U.S. Government Sues Drug Company For Fraud

Summary of Article: Federal prosecutors have sued Novartis, alleging that the company paid for expensive dinners and events for doctors to entice the doctors to prescribe Novartis drugs to their patients.

Discussion of Article:

• When you are sick and take medicine, that medicine is made by a company. How does your doctor know which medicine to give you when you are sick? (Answer: doctors try different drugs to see which ones they like; they read articles to see which ones work; they ask other doctors for advice; they hear educational presentations from other doctors.)
• Companies that make medicines try to get doctors to use their medicine in different ways. What are some ways you would try if you were a drug company? (Drug reps come to doctors offices to make a drug pitch, like a traveling salesman and give free samples; they give presentations at conferences; they advertise in magazines; they sponsor research studies that are published in medical journals). 
• One company is in trouble right now for trying to get doctors to use their medicine by buying the doctor expensive dinners, taking the doctors on fishing trips, sending the doctors on paid vacations, etc. This is known as "kickbacks" and it is illegal. Why? 
• Novartis is being accused of spending more than $65 millions over the course of 9 years on alleged kickbacks. In one case, a Florida doctor was paid $3750 to speak to other doctors about the drug and to convince them to use it. This is called a conflict of interest. Why is this wrong?
• What harm could come to patients from this?
• [Note: when my husband was in residency, several drug companies took us out to expensive dinners at kosher restaurants with a few other doctors and their wives to "pitch" a drug. The dinners had no expense limit. Everyone ordered whatever they wanted and the bill came to hundreds of dollars. The dinners were 95% social, with the drug rep talking about the drug for about 5 minutes. Ask your kids: was this right? How could this make a doctor feel about a certain drug in a way that is a potential conflict of interest?]

Israeli Policewomen Win Fight to Have Own Elite Unit

Summary of Article:  For the last few years, Israel women doing their compulsory military service in the Border police complained of discrimination; mainly, that they served as guards while men got to learn combat and do "real" border police work, which is thwarting terrorist attacks. As a result, women also could not become officers and rise in the ranks. Women were already serving in combat positions in the army, but similar opportunities were lacking in the border police force, known as being particularly misogynistic. Women demanded reforms and in July 2012, women got their own police unit, a special unit in Jerusalem comprised only of women. Their job is to catch potential terrorists and thwart terrorist attacks. Women in the unit are much happier now.

Discussion with Kids:

• What happens when you graduate high school in America? (Most people go to college.) What happens when you graduate in Israel? (Boys serve 3 years in the army; girls serve 2 years as soldiers or doing national service; then they go to college).
• What are some jobs in the Israeli army? (Soldier, navy, intelligence, clerical, training soldiers). Women and men do many of the same jobs. Women are even fighters. There is one unit of the army called the Border Police. Their job is to stop bad guys. 
• Explain article summary. 
• If you were in the Israeli army, what would you want to be? What do you think is hard about being in the army? What do you think is great about being in the Israeli army? 
• For pictures of the women fighters, click here.

French Court Case Finds Israel Occupation of West Bank Not Illegal

Summary of Article: the PLO and Palestinian Authority sued several French companies for building a tram in Jerusalem that projects into Palestinian land, which they claim is illegally occupied.  After a lengthy suit, the French Court just found that the disputed land is not illegally occupied by Israel and that the PLO/PA had to pay 90,000 eros in court costs to the firms. 

Discussion with Kids:

