DC Organization honors Saudi TV Series Showing Jewish Life in the Arabian Gulf

By Nate Feldman

America Abroad Media, an organization which according to its website supports voices that promote "universal values through creative content and media programming," hosted an event last week celebrating Um Haroun, a Saudi television series that aired last Ramadan, showing the life of a Jewish community living in the Arabian Gulf in the 1940s.  

The series portrayed Jewish people in a positive light, something extremely uncommon, if not non-existent during the past several decades of ongoing Arab-Israeli hostilities in the region.  Hayat Al-Fahad, a Kuwaiti actress who starred as Um Haroun, the protagonist of the shows, acknowledged in an interview with Margaret Brennan at the America Abroad Media awards that she hesitated a bit before accepting the role because "this idea is unacceptable in Gulf countries or in some Arab countries about a particular group of people." 

Mazen Hayek, a spokesman for the MBC channel which aired the shows, said that the program "focuses on tolerance, showcasing a region where acceptance of one another was the norm." 

Ali and Mohammed Shams, the two screenwriters of the series from Bahrain, said that they wrote the series because the reality of Jews living in the Arabian gulf was a reality and they could not "deny reality." 

The series preceded the normalization of ties between Israel and several Arab countries (the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco) later in the year, and some believe programs like this reflect the thawing of relations and shifting attitudes between former adversaries.  

For more information about Um Haroun and the interview between Margaret Brennan and the show's participants at the America Abroad Media Awards, here is the link on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvPMQEGozF0.  

My Dearest Enemy: A Film Review

By Nate Feldman

The Other Israel Film Festival, an annual event in New York City which plays movies dedicated to showing different sides of Israel not necessarily discussed in the mainstream media or other film festivals, is running a series of films online from December 3-10 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  Many of the films that are part of the festival often deal with Israeli-Palestinian relations.  This year, they are showing My Dearest Enemy, a film about two women, one Palestinian, and the other Israeli, who have been friends since they were young and have tried to maintain their relationship in the midst of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  

After being estranged for more than 20 years, two women in Jerusalem, Alice, a Palestinian professor of literature, and Maya, a professional photographer, re-unite when Maya helps Alice place her ailing father into the rehab center that Maya's catatonic father is in.   The story then goes back and forth between their friendship during their adolescence and adult years and the trials and tribulations of both periods.  

One recurring theme throughout the film is the parallel lives Alice and Maya experience in spite of being from populations at war with one another.  They both love the arts and humanities and express themselves throughout the movie through poetry and photography.  As adults, both of them have lost their mother (Maya's passed away when she was young), and they are both required to take care of their ailing fathers.  They're both in difficult relationship situations with Maya being a single mother who was never married, and Alice married to a man her family forced her to be with while being in love with someone else.  They also have to grapple with the fact their sons are drifting towards extremism and intolerance and wish to fight the other side in the conflict. 

Despite their similarities and apparent warm feelings for one another, the reality of the conflict constantly threatens to break them apart.  Alice is a passionate Palestinian nationalist, and Maya, while not tone deaf to her friend's point of view, does not share her ideas, or at the very least understand them completely.  They must also deal with the fact that the people they live and or interact with want them to end their relationship.  

Nevertheless, the friendship endures through the seemingly endless obstacles it faces.  Political and cultural differences cannot take away the fact that Maya and Alice truly care for one another.  Although the film does not sugarcoat the harsh realities of the Middle East conflict, its portrayal of their lasting friendship offers a sliver of hope.  

Drive-In Movie Theaters Make a Comeback

By Nate Feldman

The coronavirus has forced the closure of cinemas throughout the world.  In order to give people a chance to continue enjoying movies on the big screen during this difficult period, drive-in movie theaters have regained popularity because they give people an opportunity to see a movie in a public venue while allowing social distancing to remain intact. 

