Introducing Iran's New President: Hassan Rohani

Summary of Article: Iran has elected a new president, Hassan Rohani, to replace notorious Ahmadinejad. Many in the West are hailing Rohani as a "moderate," "reformer," and a hopeful sign that Iran will contain its nuclear ambitions. However, according to this article by Bret Stephens, Rohani is actually someone to worry about. In 1999, when students were protesting for more rights, he called on the regime to "mercilessly and monumentally" strike them down, resulting in police actions that killed over a dozen students and arrested over a thousand. He was the head of Iran's National Security Council when Iran bombed a Jewish Center in Argentina, killing 85, and Khobar Towers, killing 19 U.S. service people. And he has been cunning in the past, heading Iran's nuclear program and promising the West that Iran was not working on its uranium enrichment when during that time Iran's nuclear infrastructure further developed. Stephens here warns the West not to be deceived by someone who actually does not have a trustworthy record.

Discussion with Kids:

• Why has Iran been worrisome to us in past current event discussions? 
• Iran has elected a new president. Some are saying this is a good sign because he says he wants to work with the West and says he will think about civil rights in his country. Others are worried that he is not trustworthy. 
• How do you find out if a new politician, whom you don't know much about, is someone you can trust or not? Just because politicians make promises, it doesn't mean you can trust them. If you were America, what would you do? (You do research on how they've acted in the past)
• Here's what some of the research has shown: discuss above
• What do you think based on this information? Is Rohani someone we can trust? How would you treat him if you were Obama? If you were Israel?

Israeli Family Saves Palestinian Boy's Life

Summary of Article: 3 year old Israeli boy, Noam Naor Z"L, fell from a window in his home two weeks ago and died. His parents decided to donate his two kidneys to other children who would otherwise die if they did not receive replacements. They donated one to an Israeli child and another to a Palestinian child who has been waiting for seven years for a good match for transplant. Thus, through Noam's death, he has saved two other children's lives.

Discussion with Kids:

• Parents yell at kids a lot for doing all sorts of things. Sometimes the yelling is not for anything serious and sometimes it is. What are unsafe things that could happen in a house?
• Tragically, something unsafe happened in Noam Naor's house. Explain what happened. 
• When someone dies and their body was otherwise healthy, their body parts can be donated and given to people who need those parts to live. That is called organ transplant. Explain article. 
• In what way was what Noam's parents did a mitzvah/good deed? Why was it amazing that it was for an Israeli child and a Palestinian child? 
• Ask your parents if they are registered as organ donors if God forbid anything should happen/if they know anyone who has donated an organ or received a transplant and to tell the story.
• For religious families, explain how organ donation can be done according to halacha. 

Follow Up: Supreme Court Decides Patent Case

Summary of Article: On April 10, we discussed a case before on the Supreme Court on whether genes can be patented. That case was decided last week. The Court ruled that human genes cannot be patented. However, the court said that if a version of the human genes could be created using synthetic materials, that could be patented. One one side, lawyers had argued that patents help spur medical innovation and investments that save lives. On the other side, lawyers argued that patents kept valuable information from patients. Lawyers for the ACLU lauded the decision, saying that it saves lives because patients will have greater access to genetic testing and scientists can study genes without fear of being sued for violating the patent.

Discussion with Kids:

• Ask them if they remember the discussion about this case and to recap.
• Have them argue for each side and guess what the court decided
• Share the court decision and ACLU's argument as to why this is a good decision. 
• Why would synthetic materials be different?

Traveling this summer: you vs. celebrities

Summary of Article: Thought we'd do a fun, mindless current event today to kick off summer. This article is about how celebrities travel v. the rest of us.

Discussion with Kids:

• Are you travelling/having a vacation this summer? How will you get there? Where will you go? Who will pack for you? What will you take? Who will pay for it? 
• Most people travel just like you. But some people, like movie stars and famous musicians, get to travel extra special. What special treatment do you think they get (at airports, at hotels)? 
• At airports, they pull up right to the airport, get met by a special agent who whisks them through security. Then they go through special tunnels and passages to go straight to private planes. 
• They have an assistant pack everything for them and unpack everything. 
• Hotels and restaurants give them cheaper prices or even free things -- like free breakfasts/dinners, lower rates on hotel rooms. 
• They often use fake names, even silly ones, like Mr. Poopy or the names of other movie stars. (What fake name would you use?)
• Why do celebrities get this special treatment? (Hotels/places think they will get good publicity if its known that a celebrity goes there)
• Why do celebrities often want anonymity/privacy? 
• Do you think this is fair? If so, why? If not, which parts are not fair and why? 

