Covid-19 Restrictions LifteDRosie Ash | June 2022After almost two full years of strict Covid-19 restrictions, states and prominent cities in America are finally easing up and lifting their safety requirements. With Coronavirus hospitalizations reaching an all-time low and a high number of vaccinated individuals, many places found it safe to remove mask and vaccine mandates. In New York, Governor Hochul lifted the last of the mask requirements, meaning that schools and day care centers can now go mask-free. And in Michigan, Governor Whitmer stated the following after the Department of Health and Human Services stopped urging people to wear masks: "This is good news for Michigan, while Michigan hasn't had statewide mask policies since last June, this updated guidance will underscore that we are getting back to normal."
However, not all states are lifting their restrictions. Hawaii, for example, feels strict requirements are still necessary. "Masks will continue to be required for indoor workplaces and airports even with Safe Travels and employee vaccination and testing requirements going away," Governor Ige said. "The pandemic is not over." Yet, it is expected that in the coming weeks, Hawaii will drop their mandates. While almost all states in America have either dropped their mandates or plan to do so in the near future, The Center for Disease Control is still recommending masks for low risk individuals for areas with high Covid-19 levels. In addition, there are still mask requirements for airports and airplanes. Nevertheless, the US has come a long way from where it was just a year ago. PowerDina Faye bendel | June 2022Richard Nixon once said, ''The cold war isn't thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat. Communism isn't sleeping; it is, as always, plotting, scheming, working, fighting”. While the quote has been deemed false by many, recent events are proving otherwise. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has affected many people and has created a refugee issue causing many civilians to flee to neighboring countries. There has been much surprise surrounding the idea that one country would invade another in the twenty-first century.
The first step to understanding the invasion of Ukraine is to analyze Vladimir Putin’s actions and thought processes. Putin wants a reconstitution of the “glorified” Soviet Union, since there has been an extreme feeling of nostalgia for the power of Russia during the Soviet Era. Putin demonstrated this sentiment by bringing back the Soviet national anthem, Soviet military parades, and Soviet lapel pins which signify heroic work for the country. By reinstituting these former Soviet- era symbols he has reminded the Russian people of their glorified past. A poll taken in 2019 by the Levada Center proves that 70% of Russians approve of Joseph Stalin’s role in Russian History while only 19% of Russians view Stalin negatively. Since the Russian economy is stagnant because its main export is oil, the only way to appease the nation is through the glory of expansion and emotional appeal by reconstituting the Soviet empire. The Russians have had an upper hand in gas and oil production due to European environmentalists demanding for the immediate use of natural gas and the conservation of energy in western Europe. This has allowed most of Europe to be reliant on Russia for natural gas no matter the price. Russia has not been placed under severe sanctions because Europe’s economy has been dependent on their natural gas therefore allowing Russia to become powerful. Another reason for the invasion is because the West has not stopped previous invasions. For example, in 2014 Russia invaded Crimea with little to no repercussions. Putin also looked at recent events such as China annexing Hong Kong in 2020 and the handing over of Afghanistan to the Taliban. When Putin saw these annexations he sensed weakness and decided it was a perfect time to invade. At the end of the Cold War, the west guaranteed the Ukrainians protection in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum in exchange for giving up their nuclear weapons. The memorandum also guaranteed that if there would be aggressive action taken against Ukraine, they would be sent aid from the UN Security Council. However this agreement has been proven to be ineffective since Russia is part of the UN Security Council yet they still invaded Ukraine. If we look at the mindset of communist Russia who wants the reestablishment of the USSR it would be logical to think that it would not follow the terms agreed to in the Budapest Memorandum. Putin justified his action by calling for the denazification of Ukraine; mirroring the way the Soviet Union fought against the Nazis in World War II. This invasion is the outcome of the West focusing inward and depending on other countries for natural energy and not on putting enough sanctions on Communist countries. Many similarities can be found between the current crisis in Ukraine and the Purim story. Both Haman and Putin sought to advance and increase their own power by persecuting those they deemed less than themselves. The leaders of both the Persian Jews and the Ukrainians rallied their people, gave them strength to fight against their oppressors and to resist their forceful demands. Mordechai led his people in tefillah and fasting while Zelensky leads his people to stand their ground and fight for their land. We all know that the Purim story ends with Haman hanging from the very gallows that he built to hang Mordechai. Although we do not yet know the conclusion of the Ukrainian conflict, we can see that their perseverance has turned a swift takeover into a weeks-long military campaign. It displays the power a people can have when they are fighting for what is right and resisting oppressing forces. It is not always obvious where this strength comes from but as Bnei Israel we recognize that without Hashem’s divine intervention none of the successes throughout history would be possible. Easing Restrictions and Israel ReopeningLauren zalisky | June 8, 2021Over the past year, while the world was experiencing a global pandemic, Israel has gone through numerous statewide lockdown measures. These lockdowns seemed to have been effective and now, as Israel has vaccinated over 5.3 million of its citizens, a fully open state is the next stage.
Nachman Ash, the czar of coronavirus in Israel, told Channel 13 News, “We want to see that the return to studies does not cause a rise in contagion.” He is referring to opening schools- a vital extension to the plan of easing COVID- 19 restrictions. As of now, Israel has limited individuals entering and exiting the country. This has reduced the spread and allows contact tracing. Israel now plans to test people for covid on the plane rather than crowding Ben Gurion airport with testing sites. According to the Immigration Authority, as of the March 23rd elections, the entry of those who are vaccinated or recovered from the virus who have immediate relatives are now able to enter the country to visit. This is a major step given the fact the closure of Ben Gurion was only a year ago. Additional changes were made by easing restrictions in schools. For example, fourth-grade classes no longer have to be minimized and students no longer need an authorization form signed by parents allowing children to enter school, and colleges now hold school testing. It’s extremely apparent that restrictions due to the pandemic have eased and Israel’s ultimate goal is to open the country. By starting with education and more accessible flights, the next step is to fully open the country which is in the best interest of those even in America. Effects of corona on sportsTalia bennett | June 8, 2021Corona has had a major impact on all sports throughout the world. A multitude of steps have been taken in the hopes that sports will begin to return to normal. Currently, many high schools and colleges have either put a hold on their sports seasons or have limited the different sports opportunities. Restrictions may include a mask requirement and strict Covid rules. In professional sports, players and staff are tested every few days and are required to wear masks on the sidelines. Additionally, the players are required to adhere to strict protocols in any case of exposure or a positive covid test. At the beginning of the year, sports were played in empty areas but have now begun to reopen with a limited capacity of guests in the stands as long as they bring proof of a negative test or vaccination. This makes going to a sports game a larger hassle than it has been in the past. Many of the ticket prices have become more expensive due to the limited availability. Every day the rules and protocols for most sports leagues are changing and being updated. Regardless, many sports fans are enjoying going to these games and the sense of normalcy it brings.
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SKA Looking Glass 2021