In Hammonton, New Jersey, Kathedral Events Center is having drive-in movies every Thursday-Saturday.  People order their tickets online, print them out, and then when they arrive at the Kathedral Events Center, someone scans their ticket and directs them where to park.  Then, people tune their radio to a local FM station which carries the audio for the movie while they watch the film on the big screen. 

Death of Defenseless African American in Police Custody Leads to Massive Protests Across the United States

By Nate Feldman

In a year that has already seen disorder as the norm, things in the United States took another chaotic turn this week with the death of George Floyd, a defenseless African American who was killed by a police office in Minneapolis on Monday. 

Mr. Floyd, who was being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit twenty dollar bill, was put on the ground and suffocated by the officer, who put his knee on top of Mr. Floyd's neck, causing him to say he couldn't breathe.  The police initially claimed he was resisting arrest, but videotapes of the incident from bystanders show that he was complying with the officers, and that the police were using excessive force.  Eventually, Mr. Floyd died from being suffocated.

Outraged by continuing violence against African Americans from authority figures, protests have erupted across major cities in the United States, many of which have become violent.  The police officer responsible for George Floyd's death is currently under arrest and charged with third degree murder, but this has done little to calm down tensions. 

Around the World, May 17, 2020

By Nate Feldman

In this week's episode of Around the World, I give a tour of the Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park, NJ.  This is the same park I was at last week when I talked about parks re-opening in New Jersey.  This week I focus on the historical significance of this area. 

I also have some short videos from Panama and Bahrain.  The video from Panama shows a street and how it looked before the COVID-19 outbreak and how it looks now.  It has gone from a crowded street to one that is mostly empty because of strict lockdowns.  In Bahrain, I have a clip of the evening call for prayer, which this month signifies the end of the daily fast for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan.

Around the World, May 10, 2020

By Nate Feldman

In recent weeks, I have changed my weekly video program from "This Week in Review," to "Around the World."  Around the world is a collection of videos from different countries showing what is taking place in our local communities.  The goal of this project is to inform people about what is happening in our world while also connecting people of different cultures. 

This week's program focuses on a number of important issues.

*The re-opening of parks in New Jersey.  This state has been hit terribly by the coronavirus pandemic with recent estimates of over 9,000 people dead.  Like most of the world, this has required the state to close non-essential businesses and places to the public to encourage people to stay at home and not spread the virus.  Nevertheless, last week the Governor permitted parks to re-open so long as people follow strict social distancing guidelines. 

At Red Bank Battlefield Park in Gloucester County, the park is open but there are strict rules.  Cars cannot park next to each other.  There are orange cones in parking spaces to ensure this.  There are signs placed throughout the park telling people to maintain a distance of six feet from one another.  People are able to walk along the trail, but they are no longer allowed to use the park's playgrounds, pavilions, benches, or even its restrooms.  Many policemen are on patrol making sure people follow these measures. 

*Recent corruption by political officials in Panama has led to protests by some people.  People are unable to go outside because of strict quarantine measures taken to fight the coronavirus.  Nevertheless, this hasn't stopped them from finding ways to show their displeasure.  As an act of protest, people are banging pots and pans by their windows to demonstrate against the government.  It is a unique way of staying indoors while taking a stand against the government. 

This Week in Review, April 19, 2020

By Nate Feldman

This week, I was able to get a collection of videos from different parts of the world. 

*I have some videos from Hyderabad, India showing mostly empty streets in the early morning hours.  India, like many countries around the world, are going through a lockdown currently to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 

*I got videos from the Atlanta area in Georgia which show different plant life in bloom.  There is a picture of a Japanese Maple tree, a white hydrangea, and someone's garden.

*In my backyard in Berwyn, PA I have a video of Cherry blossoms.  It is very popular during this time of year for people to go to places like Washington, DC to see the Cherry blossoms, but considering the lockdown and closures that exist here as well, I will have to do with what is beside my house. 

This Week in Review,

April 12, 2020

Local News:

Governor Tom Wolf announced this week that all Pennsylvania schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic calendar due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.  In spite of these closures, students will continue taking classes from their homes in a variety of ways.  This order applies to all primary and secondary schools, as well as universities.

