JUNE 22, 2020
In this edition of Comm(Unity), we take a look at the other crises happening in our world, sometimes eclipsed by the pandemic. We also explore how a biscuit has united Indian citizens throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and learn how a 20-year-old British cellist is reviving global interest in classical music.
Weekly Episode(s)
On our fifteenth episode — Check out our event with Dr. Professor Fahed Hakim, Hospital Director, Nazareth Hospital, on how coronavirus has affected Israel and if the pandemic may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Jewish and Arab partnership. With special remarks from Amb. Zeev Boker, Consul General of Israel to New England. Moderated by Megan Torrey, CEO.
This event was in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel to New England.
Stream Now.
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Read Dr. Professor Fahed Hakim’s take on what opportunities the COVID-19 outbreak presents in Israel for societal integration.
Weekly Article Roundup
Follow along with the CTWAC staff on this week’s article roundup (with some special recommendations!):
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy examines how a new civil rights movement is a foreign policy win
Check out his analysis of what true democracy looks like in Foreign Affairs
Civil war in Yemen, one of the worst humanitarian crises of the past century even before the pandemic, is about to get worse
Learn more about the ongoing conflict in this article by Brookings
Still not sure about the impact of President Trump’s withdrawal of American troops from Germany? CFR answers your biggest questions
Philip H. Gordon provides a quick briefing
To Serbia, an EU membership isn’t a fair trade-off for normalizing ties with Kosovo and allowing it into the United Nations
Wondering if Russia is involved? Find out now on Reuters
The border clashes between China and India may seem sudden to some – but its not the first skirmish these nations have had
Explore the background on this current global issue in the NYTimes
Though coronavirus has impacted Indian citizens differently, the one thing that has managed to unite them: A biscuit
Read this story at the intersection of comfort food and society by The Atlantic
Weekly Entertainment
READ
Read this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel following the fictional lives of two cousins in the midst of World War II.
LISTEN
Renewed Nuclear Testing…in the U.S.?
The Arms Control Wonk podcast digs deeper into the Washington Post’s story on conducting additional nuclear tests in the U.S.
STREAM
While under house arrest in Iran, filmmaker Jafar Panahi filmed his day-to-day life and smuggled the footage out using a USB drive disguised in a cake.
PLAY
Yale Course on African American History
Learn from Yale’s entirely free course on the African American experience in the U.S. from 1863 until now.
COOK
Try manakish zaatar – traditional Lebanese flatbread topped with zaatar spice mix. Bonus: this recipe offers ingredients and instructions for both the flatbread AND zaatar!
Global Good News
This 20-year-old British cellist has sparked a global music phenomenon
It’s called the “Sheku Effect” – see how Sheku Kanneh-Mason, a British cellist, is inspiring other young people to sign up for classical music lessons in the UK and around the world.
Read more.
Weekly Cartoon
Check in next week for another CTWAC exclusive cartoon:
Welcome to the official start of summer! We thank all of you for your continued support in all that we do. Your participation and generous donations keep us going and drive us to bring you some of the worlds most prolific thought leaders.
P.S. Please join us in wishing our VP of Communications & Programming, Amanda Jolly, a Happy Birthday today!
Megan Clark Torrey
CEO
Image Credits:
[1] Dr. Fahed Hakim: Consulate General of Israel in New England / [2] Dr. Joxel Garcia: Dr. Joxel Garcia via Wikipedia / [3] Yemen: Wikimedia Commons / [4] Adventures of Kavalier & Clay: Randomhouse / [5] Manakish Zaatar: Archana’s Kitchen / [5] Sheku Kanneh-Mason: Jake Turney / [6] Cartoon: Caroline Schaefer / [7] Megan Headshot: Caroline Schaefer
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