of hate growing and metastasizing on the left. Left-wing extremism The Combat Hate Foundation, which takes reports of antisemitic incidents and categorizes them according to ideological motivation, found more than a 320% increase in left-wing antisemitic incidents from 2023 to 2024. 'The left-wing antisemitic movement has evolved into a global force,' the group writes. 'Radicalized social movements, media disinformation campaigns, and efforts to target Jewish communities under the guise of anti-Israel activism have primarily fueled this increase,' the group said. The recent murder of a soon-to-be engaged couple outside the Capital Jewish Museum is an example of such left-wing antisemitism. The alleged killer, who shouted 'Free, free Palestine!' after his attack, has ties to left-wing socialist, anti-war and anti-racist groups. Most of the nearly 4,329 incidents of left-wing antisemitism in 2024 were not so brutal, primarily involving hate speech or vandalism and not violence. Combat Hate Foundation The Combat Hate Foundation, which is funded by a donor who also funds Republican political campaigns, has a record of calling out antisemitism on both the right and the left. Indeed, the latest report says violence is more common in right-wing attacks, but the number of such events fell by half in 2024 to 461 as left-wing incidents exploded into view with campus chants of 'Globalize the intifada,' a common refrain that implies a tolerance for violence. The Combat Hate Foundation is not alone in its concern. The more-traditional and left-leaning Anti-Defamation League also raised alarms in a 2020 email about antisemitism on the left, including among Black Lives Matter leaders. The most recent attack in Boulder stems from the third font of antisemitism, radical Islam. The Egyptian-born attacker, who allegedly planned his atrocity for more than a year, carried his hatred for Jews from the Middle East, where it is both common and government-backed, to a new home in America where he overstayed a visa and then sought refugee status. This source of antisemitism, too, is rising, according to the Combat Hate Foundation. America has been a safe home for Jews for centuries. It is tragic that they now face the old threat from the right along with rising threats on the left and from Islamists who benefit from very American religious tolerance that they refuse to share with Jews.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
National EMS memorial procession to stop in Somerset
A traveling memorial honoring EMS professionals who died in the line of duty is set to appear in Somerset on Tuesday, June 24. The National EMS Memorial Service's annual procession began June 1 in Riverside, Calif., and will culminate in Arlington on July 19. The procession will make 29 stops in 19 states, including Somerset, to remember 29 EMS professionals who died in the line of duty. On June 24, Somerset-Pulaski County EMS will host the Moving Honors procession. It will take place at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Somerset, at the corner of W. Oak and N. Main streets. Parking is available in the First Baptist Church rear parking lot on N. Vine Street. The event will feature local speakers as well as a remembrance of Somerset-Pulaski County EMS EMT Chastian McWhorter, who died in the line of duty on April 1, 2024 as a result of a vehicular accident. He was 26 years old. The event marks one of the many stops along the 6,500-mile journey to Arlington where fallen EMS providers will be honored as part of the National EMS Memorial Service and Weekend of Honor. At the heart of the journey is a specially wrapped ambulance carrying the Tree of Life — this year's installment of the memorial bearing the names of those lost. Built by EMS volunteers, the Tree is transported with reverence and remains sealed until its unveiling at the national service. A replica Tree of Life will be on display at each stop, offering communities a space to pause, reflect, and honor lives of service. One of the Moving Honors representatives supporting this year's procession is American Medical Response (AMR) paramedic Megan Haverkamp, now in her fifth year with the crew. What began as a one-time request to drive an ambulance from Texas to Virginia has become a deeply personal tradition. Haverkamp now helps escort the Tree of Life alongside 'Chief Ted E Bear,' a comfort companion who helps children of fallen EMS providers cope with loss. 'Each stop is a moment to remember, to honor and to let families and fellow providers know that their loved ones are not forgotten,' Haverkamp said. 'What continues to move me is how everyone comes together, whether they knew the honorees personally or not, to show their love and support.' 'This moving tribute is only possible because of the shared commitment from agencies across the country and the generous support of organizations like Global Medical Response,' said Jana Williams, National EMS Memorial Service immediate past president. 'It is extraordinary witnessing so many who join alongside us to honor our fallen and to support their loved ones in such an impactful way.' The National EMS Memorial Service, founded in 1991, is a volunteer-driven organization funded solely by donors to honor fallen EMS providers and support their families and colleagues. It is the congressionally sanctioned entity that bestows the highest honor in EMS to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. While a permanent national memorial is still in development, a new panel is constructed each year and added to the Tree of Life, a temporary memorial, which continues to grow and honor those lost in the line of duty. The Moving Honors procession not only brings awareness and additional homage to the honorees but also provides a space for the public to pay respect and send messages of hope to families and EMS professionals. The REMEMBERship program is a unique way to sustain the mission of the NEMSMS, offering a simple way to donate and keep the legacy of fallen heroes alive.
CNN
03-06-2025
- General
- CNN
‘This is an American problem; it's not a Jewish problem': Tree of Life chair reacts to Boulder attack
Michael Bernstein, board chair of the Tree of Life, an organization which aims to uproot antisemitism, speaks to Bianna Golodryga about the rise in safety concerns for Jewish communities in the US and beyond.