International News: 

Throughout the world, many people are being forced to remain inside their homes throughout the day in order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.  In some countries, police are on the streets actively enforcing these strict measures.  Nevertheless, in some places, that hasn’t stopped people from finding ways to celebrate.  In this video, police on patrol in Panama play music to entertain people inside their homes.

Nature: 

This week, maple trees in the Northeast United States began sprouting greed buds on their branches, creating beautiful scenery throughout the region.  

This Week in Review, April 5, 2020

By Nate Feldman

News Feature:

The Coronavirus pandemic has been a time of great sorrow throughout the world as more and more people test positive and die from the virus.  Nevertheless, during this dark time, many people have begun expressing hope and optimism by placing rainbows in front of their houses.  Some people are drawing pictures and hanging them on their doors and mailboxes.  Others are printing out images of a rainbow.  According to different news outlets, this trend began in Europe which has been the hardest hit continent by the pandemic as a reminder that things will be OK in the end. 

Nature:

This week, the peach tree in my backyard began blooming.  The Magnolia trees also are at full bloom.

Weather:

It was a mostly overcast week with periods of sunshine on Monday and mostly pleasant weather on Wednesday and Thursday.

This Week in Review, March 29, 2020

By Nate Feldman

Although life as we know it has stopped because of the Coronavirus, and most people are spending their days homebound, with the arrival of the spring season, it is a good time to get outside, if even just in your backyard or taking a walk down your street, to enjoy the flowers blooming and other plants coming out.  Here is a video of plant life I have seen here in and around my community over the past week.

This Week in Review, March 22, 2020

Local Community:

It is the middle of the week, and on any normal day, these same streets would be filled with cars heading to school or work, but these empty streets are the new normal in the era of Coronavirus.  Schools, libraries, and most non-essential businesses are closed.  People can only take out food or get delivery from restaurants. 

Last week, Governor Tom Wolf ordered all schools in the commonwealth closed because of the spread of the coronavirus.  By the weekend, it was announced that all non-essential businesses in several counties surrounding Philadelphia had to temporarily close their doors as well.  Although many businesses complied with this, some remained open.  Following the first reported death from the virus in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Wolf repeated the demand again on Thursday evening, stating that there would be strong penalties for businesses that kept their doors open.  Many people believe these strong measures are necessary as more and more coronavirus cases are popping up in Pennsylvania, and with it greater concern that this sickness will affect more and more people without drastic isolation measures. 

Plant Life:

The spring season officially began this week, and although most trees remain bare, many spring plants have come out early in the northeast United States due to the mild winter and unseasonably warm temperatures.  In the Philadelphia area, forsythia bushes began dotting the area with a striking yellow color.  Forsythias often come out between Mid-March to early April depending on how warm it is.  Daffodils, another popular spring flower, have also begun blooming quite early this year.  With temperatures reaching into the high 70s this week, it should be no surprise these plants are out.    

Weather:

Sunday and Monday offered bright sun and mild temperatures, continuing the trend of an early spring.  It was briefly rainy on Tuesday with a mostly cloudy afternoon and brief periods of sunshine.  Wednesday was mostly sunny in the early part of the day.  There were brief periods of rain on Thursday and Friday as well, but the temperature reached into the 70s.  Saturday was sunny and clear, but it was much colder with temperatures in the high 40s throughout most of the day. 

This Week in Review March 15, 2020

By Nate Feldman

Top Story:

The spread of the Coronavirus is the main focus around the world these days, and now it has begun taking a hold on the lives of people here in the United States.  This week was perhaps one of the most dramatic weeks in recent history with the suspension of all major professional sports leagues, the cancellation of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, and the closing of most local businesses.

Weather Report:

In weather this week, there was a lot of sunshine and mild to warm temperatures.  In fact, it got as high as 70 degrees on Monday, reminding us that spring is just around the corner.  There was some rain in the middle part of the week, but it was otherwise a mostly pleasant time to be outdoors. 