• Look at a map of Israel. The land marked as Samara/Judea, also known as the West Bank, was won by Israel in 1967 after 6 days of war. Now some Jews live there and some Palestinians live there. It is still undecided who owns the land. Some Palestinians claim that it all belongs to them and want to build a state there; Israel doesn't know what to do because without some of that land, Israel does not feel safe. Plus many Jews are living there now and don't want to leave.
• Israel recently build a tram in Jerusalem. Why? (Decrease congestion and traffic; help tourists). Some Palestinians claim that the tram is not allowed because it stretches into the West Bank (East Jerusalem). Click here for pictures of the light rail and map of where it goes. 
• They sued the companies building the tram. The sued in France because the companies are French. 
• A French court just found that the Palestinians are wrong and they ordered them to pay money to the companies for suing them. Why? (To deter frivolous litigation in the future).
• The Court found that the Palestinians were wrong because the international law that the Palestinians wanted to use only applies to states. Israel is a state but the Palestinians do not have a state yet. So the law does not apply here. 
• And, according to that law, the Court found that Israel is not in the West Bank without permission. (The full text of the case is not yet translated but one argument is that under international law, a land is only illegally occupied if it is seized from another state. Before 1967, the West Bank was illegally occupied by Jordan, who seized it in 1948; before 1948, the West Bank was colonized by the British; before that by the Ottomans. So it is really stateless land, which by definition cannot therefore be illegally occupied by Israel).

Jews From the Amazon to Begin Aliyah to Israel

Summary of Article: A group of 284 Jewish converts from Peru's rain forest have received permission from Israel's Interior Ministry to begin making aliyah to Israel. The group is joining previous waves of converts from the rain forest (in 2001 and 2005). They come from Inquitos, the largest city in Peru's rain forest. In the 1800s, Jews from Morocco settled in the rain forest to work in the rubber industry. They married local women and had children. These converts are their descendants. They were converted to Judaism in 2011 by a Conservative rabbi, after learning about Judaism for 5 years. They are relocating to Ramle, Israel, where there is already a community of Jews from Inquitos. 

Discussion with Kids:

• Where is Peru? Where is the rain forest? We recently discussed the rain forest. In what context? (Earth Day). Here are pictures of Inquitos.
• Where do Jews live; what does a Jew look like? (Everywhere in the world; Jews come in all colors and ethnicities). Recently, some people living in the Peruvian rain forest decided to become Jews. (Tell the above story). 
• What does it mean to convert to Judaism? Is it hard or easy to do? (Hard -- you must study for many years and then take a big test to show a rabbi that you've learned what it means to be a Jew). 
• Who automatically can move to Israel? (Any Jewish person in the world.) Why is there this special rule, called the Law of Return? (Because for a long time, Jews had no land or place to go to. This law makes sure Jews always have somewhere to go.) The new Jews of the Amazon want to go to Israel. Do you think they should be able to? 
• When they move to Israel, what will be some challenges they will face? Why do you think they want to move?
• What is special about having Inquitos Jews in Israel? (Create diversity, help other Jews learn new traditions, help strengthen and increase the people of Israel). 

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of today being Earth Day, today's discussion will focus on this.

Discussion with Kids:

• What is Earth Day? What did you do at school for Earth Day today? 
• What is a type of Earth Day in Judaism and why? (Tu'Bshvat; we plant trees on both days)
• What are things we can do to make sure the earth stays healthy? (Reduce; reuse; recycle) What are ways we do these things every day? What can we do better? 
• What are ways in which the earth is not as healthy as it can be? 
• Arctic and Antarctic ice is melting at an astonishing rate. This is very dangerous for polar bears and humans. How?
• There's a hole in the ozone, a layer over the earth which is meant to protect us from the sun. Thanks to efforts by countries to reduce pollution, the hole has not grown in size. What can we do to protect ourselves from the harmful rays that come in through the ozone? (Wear sunscreen, hats)
• Coral reefs, similar to the rain forests of the ocean, are in danger from pollution, overuse, and warming waters. What are things we can do to lower our carbon footprint? 
• Forests, particularly rain forests, are vanishing because of consumer demands. What can we do to help? (Reforestation; by used goods instead of new furniture)
• What are other problems the earth is facing (animals in peril; not enough resources for more humans, etc.) What are other ways we can help the earth?

Lawsuit Over Anti-Asian Stereotype

Summary of Article: A Korean woman was picking up photos from a drugstore in New Jersey. She noticed that the name written on her order was "Ching Chong Lee." She complained to customer service, who told her that the worker would be re-trained and counseled. The woman decided that wasn't enough, and is suing for discrimination in federal court for $1 million damages.