CNN
03-06-2025
- General
- CNN
‘This is an American problem; it's not a Jewish problem': Tree of Life chair reacts to Boulder attack
Michael Bernstein, board chair of the Tree of Life, an organization which aims to uproot antisemitism, speaks to Bianna Golodryga about the rise in safety concerns for Jewish communities in the US and beyond.
The Irish Sun
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside UNVRS: I went clubbing at the world's first hyperclub that opened in Ibiza this week
UNVRS, pronounced Universe - described as the world's first hyper club, has opened in Ibiza with a big bang. The new club promises to launch a new era of futuristic clubbing - so I headed down on the opening night to find out what that really meant. Advertisement 9 Ibiza-based journalist Katy Hastings went to the opening night of UNVRS Credit: Katy Hastings 9 UNVRS, pronounced Universe, is described as the world's first hyper club Credit: PROWLY 9 Everything is handmade in such detail that it's supposed to be as pitch perfect as an opera house Credit: Katy Hastings There has been a nightclub on the site - 20 minutes inland from It was then rebranded as Now, after viral marketing campaigns featuring a UFO sighting, and Hollywood star Will Smith, plus a multi-million pound makeover, it has been redesigned as the 'world's first hyperclub.' And what does that mean exactly? Apparently, it's the combination of high-end luxury and attention to detail, in an arena-sized event. Advertisement Read more on nightclubs Everything is handmade in such detail that it's supposed to be as perfect acoustically as an I joined thousands of revellers on opening night, which saw And it is MASSIVE. The club is so huge that you can easily lose your bearings in the underground network of corridors and dance rooms - helpfully, there is free wifi in case you lose your mates in the maze. But it is very, very slick. The main room is where all the magic happens, with a soundsystem that is crisper and clearer than any other on the island. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Aerial acrobats perform high above the VIP balconies and main dance floor, where the Privilege swimming pool has been consigned to history. The immersive lighting was next level too, as the lights come towards you, instead of just vertically, making you feel almost connected to the stage and helps to overcome the feeling of so many people in one room together. The best bit was at dawn, when the screens behind the DJ decks turned off to reveal 12-metre cathedral-like windows showing off the spectacular sunrise over the island - well worth hanging on for, given the club stays open to 6am each night. And the famous Privilege glass dome? That's been kept intact, and now houses a huge sculpture called the Tree of Life. Advertisement 9 The main room is where all the magic happens, with a soundsystem that is crisper and clearer than any other on the island. 9 The famous Privilege glass dome has been kept intact, and now houses a huge sculpture called the Tree of Life Credit: Prowly 9 An outlet of Spanish brand Vicio Burger serves burgers for €23 inside the club Credit: Katy Hastings 9 The club is so huge that you can easily lose your bearings in the underground network of corridors and dance rooms Credit: Katy Hastings Advertisement There's some outside space on the garden terrace known as the Gravity Garden and Sky Deck too, which has been decorated with lots of greenery. The new venue is the brain child of The Night League, who is also responsible for major island nightclubs And they've introduced many of the much-loved elements they've already tested at Hï, including the mini nightclub in the loos. Called The Wild Comet (it's The Wild Corner at Advertisement It's certainly the vibiest public toilet I've ever been to, although the unique queuing system takes some getting used it, and by that I mean there is no queue and you have to hover and look out for one of the loo doors opening. There is also a karaoke room that could easily fit around 150 people and a fast food joint. The outlet of Spanish brand Vicio Burger serves burgers for €23 (£19.40) and chips for €8 (£6.76), or a very fancy-sounding chicken strips topped with caviar for €80 (£67.50). UNVRS things to know before you go Location - San Rafael, Ibiza Doors open 2300 Over 18s - don't forget your photo ID The dress code - no flip-flops, sleeveless shirts, or swimsuits, sports team T-shirts, and clothing with ideological or religious references. No shorts for men The lineup: Mondays - ERIC PRYDZ WITH HOLOSPHERE 2.0 Tuesdays - ANYMA Wednesdays - JAMIE JONES WITH PARADISE Thursdays - FISHER Fridays - DAVID GUETTA WITH GALACTIC CIRCUS Saturdays - ELROW Sundays - CARL COX While it quite quiet when we visited around 2am, I can see it being very popular with punters before they head home. Advertisement Prices for drinks at the bar weren't cheap, at €15 (£12.67) for a bottle of water and €26 (£21.96) for a glass of wine, but they are pretty much in line with Ibiza super club prices. But the club also plays a part in keeping costs down too - laying on shuttle buses from Without a doubt, UNVRS has elevated the Other, more historic places might have more soul, but this is the most advance and forward-thinking club. Advertisement Plus, the music is what makes the night, and with an enviable DJ line up including Carl Cox, Eric Prydz, David Guetta, Jamie Jones and the unique Elrow party, it's become the must-visit of the island for clubbers both young and old. 9 The new venue is the brain child of The Night League, who is also responsible for major island nightclubs Ushuaïa and Hï Credit: Katy Hastings 9 Other, more historic places might have more soul, but this is the most advance and forward-thinking club Credit: Prowly Advertisement In the UK, Plus, the exact date huge new Wetherspoons pub set to open inside the old London Dungeon.