This Week in Review, March 8, 2020

By Nate Feldman

Weather:

The weather this week was mostly sunny with cool to mild temperatures.  There was rain throughout most of Friday, but it was otherwise a dry week.  With temperatures reaching as high as the 70s during the next week, spring feels like it is just around the corner. 

The Arts:

I spent a lot of this week working on a series of drawings.  One of them is a greeting card I am creating for the upcoming spring season.  It has the picture of a park in a rural area on a sunny day. 

Another picture is the cover of a story I am putting together called Sara and Sofie’s Ginormous Potato.  It’s inspired by a children’s book I recently read called “Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato,” an Irish children’s story about a lazy farmer who grows one of the biggest potatoes the world has ever seen. 

This Week in Review, March 1, 2020

By Nate Feldman

Weather:

Today is March 1, and we are two months into the year 2020.  I will use this week to look back at the year we have had so far.  It’s almost spring, and though there were a couple of light snowfalls, there has been hardly any winter weather this season in the Philadelphia area.  Most days have been dry, and even when there has been precipitation, it has come in the form of rain.  With spring just around the corner, it seems that the 2019-2020 winter season will be one without a major snow event. 

Holidays:

In February, people decorated their homes, schools, and businesses for Valentine’s Day, the international day of love.  People also made different cards and crafts in the shape of hearts. 

Tips and Life Advice:

I have given different pieces of advice this year for people including cooking for oneself, exercising, and cleaning up.  Hopefully, these are useful suggestions for people in their lives. 

This Week in Review, February 23, 2020

By Nate Feldman

Weather Report:

People in the northeast United States were able to enjoy sunny, mild weather on President’s Day last Monday.  The remainder of the week was mostly dry with more pleasant weather on Friday and Saturday.  The temperatures were chilly in the middle of the week, but by the end of the week, they were in the 50s making it feel spring-like in the afternoon.  

Tips and Advice:

My tip for this week is to enjoy your local zoos with the family.  You are able to see exotic animals, so it is a fun, educational way to be outdoors.    

This Week in Review, February 16, 2020

By Nate Feldman

Weather Report:

The weather was cloudy throughout the week with periods of rain, but with warm temperatures.  There were periods of sunshine on Friday and Saturday, but the temperatures were below freezing. 

Tip of the Week:

Friday was Valentine's Day.  People decorated their houses, schools, and businesses and exchanged cards, gifts, and candy with one another.  In honor of that, my tip for this week is for people looking for love to be kind, and most importantly, be themselves.  You will find the person you are meant to be with that way. 

This Week in Review, February 9, 2020

By Nate Feldman

Local Weather:

Although there was a winter storm with heavy snowfall in other parts of the country, in the Philadelphia area the week was mostly overcast with cloudy, rainy days throughout most of the work week continuing a trend of little to no snowfall this winter season.  Monday started off the week nice with temperatures in the high 50s and mostly clear skies throughout the day making it feel spring-like for most of the day.  By Tuesday, however, the clouds rolled in and hung around until Friday.  There were periods of rain and even some flurries, but once again there wasn’t any measurable precipitation.  By Saturday, the skies cleared up again, but it was much colder than the beginning of the week.

Tips:

My tip for this week is to remind people to clean up their houses when they get the chance.  It could be wiping counters, cleaning the floors, doing the dishes, or sweeping and vacuuming.  You don’t have to do it constantly, but it is important to keep your house looking nice. 

This Week in Review February 2, 2020

By Nate Feldman

Weather Report:

In what continues to be a fairly eventless winter weather-wise, the week was mostly dry with a combination of sunny and cloudy days.  The middle of the week had the nicest days with mostly clear skies on Wednesday afternoon.  It clouded up on Friday afternoon, and there was some small rainfall on Saturday, but it wasn't anything significant. 