Discussion with Kids:

• What is a stereotype? What is an example of a stereotype? In what ways are they harmful?
• In NJ, a woman was picking up her order when she noticed that a store clerk had written her name as a stereotype of Asian-Americans, "Ching Chong Lee." In what way did this hurt her feeling? How would you feel if someone made a similar stereotype about you? (Embarrassed, hurt, afraid).
• What would you do if this happened to you or to someone else in front of you? (Tell the store clerk this is not ok. Complain to management). She complained to the store, which apologized and promised to punish the clerk and retrain him. Do you think this was a good solution? She has decided to go to a judge and try to get $1 million from the store. What do you think of this? Think of arguments for and against this lawsuit 
• Pro: Her feelings were hurt. The employee said a disgusting, hurtful thing. The company should be responsible for how its employees act.
• Con: The store apologized and has punished/retrained its employee. More is unnecessary and even silly. This type of lawsuit floods the court and takes up precious judge time and money. The woman is just out to get money, not truly to repair a grievance. 
• Bonus: Can you think of an anti-Asian stereotype often heard on the playground? What can you do the next time you hear it? (One of the hand-clapping games sings the phrase "Ching-Chong Charlie, Don't tell Mommy. Chinese, Japanese, Indian Chief," while the participant makes their eyes look narrow and then resembles an Indian Chief). 

Schoolchildren in Greece Going Hungry

Summary of Article: Today in Greece, more children are suffering from hunger than ever before. This is due in part to rampant unemployment, where parents have gone for months without work and literally have no money to buy food with. Also, unlike in America where schools have subsidized cafeteria lunches, in Greece, all kids bring lunch from home or buy from a canteen at regular prices.

Discussion with Kids:

• Where is Greece? What are some stories we know of that involve Greeks? (Greek mythology; Chanukah story; Olympics began in Greece) 
• Today in Greece, many grownups cannot find jobs. What happens when grownups can't work? (There's no money in the house). If there's no money in the house, what does that mean? (No money for food, for rent, for clothes, for toys). 
• One big problem is not enough money for food. Schools in Greece don't provide hot lunch like schools in America. What does this mean for some kids?
• What do you think these hungry students are doing to find food? (Teachers are seeing students at school going through trashcans to find food; fainting from hunger; stealing food; having painful stomach cramps; begging food from their friends.)
• How do you think these students feel? (Sad, ashamed, embarrassed, hungry)
• The government wants to help but there is no money. What are ways to help? (Some private organizations are trying to donate lunches; the Greek Orthodox Church is trying to give food). 

What Should Be a Firefighter's Main Job?

Summary of Article: The Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department ("LAFD") today announced that he intends to shift firefighters from fighting fires to responding to 911 calls for medical help. He said the reason is that now 80% of all 911 calls in LA are for medical emergencies, not for fires. 

Discussion with Kids: 

• What do firefighters do? How do they work as a team to fight fires? (They conduct searches and rescues in a fire, they work together to hoist heavy ladders onto buildings, they work together to cut holes into roofs to release heat and toxic spoke that can accumulate in buildings on fire). 
• If there is a fire, how do you get a firefighter to come to your house? What do you call? (911) If there is a medical emergency, who do you call? (911). 
• Which type of calls do you think are most common for 911? A study has recently found that 80% of 911 calls are for medical help. (That means if there are ten calls, 8 are for medical help.) As a result, the LA Fire Chief has decided to take some firefighters away from fighting fires and to move them onto ambulances. 
• What do you think of this idea? What are good things about it (more people to help with medical emergencies; faster response time to 911 calls)? What are bad things about it? (perhaps fires will be understaffed)
• What would you do if you were fire chief? 
• Let's practice dialing 911 on a pretend phone. What do you say when the operator answers? 

SodaStream: Bridges for Peace in Israel

Chag Sameach/Happy Israel's Independence Day!

In honor of today being Israel's Independence Day, we will look at a company working to bring peace to the region.

Summary of Video: SodaStream, a Jewish-owned company based in the West Bank, employs both Jewish and Arab workers in its factory. For its Arab workers, it sends a special bus through the West Bank to pick them up and bring them to/from work. It provides them with a special prayer room, gives them managerial positions, and makes them part of the larger company "family." By bringing Arabs and Jews together within one company and aiming to give the Arab workers a profession and livelihood, it is seeking to bring peaceful co-existence to the region.