Supreme Court Strikes Down Arizona Law on Voter Registration

Summary of Article: The Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law saying that in order to vote, residents must show proof of citizenship. The Court said the "proof of citizenship" requirement was illegal because it conflicts with the Motor Voter Act, which says that it is forbidden for states to demand more information than that listed on the federal voter form. States can reject applications to vote by non-residents/non-citizens by finding proof of illegality through other means. Arizona claims it created the law to combat voter fraud; since enacted, voter registration has dropped by 44%.

Discussion with Kids:

• How are laws created? (By government officials, by the community, through resolutions)
• What happens if a law is bad or hurts people? (Someone hurt by the law can sue to get it struck down. If they lose their argument, it can be appealed to the Supreme Court)
• The Supreme Court recently heard arguments about a law in Arizona that some claimed hurt people. Explain above.
• Who claims to have been hurt by this law? Why does Arizona say it is a good law? 
• The Court struck the law down. What do you think of this and why? 
• What can Arizona do to discover voter fraud instead? Why is voter fraud a problem?

Syrian Doctor Asks Israeli Doctors for Help

Summary of Article: Right now there is a civil war in Syria. On Tuesday, a Syrian man was brought to Israel in critical condition. He had gun shot wounds and shrapnel in his liver. There was a handwritten note from a Syrian doctor pinned to his clothing. The note said that the Syrian hospital--likely quite rudimentary--had tried to save this man's life with operations but could do no more for him. They hoped that Israel could save him. Israel brought the man to Tsfat, where he is now in stable condition. The Israeli doctor said that the interventions he had in Syria likely saved his life. Another Syrian patient brought into Israel had a live hand grenade in his pocket; Israel had to clear it before helping him. Israel has set up a makeshift hospital on the border between Syria and Israel to help treat some of the wounded.

Discussion with Kids:

• Show on  map where Syria and Israel are. Explain briefly war history between Syria and Israel (1948, 1967, 1973, etc.--Syrian invasions. The two countries are not friends even though Israel would love to sign a peace treaty). Right now Syria is in a civil war (war between people who live in that country)
• In war, people get hurt. Syria does not have so many hospitals to treat its wounded. Explain above story. 
• Why is this story so unusual? This is extraordinary because Syria and Israel do not have diplomatic relations and Syria has recently sent missiles into Israel. Yet the Syrian doctor recognized that only Israel could probably help this man. It shows how individuals can transcend borders....
• Show picture of note.

Is it Safe to Drive And Talk on a Hands-Free Phone System?

Summary of Article: An exhaustive study has just come out about voice activated phones in cars and whether they are safe to use while driving. Car makers are greatly in favor of such systems because they turn high profits -- drivers are increasingly wanting them. These new systems not only allow drivers to make phone calls but to verbally voice commands enabling them to text, email and post on Facebook pages. Car companies say these new technologies are safe because they are hands-free. However, this new study has found that these new technologies are actually quite dangerous. They make drivers too distracted and focused on using the technology--even while they are keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road; the drivers are more likely to have slower reaction times and slower to process things happening on the road. Also, when comparing drivers using these technologies to a driver listening to a book on CD or speaking to a passenger, drivers performed far worse. for instance, they were less likely to look for pedestrians crossing a street.

Discussion with Kids:

• Explain article
• Ask kids: have you ever seen anyone drive while talking on a cellphone? While texting? While talking on a hands-free technology? Have you seen anyone doing these things while stopped at a stop light or at the curb? What's the difference? (More distracted, less safe while driving). 
• What can happen if a driver is distracted and why? (Accident b/c not paying attention)
• Why are scientists worried about these new systems that lets drivers send emails and text messages through voice? Why do car companies want these new technologies? 
• If you were the government and could make rules about what is allowed in cars (government can make rules that impact public safety), what law would you make in light of this new study? 
• The next time you are driving, try to count how many drivers you see that are talking on cell phones or texting. What number did you come up with? 
• When you can drive, what will you do to make sure you are a safe driver?