Life Advice:

My tip for this week is to make sure you are getting outside and doing sports or activities of some sort.  Whether it is walking, biking, running or something else, being outdoors is beneficial for your health. 

This Week in Review, January 26, 2020

By Nate Feldman

It was a mostly uneventful week weather-wise in the Philadelphia area with mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures.  On Saturday, there was a period of torrential rainfall in the morning hours causing mild flooding and heightened water levels in local streams and rivers.  By the afternoon, however, the storm had passed and there were even brief periods of sunshine.

In addition to the weather, this week I have a tip for everyone.  Try and cook at home as often as possible.  Statistics have shown a large percentage of people claim they can't cook, and they rely on eating out or pre-packaged meals for their food.  But, if you can cook for yourself, it's ideal.  It's healthier, cheaper, and once you get used to it, it's actually quite fun.  So, find the ingredients you have around the house, put them together, and sit down and enjoy a nice, home-cooked meal. 

This Week in Review, January 19, 2020

By Nate Feldman

It was a tale of two weeks weather-wise.  On Sunday, there were springlike temperatures with highs in the 60s.  Wednesday was also clear with temperatures in the mid-50s. 

On both days, people spent time outside at different parks.  At Red Bank Battlefield Park in New Jersey, people enjoyed time with their families and took in sparkling views of the sun over the Delaware River.  At Valley Forge Park in Pennsylvania, people ran and rode bikes on the Schuylkill River Trail.

Beginning Thursday, however, the temperatures dropped accompanied by blustery winds.  On Saturday, winter formally returned with snowfall in the area, the largest snowstorm to date the region has seen this year. 

This Week in Review, January 12, 2020

By Nate Feldman

People gathered at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia to see the Philadelphia Eagles host the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC Wildcard match up.  Despite the excitement, however, the Eagles lost 17-9, ending their 2019 season.  

In weather, the work week began with clear skies but chilly temperatures.  On Tuesday, it became overcast, and in the evening a light snow fall began, blanketing the area with a light coating of snow.  Wednesday was cold and blustery.  By the end of the week, the skies cleared up again and the temperatures became unseasonably warm, reaching the 60s by the weekend.

This Week in Review, January 4, 2020

By Nate Feldman

          People around the world welcomed in the year 2020 on Wednesday.  Large crowds gathered throughout major cities around the world with displays of fireworks and large parties.  In downtown Manhattan, people watched the annual ball drop in Times Square as the year 2020 glowed in bright neon lights at exactly 12:00 AM. 

The New Year brought with it clear skies, but chilly temperatures to the northeast region of the United States.  The day began chilly and overcast, but in the afternoon it began to gradually clear up.  People enjoying the New Year’s festivities or just taking a walk with friends and family were able to enjoy the pleasant weather.       

            There were different festivities throughout the United States.  In Philadelphia, people gathered to see the annual Mummer’s parade.  In this 120 year old tradition, people dressed in fancy costumes play music and dance for crowds.  In Pasadena, CA, there was the annual Rose Bowl parade, which always proceeds one of the oldest and most famous football games played.

            Many people use the beginning of the New Year as an opportunity to set resolutions, usually consisting of goals people hope to accomplish during the next calendar cycle.  Such goals typically include a new habit people wish to pick up or drop.  

            The year 2020 is going to include many exciting, newsworthy events.  This summer, the world will turn its eyes to Tokyo, Japan as it hosts the Summer Olympics.  The United States will hold a much anticipated Presidential Election in November as Donald Trump will face the winner of the Democratic primary.  Before that, however, he will have to get through a trial in the U.S. Senate to determine if he should be removed from office or not. 

            Although many hope it will be a year that brings peace and prosperity to both their lives and the world, there was concern a day later about the possibility of a widespread war after the killing of the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq.  This came after Iraqi protestors allied with Iranian backed militias in Iraq stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.  Iran has promised retaliation for Mr. Soleimani’s killing, something which has stoked fear in many throughout the world that we could be headed to a much larger conflict.