Discussion With Kids:

• Did you do anything to celebrate Israel's Independence Day today? 
• Israel is a beautiful, holy land that also has to deal with finding peace with her neighbors. 
• Here is a video about one way someone tries to make peace. Watch the video.
• What is the video about? 
• In what ways is the Jewish owner of the company trying to help the Arab employees? 
• How do the Arab employees feel about the company? 
• If you were to think of a way to bring peace to Israel, what would your idea be? 
• According to Rambam/Maimonides, a famous Rabbi, the highest form of Tzedakah/charity is giving a job. Why is this the highest form, higher than giving someone money? How does the owner of SodaStream fulfill this idea?

Remembering Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haatzmaut

In honor of today being Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day) and tonight beginning Israel's Independence Day, today we will focus on these holidays.

iPad: Here's a great song-video on Yom Haatzmaut. Show it to your kids! Ask them why everyone is wearing blue and white. See if they can find David Ben Gurion in the video (explain why he is important).

Discussion With Kids:

• Today is Yom HaZikaron, where we honor Israel's fallen soldiers and terror victims. What have you learned about this in school? What is our equivalent in America? (Memorial Day). 
• Why do we honor fallen soldiers? Are there fallen soldiers in your family? 
• How is Yom Hazikaron honored in Israel (2 minutes of silence. Everything stops)?
• Tonight is Israel's Independence Day. Why are the two days right next to each other? (To remember that the work of the soldiers helped bring about our independence). 
• How do we celebrate Israel's independence?Are you doing anything at home or in school? 
• Why do some people say a special prayer (Hallel) for Israel's Independence? (To remember the miracle of having a Jewish State)
• What do you think is the most special thing about Israel/having a Jewish State? If you've been to Israel, what do you remember as liking best about your time there? 

UC Riverside Reverse Divestment Resolution Against Israel

Summary of Article: On March 6, 2013, UC Riverside Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) led a successful campaign, convincing student senators to vote to divest from companies that do business in Israel. Just this week, the same senate reversed their vote and decided not to divest. What changed? The first time around, SJP students were given a week to prepare their divestment presentations. Pro-Israel students were only notified of the bill 20 hours beforehand. This time, pro-Israel students were prepared and informed to show the holes in SJP's resolution. For instance:

Here's Philippe Assouline's assessment of what occurred (reprinted with permission): 

"...When alluding to Palestinian statelessness, the senators were not told that Arab leadership rejected UN proposals to partition the British Mandate into a Jewish state the first-ever state of Palestine in 1947. References to "occupation" did not mention that Arab states illegally occupied the West Bank and Gaza from 1948 to 1967 (and then rejected Israeli offers of withdrawal for peace). There was in the SJP's words no acknowledgment that Palestinian governments were first put into place by Israel, and that if Israel still exercises security control over much of the West Bank today it is in large part because those governments rejected Israeli offers of withdrawal in 2000, 2001 and 2008. And there was, predictably, complete silence from the SJP regarding the fact that if Palestinians in the West Bank today live under different laws than Israeli citizens it is because they live under Palestinian laws and elected leaders, i.e., what they fought for."

Discussion with Kids:

• Relay the above information. 
• Discuss how it is important to be informed and to correct misinformation
• Discuss how it is important as a student to stand up for Israel because it can make a big difference. (Also an opportunity to discuss student activism in general). 
• If you were a student at UC Riverside and heard that Israel needed your help, what would you do?

How to Save Your Money: Gold?

Summary of Article: Gold has always been considered one of the safest investments. Paper money can lose its value in inflation but gold is thought to always hold its own. In the last few years, as a result of the recession, people have invested heavily in gold. Now it seems gold is plunging in value.  But it is plunging so quickly, some are saying the "golden age" of gold is over. The last time this happened (in the 1980s), the price of gold took 30 years to recover. Why now? The Great Recession appears to be over and the mass inflation did not occur as expected. Thus, gold's value is decreasing as the economy improves.

