Peace and Coexistence News: Israeli Comedian Does Comedy Shows in Arabic to Reach Out to the Other Side

By Nate Feldman

Noam Shuster Eliassi is not an ordinary Israeli in many ways.  She grew up in the mixed Arab-Jewish village of Neve Shalom/Wahat Al Salam and learned to speak Arabic fluently.  Now, as an adult, she is using this knowledge to put on comedy shows in Arabic for Palestinian audiences.

Recently, she did a performance at the 1001 laughs festival in Jerusalem.  According to the Jerusalem Post, an English language newspaper from Israel, this event was put on by Amer Zahr, an American-Palestinian comedian (See: In fluent Arabic, Comedian Noam Eliassi turns pain into healing by HaCohen). 

In addition to her life as a comedian, the same article mentioned that she is working with a project initiated by the United Nations to make different populations a bigger part of Israeli society. 

It is important to recognize the work of people like Noam Shuster Eliassi, who are working hard to bring people of different cultures, especially those at conflict with one another, together.  It is a reminder that even in those most difficult of situations, there are people who are trying to make things better for everyone. 

National News: President's Personal Attorney Accuses Him of Illegal Activities

By Nate Feldman

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, testified before Congress today about illegal activities he claims the President did.  Among the list of criminal actions included getting Mr. Cohen to provide money to women who claimed to have had an affair with Mr. Trump and asking him to lie to Congress about business deals the Trump family had with Russia.  Cohen showed copies of the checks Mr. Trump had given him to pay off the women. 

Mr. Cohen himself is set to serve a prison sentence for lying to Congress and illegal financial activities.  He acknowledged that one of his reasons for speaking before Congress today was to  reduce his own prison sentence. 

While opponents of the President continue to look into crimes Mr. Trump may have committed both before and during his presidency, his allies in Congress sought to portray Mr. Cohen as a disgruntled ex-employee who cannot be relied on based on his own criminal conviction. 

International News: President Trump and Kim Jung Un Meet in Vietnam

By Nate Feldman

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean President Kim Jung Un arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday to begin meetings about North Korea's nuclear program.  The U.S. President's goal is to persuade North Korea to end its controversial program and seek a peaceful relationship with other countries.

The two leaders previously met in Singapore in 2018, a landmark meeting between the two countries, which have had a strained relationship since the division of the Korean peninsula into the communist north and the more or less capitalist south in the last century.

According to reporters on the ground, it is unclear what, if anything, will be the result of these discussions.  For now, according to an article in the New York Times, it seems that President Trump would just like to get Kim Jung Un to cease the testing of nuclear weapons before moving on to eliminating their arsenal completely (See "Seeking North Korea Deal, Trump Seems Willing to Ease U.S. Demands" by Sanger and Sang-Hun).

Regardless of what happens, however, it is intriguing to see where all of this diplomacy goes.

Weather Report: Blustery Day in the Philadelphia Area

By Nate Feldman

Monday brought high winds into the Philadelphia area with gusts between 50-60 mph in some places according to the local weather reports.  The region was under a high wind warning for most of the day.  Tree branches were littered across streets in some areas, and many yards were covered with trash from knocked over garbage cans. 

According to Channel 6 Accuweather, Tuesday will also be a windy day although not as strong as Monday.  The rest of the week is supposed to be generally cloudy with a chance of some snow and mostly cold temperatures. 

The George Washington You Never Knew by James Lincoln Collier: A Book Review

Last Monday, Americans observed President's Day, a holiday celebrated since 1971 in honor of all of the Presidents of the United States.  Previously, Americans celebrated the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two of the most beloved Presidents, separately in the month of February.  The George Washington You Never Knew seeks to explain to a younger audience why this man whose name is synonymous with American independence was so important. 

Collier chronologically details Washington's ascent from a surveyor in Virginia as a young man to his early role with the English military during the French and Indian War to leader of the Continental Army during the American Revolution to eventually becoming the first President of the United States in 1789. 

Reading this book, I gathered what clearly differentiated Washington from others was his unusual combination of bravery, strong social skills, and wisdom.  He knew when to be aggressive.  His attack on the Hessian mercenaries at Trenton on Christmas day was a much needed morale boost to the revolutionary cause.  He also knew when to step back.  According to Collier, he had a fairly relaxed policy at times towards American colonists loyal to the British, something that won many people over to him. 

Most importantly, Washington knew the value of compromise, a lot of which played a role in forming the United States as we know it today.  He oversaw agreements between big and small states, something which created the federal system as we know it today.  Most importantly, he knew the importance of stepping down after serving eight years as President, giving people an opportunity to select a new leader.

While this book may not go as in-depth about Washington's life and achievements as many biographies for older readers do, it is a good introduction for both younger and older readers about the significance of George Washington. 

The Horrors of the Civil War 

By Nate Feldman

I've been spending the last month reading Ron Chernow's biography of Ulysses S. Grant, the famous general of the Union Army during the Civil War, and afterwards the 18th President of the United States.  I've just begun reading about Grant's campaign against Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy in Virginia from 1864-1865, and have gotten a reminder of how truly awful this conflict was.

From May 5-7, 1864, Grant and Lee's armies confronted one another in what is referred to as the Battle of the Wilderness, due to the wooded areas the fighting took part in.  Chernow describes how many trees caught on fire during the fighting, burning many of the soldiers to death.  

About a month later, the armies met again at Cold Harbor where the Confederate soldiers routed the Union.  According to the author, about 7,000 Union soldiers died there to only 1,500 on the Confederacy's side.  He also mentioned how Washington, DC became an infirmary for all the wounded and dying troops returning from the battle.

It's easy to forget all about the horrors of the Civil War all of these years later, but reading this book is a reminder of how truly awful that time period was.  

