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  https://forward.com/opinion/848057/haiti-world-war-2-saved-jewish-lives/?utm_source=Mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=afternoonedition_20260902&utm_source=The+Forward+Association&utm_campaign=100275c044-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_07_23_02_11_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-8233cb7494-273147045 #Haiti #Refugees #Judaism #JewishSocialJustice #Mazeldon #Trump #ResistFascism

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  In memory of today's 25th anniversary of thr 9/11 attacks, here is a link to my blog posts from September 2001. https://jmbzine.com/200109.htm #911anniversary #September11 #911

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  https://www.thetempleokc.org/stream I'm getting to sound shofar (for the 2nd series of calls) and Ty is one of the Torah chapters this morning, so sharing the link for the livestream (which should be starting shortly) Shannah Tovah! P.S. im grateful for my high school and college band directors who gave me long-lasting brass instrument skills, making this mitzvah possible today. #RoshHashanah #Mazeldon

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  This is ethical advice, NOT legal advice. The only ethical way to engage with the work of J.k. Rowling is piracy. I think Rowling gave up any moral rights to profit off her work, when she betrayed the spirit of her original works (and her fans) by viciously and repeatedly attacking the humanity of Trans people. #HarryPotter #JKRowling #TransRightsAreHumanRights

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  Attention: Freethinkers and Jewish radicals You're invited to the First Annual Emma Goldman Memorial Virtual Yom Kippur Picnic Monday, September 21, 2026 3 pm Eastern At our "picnic" we will hear more about the life of Emma Goldman (and her notorious Yom Kippur picnic of 1907), but also have some space for music, poetry, dancing and ideally some noshing (for those who aren't fasting). There is no need to dress fancy (unless you want to), but...

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  Come join the #SpinozaHavurah for a time of study and discussion on Yom Kippur facilitated by James M. Branum. We will be looking together at the Unetanneh Tokef, an evocative and troubling text of the traditional liturgy, which sparked the famous song "Who by fire" by Leonard Cohen. The session will happen at 1:30 pm Eastern/6:30 pm UK.on Monday, September 21st. To register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/XaHJk5x5Qe2cjxCGgSS5KQ #Mazeldon #Judaism #YomKippur #UnetannehTok...

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  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u_1ZZ5cnaE Here is the recording of our #SpinozaHavurah Sept. 21st #YomKippur discussion/study session which focused on the #UnetannehTokef #Mazeldon #Judaism #HumanisticJudaism #LeonardCohen #WhoByFire #Liturgy #JewishLiturgy v

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  Spanish grammar question - when one is referring to the #POTUS in Spanish, is the proper term "Pendejo Naranja" or is it "el pendejo naranja"? #Trump #FDJT

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  #Germany #Deutchland #Drsft #Consxription #Peace #War https://breakthroughnews.org/2026/09/25/german-students-say-we-dont-want-to-go-to-war/

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  Im celebration of Shabbat, I'm sharing this song that has been a continual joyful inspiration for me for many years (i have fond memories of my wife and I singing along to this song on our honeymoon), a song that celebrates the divinity of our beautiful world, which fits well with my Spinoza-inspired pantheist understandings of how it all fits together, even down to our earliest mono-cellular ancestors And as an added bonus, the late great Dave Carter was a free thinking Okie. #Shabbat...

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  Hello friends, I’m raising funds to be able to attend Waging Peace: A Militarism Summit, a conference organized by several Mennonite organizations. I want go for a few reasons: 1. I think I can add a lot to the conversation, particularly on the issues of draft resistance, conscientious objection to war, and the ways that Peace churches can support those who resist war — and I would be bringing my interfaith perspective (as a former Mennonite minister who is now committed to Judaism, but who h...

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  This is one of my new favorite Judaism Unbound episodes. This episode was a very different format, which they called an "Anti-debate," in which both speakers argued for their perspective (Lex Rofeberg against halacha* and Rena Yehuda Newman in favor of halacha). I loved this debate in part because I'm a big fan of both of the debaters (having taken classes from both of them at the Unyeshiva, and having listened to many hours of podcasts and other content from them),...

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  Collective punishment is a war crime. Excerpt: Israeli troops have levelled a neighbourhood in Hebron, driving out hundreds of families in collective punishment for a militant attack on an army checkpoint outside the West Bank city, local Palestinian authorities said. The Hebron municipality estimated that 35 hectares (86 acres) had been destroyed or marked for destruction and about 1,500 people had been evicted from their homes by Saturday afternoon in the district of Ein Deir Baha. The whole...

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  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-landowners-sue-trump-administration-border-big-bend-construction-rcna597734 #BorderWall #Texas #BigBend #Trump #USA

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  I'm hearing reports that students at #USAO are marching in protest tonight of the plans to slash and burn what makes USAO such an extraordinary university. I'm very proud to see these students speaking out. #Oklahoma #OKEd #HigherEd #LiberalArts

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  #SexualViolence #RuleOfLaw #StsteOfIsrael #Israel #Gaza #Law ‘They want to break our will’: Gaza flotilla activist tells of rape in Israeli detention | Gaza flotilla | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/15/gaza-flotilla-activist-rape-complaint-israel-anna-liedtke

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  On a day when #SCOTUS made a powerful and important decision in support of #HumanRights and #BirthrightCutizenship, we get this wretched ruling that yet again allows states to trample on the rights of #Transgender people. It seems fitting that this is all happening only days before the 4th of July, a reminder that our nation is only free for some, not for all. #Fascism #USA250 #TransRightsAreHumanRights Supreme Court upholds bans on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports https://w...