Discussion with Kids:

• What is gold? (A metal) Where do we most often see it (jewelry, watches). What color can it be (white, yellow gold, soft yellow, etc.)
• What are different ways for spending and saving money? (Paper money, coins, credit cards, checks, bank accounts, bartering, jewelry). Why do some people prefer one method over another? (Bank account money can be frozen in crises; jewelry/gold can go with you in a pinch. Can tell about how in history, when Jews had to flee, they would sew jewelry into the hems of their clothing and use it as money when they got to their new land).
• Traditionally people have thought gold was the safest way to save their money. Why? (Because it always is valuable). But right now the price of gold is going down for the first time in 30 years. 
• What does this mean for people who have invested heavily in gold (they are losing a lot of money).

Supreme Court Considers Whether Human Genes Are Patentable

Summary of Article: Next Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on whether a company may have exclusive rights to research specific human genes taken out of the body. 

Discussion with Kids: 

•  Our bodies are defined by our genetic code, genes/DNA unique to all of us. We get genes from each parent. These genes do our body's work. How many genes do you think we have in our bodies? Estimated 25,000.
• What are things that we currently use DNA samples for? (Solving crime cases, arresting suspects). What are types of DNA samples? (hair, saliva) What current event last week did we discuss that mentioned using genes? (Bringing back animals from extinction). 
• Now the Supreme Court is deciding if scientists are allowed to get a patent (permission) to have exclusive rights (the only ones allowed) to research specific genes taken from the human body. In this case, the genes are markers for two types of cancers, breast and ovarian cancers, which kill thousands of women each year. A company has been able to isolate the genes, take them out of the human body, and wants sole right to study them.
• The law says a patent may be given to protect any invention or discovery that involves new or useful "composition of matter." What are arguments for and against a patent here?
• Pro: The research can teach us how to treat these terrible cancers, saving women's lives.This company has already figured out how to take them out of the human body and study them and should be able to do so.
• Con: The genes are part of the human body. They don't belong to a company. This company shouldn't have the only right to study them. Also, a patent would violate the First Amendment because only this one company will control knowledge about the genes.
•  What the Supreme Court decides here will impact not only this case, but patents spanning science, medicine and other types of research. Why is this?

   

Korean-American Christian Teeanger Teaches About the Holocaust

Summary of Article: Christopher Huh, a 14 year old from Maryland, has created a graphic novel about the Holocaust geared at kids his age. Keeping My Hope was published earlier this year. In 170 pages, it tells the story of Ari Kolodiejski, a Polish-born Jewish grandfather, relaying his experiences to his granddaughter Sarah. It starts when he is 18 years old, living in Lomza Poland, shortly before the Nazi takeover. It continues through the Holocaust until his escape from a death march and rescue by farmers in 1945. Huh became interested in the subject during a 7th grade lesson on "Voice From the Past." He hopes to raise enough money from the book's publication to visit the camps in Poland. His father hopes to translate the graphic novel into Asian languages because most people in Asia do not know much about the Holocaust.

Click here to view Huh's novel on a tablet. Click here for a hard copy. 

Discussion With Kids:

• How to bring up the Holocaust: this depends on the age of the kids. For my kids (ages 5 and 7), I'll ask if they've heard of the Holocaust and ask what they know about it. If they can't recall anything, I'll say it was a terrible war that happened long ago when their great-grandparents were young (they are Holocaust survivors). A bad man named Hitler, like Haman, tried to get rid of all the Jews but he did not succeed. He is now dead. We are safe and have the State of Israel, which Jews then did not have. 
• Tell above story about Christopher. You can show his picture by clicking on the article, and show his book by clicking on that link above.
• When you are really interested in something you learn in school, how do you express it after school? (Find books about it at the library; look it up on the computer; look up a relevant app; talk about it at home, etc.) What did Christopher do? 
• How did Christopher get the information for his book? (He researched on the Holocaust Museum website; he visited the Holocaust museum twice; he read books).  
• How could his book help people understand what happened to Jews in the Holocaust? 
• What is something you would like to learn more about, the way Christopher did with the Holocaust?