Patriot's Kraft Charged with Soliciting Prostitution

By Nate Feldman

Robert Kraft, the owner of the NFL's New England Patriots, is being charged with soliciting prostitutes according to the South Florida police on Friday.  According to the police, Kraft visited a massage parlor in Florida where prostitution and human trafficking allegedly took place.  They claim to have videos to prove this.  Mr. Kraft's spokesperson has denied these allegations.

If these allegations are accurate, this is a remarkable fall from grace for a man whose team just won its sixth super bowl at the beginning of the month, and who has been known for acts of charity.  In fact, in December, in the wake of the horrible shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh in October where 11 people were gunned down, Kraft attended services while the Patriots had a game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers and showed solidarity with the community there.  According to ESPN, he gave tickets to the Steelers-Patriots game to a boy having a Bar Mitzvah. 

Snow Melts as Warmer Temperatures Come

By Nate Feldman

Wednesday saw both the return of the sun and warmer weather as the daytime high hit somewhere in the low 50s, causing much of yesterday's snowfall to melt.  According to weather reports, the temperatures will be slightly cooler tomorrow, with highs in the 40s.  However by Sunday, it is supposed to get as high as 60 degrees in some places, meaning that this winter will continue to fluctuate between extreme cold and unseasonable warmth. 

                                                   Winter Storm Hits the Philadelphia Area 

By Nate Feldman

A winter storm barreled into the Philadelphia area on Wednesday, leaving a few inches of snow with a coating of ice on the ground.  The roads were generally empty throughout the day as most schools and businesses were closed. 

The day began as overcast, and the precipitation began in the mid-morning as snow.  It continued until the afternoon when it changed over to sleet.  By evening, the storm had tapered off. 

The temperature is supposed to be in the 50s tomorrow according to the weather report, so most of the snow and ice on the ground should melt away. 

Upcoming Storm Leads to Cancellations/Closures

By Nate Feldman

With word of an impending snowstorm, many schools and businesses in the Philadelphia area have already announced their plans to be closed on Wednesday.  Many scheduled events for tomorrow have also been postponed or cancelled.  The storm is supposed to bring with it a few inches of snow along with a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain. 

Whether the closures are forward thinking or a premature, knee-jerk reaction to the weather report remains to be seen.  Either way, many people will get the day off tomorrow. 

Americans Observe President's Day

By Nate Feldman

Many people got a day off from work and school in honor of President's Day, the third Monday in February in which we remember the achievements of our greatest leaders.  Initially, people celebrated the birthdays of two of the United States' most beloved leaders, Abraham Lincoln on February 12, and George Washington on February 22.  However, in 1971 those two separate holidays were put together into one day to commemorate both of these men, as well as other people who have served as President of the United States. 

                                                     An Afternoon on the Capital Crescent Trail

By Nate Feldman

The Capital Crescent Trail is an 11 mile hike and bike trail that connects Silver Spring, Maryland to the Georgetown section of Washington, DC.  Although it is relatively small compared to many trails throughout the United States and world, I have always found it one of the nicest areas to spend an afternoon. 

Today, I got on around the 5 mile mark at Massachusetts Ave. where there are some conveniently located parking areas.  Along with my two daughters, we walked for about a mile through the Dalecarlia Tunnel before turning back.  The afternoon was overcast and chilly, and towards the end of the walk a steady rainfall began, but it was great to be out on the trail again. 

                                                    Music Workshop Students Put on Recital

By Nate Feldman

Students from the Music Workshop in Berwyn, PA gathered to perform their winter recital at the World Cafe Live restaurant in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday.

Students performed various genres of music ranging from classical musicians, such as Bach and Mozart to contemporary pop like Michael Jackson and Metallica.

The Music Workshop, a center for private lessons in a variety of instruments, puts on these recitals in order to give students a taste of performing in front of a live audience.

Mild Temperatures Make it Feel Like Spring

By Nate Feldman

Temperatures rose into the 60s this afternoon in the Philadelphia area, giving the region a spring like feel.  Many people were out biking, running, and walking along the Schuylkill River Trail near Valley Forge Park in the mid-afternoon, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.  While the mild temperatures were pleasant for a day, the high tomorrow, and throughout most of the next week, is supposed to be in the 40s, meaning there is plenty of cold weather to come. 

                                                  People Celebrate Valentine's Day

By Nate Feldman

People throughout the Philadelphia area dressed in red and decorated their houses and places of work with hearts in honor of Valentine's Day, the international day of love.  At the ELS language center in Philadelphia where I work, female students carried roses, presumably a gift from their husband or an admirer.  At Hillside elementary school in Berwyn, PA, students exchanged cards with their classmates. 

My daughters, Sara and Sofia, see this day as very special.  "It's a day you can make friends," Sara commented. 

"Valentine's Day means you think about everyone you love," added Sofia.

Most people were happy with the holiday and the celebrations around it. 

                                                        Things Return to Normal

By Nate Feldman

After two days of wintry weather, sunshine briefly returned to the Philadelphia area on Wednesday.  Schools and businesses that were closed on Tuesday re-opened.  Temperatures, however, remained quite chilly, and there were afternoon flurries, a reminder that winter is far from over. 

Forecasters predict it will be slightly warmer for the next couple of days, with highs in the 50s on Friday.  Snow and cold temperatures may return, however, by the weekend. 

                                                        Winter Storm Maya Hits the Northeast

By Nate Feldman

Winter Storm Maya brought periods of snow and ice to the northeast region of the United States on Monday into Tuesday.  The Philadelphia area had a minimal amount of snowfall, but the wintry mix created hazardous road conditions that required many businesses and schools to close.  The precipitation, which began mostly as freezing rain on Tuesday morning, gradually turned into rain later in the day, but the roads remained slippery well into the evening hours.