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  https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/government/2026/03/03/immigration-law-attorney-okc-ice-detainees-struggle-contact-lawyers-watonga-ok/88830217007/ This story is deeply disturbing. It is absolutely inexcusable and unconstitutional to deny incarcerated people access to their attorneys for more than 2 months. P..S. The phone system work-around is NOT suffixient, because calls made to attorneys in this way are being recorded, which violates attorney-client privilege. This story is ar...

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  https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for There is no doubt where the administration stands when it is allowing so many military commanders to say such vile things, in violation of military regulations, federal statutes, and the First Amendment of the US Constitution. This is why I've been speaking so much about the dangers of Christian Nationalism, because it is quickly becoming the new norm in the US military. It is, of course, illegal, but it is also...

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  A beautiful story from #Lubbock #Texas A Texas student turns abandoned school into mosque in 45 days https://religionnews.com/2026/02/27/a-texas-student-turns-abandoned-school-to-mosque-in-45-days/ #Islam

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  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-says-kristi-noem-stepping-homeland-security-secretary-rcna248719 For friends in other states, Senator Markwayne Mullins is a terrible human being. He might be one of the few people who could surpass Noem in cruelty and evil. I can think of only two good things about Trump picking Mullins: 1. At least Mullins isn't a dog murderer. 2. We will get a new US Senator in Oklahoma. #Oklahoma #MarkwayneMullins #KristiNoem #Fascism #...

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  Just a last minute reminder that our Draft Counseling 201 class starts at 1 pm central. Here is the zoom link if you have not had a chance to register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/-jYOUaW4QUWfaNujQ-fk1w And to learn more about the training series, please visit: DraftCounseling.org #MilitaryDraft #MilitaryConscription #Draft #USA #War #Peace #ConscientiousObjection #Mennonite

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  PLANNING AN EPIC RAIL TRIP/SPEAKING TOUR I was able to snag a half-price #Amtrak railpass on a special, so I'm planning some cross-country travel, but I also would love to take advantage of this opportunity to get to do some speaking in different communities while traveling. The cities I'll be at (and would have time to speak in) are: Seattle, Portland, SF Bay area, and Denver. The topics I can present on would include: 1. #DraftCounseling - Why local groups need to start get...

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  https://draftcounseling.org/dc201.htm The second session of our training for draft counselors is now available for viewing. This session focused on the decisions that those facing the draft will have to make once a draft is called, as well as a discussion on what happens in a draft board hearing. Our third session will be announced soon, but we anticipate it will be on May 3, 2026 from 1-3 p.m. at Joy Mennonite Church in Oklahoma City, as well as live via zoom. #DraftCounseling #MilitaryCons...

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  https://responsiblestatecraft.org/military-draft-iran/ A very important piece by @ehasbrouck about the folly of Trump even contemplating the use of military conscription for the US war against Iran. #MilitaryLaw #Military #MilitaryConscription #MilitaryDraft

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  I'm sharing a paper that I wrote about the story of Pia Machita, a Tohono O'odham elder who led his village in resisting military conscription from 1940-1941. It is a powerful story and one that brings to mind other moments of Indigenous resistance to the draft, including the Oklahoma Green Corn Rebellion. FYI- the paper was first written for a class at Tohono O'odham Community College, but I did some rewriting on it after I turned it in. https://jmb.mx/blog/2026/03/11...

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  RE: https://kolektiva.social/@draft_resistance_news/116210549939179518 A very important post, coming from the broadest-based coalition in opposition to the draft in many years. #MilitaryDraft #Draft #Conscription #MilitaryConscription #MilitaryLaw #USMilitary #YouthRights #SelectiveService #IranWar

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  #Beer review of Howdy Porter (Vanilla Bean) by #AmericanSolera from #Tulsa #Oklahoma Ratings (1-5 scale): Look: 4.75 Aroma 4.5 Flavor 4.5 Mouthfeel 4.75 Overall: 4.75 (One important note - this is a different beer than American Solera's regular Howdy Porter that is a coconut porter with a higher ABV) I poured this from a can into a pint glass. Excellent chocolate aroma. Very smooth mouthfeel. Very dark with a tan head. This one reminded me some of Breckridge's Vanilla Porter,...

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  #FreeSpeech #InternationalLaw #Fascism Trump’s sanctions against a UN human rights expert show free speech is dying | Sandra L Babcock, Susan M Akram, Asli Bali, Thomas Becker and James Cavallaro | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/24/trump-sanctions-un-human-rights-expert-free-speech

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  My dear friend and hero in local activism, Bob Waldrop wrote a book, really a compendium of resources on permaculture, frugal living, gardening, and so much more. Bob has passed on back in 2019, but I think it is important that he not be forgotten, so I’ve decided to republish his book "iPermie: How to Permaculture your Urban Lifestyle" as a PDF (released under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial share-alike license). Here's how to download the book: https://jmb.mx/blog...