Obituary: Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of England, Dies at 87

Biography of Margaret Thatcher:

• Margaret Thatcher ruled as Prime Minister of England for over 12 years, the longest continuously serving premier in more than 150 years. 
• She was born in a small town in northern England on Oct 13, 1925. Her father was a grocer and local mayor. He was rigid in his moral principles and conservative. Thatcher said, "I owe almost everything to my father," referring to her politics and ambition.
• She went to Oxford University to study chemistry, earned a law degree in London, and later joined the Parliament as its youngest female member. She married Denis Thatcher, a rich, divorced businessman and had twins -- a boy and girl. His support of her was complete and unwavering.
• She was known as a fierce, cold warrior, earning the nickname which she loved, "Iron Lady." She made sure she always looked good and took elocution lessons so she spoke well. 
• She became prime minister in 1979 and immediately slashed income taxes but raised taxes on goods and services.
• In 1982, when Argentina invaded British-ruled Falkland Islands, Thatcher launched a counter-attack that recaptured the island, earned her praise, and made her a world figure. 
• She created a conservative free-market revolution, called "Thatcherism," which sought to reinvigorate post-war England and dismantle the welfare state. She was extremely close with Reagan and his politics.
• They say she was successful not only because of her political moves but because of her personality. She was extremely confident, warrior-like, queen-like, and nanny-like. She did not engage in self-doubt. She would not swerve from her principles, ever. 
• Her capacity for hard work, courage, and little sleep was famous.  Once a bomb blasted through her hotel room at 3 AM. She was awake and working on a speech for a morning conference. She still gave that conference even though 5 people died in the blast and others would have been too scared.
• Thatcher died of Alzheimer. She was especially remarkable because she was able to break through the male-dominated political world of England. She was also remarkable for breaking through the rigid class structures of England, going from being a shopkeeper's daughter to a prime minister and dying a Baroness.

Pictures of Margaret Thatcher

Film About Thatcher: In 2011, a movie about Margaret Thatcher came out. I haven't seen it yet but I'll probably rent it now to learn more about her. Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her role as Margaret Thatcher. 

Can We Bring Back Animals From Extinction?

Summary of Article: Scientists are discussing bringing back some animals from extinction. In order to do so, the animals must fulfill the following criteria: (1) is it a desirable species, meaning it holds an important ecological or nostalgic function for people; (2) is it practical to bring it back, meaning do we have a good quality DNA sample or germ cells to reproduce the species; (3) could we reintroduce the species into the wild, meaning are their habitats still available; (4) do we know why they went extinct in the first place? 

Click on article to see pictures and descriptions of some animals they are considering, such as the Dodo Bird, Woolly Mammoth and Monk Seal. 

Discussion with Kids:

• What does it mean for an animal to go extinct? How do animals go extinct? 
• Some scientists want to bring back animals that are extinct. How should they choose which animals to bring back? (Go through criteria above and explain what each one means).
• If you could bring back some animals, which would they be and why? Discuss why dinosaurs can't be brought back. 
• What are some animals today that are threatened with extinction. For a full list, click here. Why are they endangered? What can we do to save them? (Animals in the arctic threatened with global warming, certain rhinos in the wild). 

Obama's Visit to Israel

Welcome back from Passover! I will again blog a nightly article to discuss with your kids. Enjoy!

Summary of Article: While we were on a blogging break, Obama made a historic trip to Israel. It was his first trip to Israel since he became President. He made inspiring speeches about the connection between Israel and America and reasserted the Jews' 3000 year connection to the land.

Video of Speech made upon arrival in Israel

Questions for Discussion:

• If you were Obama, why would you want to visit Israel? (To show the world that Israel and America are good friends)
• What would you talk about in your speech to Israel? (Reinforce that America and Israel are good friends; talk about how America will support Israel militarily and politically; talk about why the two countries are allies)
• Where would you visit? Obama did not visit the Western Wall but did visit the Israel Museum's Dead Sea Scrolls as well as the grave of Theodore Herzl, founder of modern Zionism. He was only there for two days so he didn't have time to go to the beach or Dead Sea.