Latest news with #Mordecai
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
First-round draft pick Mykel Williams stands out during 49ers' rookie minicamp
First-round draft pick Mykel Williams stands out during 49ers' rookie minicamp originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area SANTA CLARA — Defensive end Mykel Williams was the standout as the 49ers' 2025 draft class made their on-field debut at rookie minicamp on Friday. Advertisement San Francisco's first-round draft pick was eye-catching, not only in stature but in his ability to show quickness off the line in positional drills. There was no full squad work, so the defensive line spent the entire session getting indoctrinated into the 49ers' way by defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. Williams looked bigger and faster than the rest, by far, as the group worked on getting off the line, facing staff members as well as working on the sled. The 49ers' second-round draft pick, Alfred Collins, might be as tall as Williams, and heavier, but the defensive tackle did not participate with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Advertisement Defensive tackle C.J. West, selected in the fourth round, participated in drills with the group that included Williams, undrafted free agent Sebastian Valdez, and six other defensive line try-out players. On the offensive side of the ball, receivers Jordan Watkins and Junior Bergen got a little extra boundary work with trainers, making sideline catches while the rest of the group ran routes under offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak and receivers coach Leonard Hankerson's instruction. Both rookie receivers eventually were worked into the mix, catching passes from second-year quarterback Tanner Mordecai, the primary signal-caller during practice. Advertisement Watkins made a deep catch on a go-route look extremely easy, as did undrafted free agent Isaiah Neyor, who towered over the receiving group. Neyor showed off his speed in individual drills but pulled up with what appeared to be calf tightness during the middle of the practice. The Cornhusker returned to make one of the best catches of the day, deep to the right side while being covered by tryout safety Maceo Beard from Potsdam. The best defensive play of the day was made by tryout safety Jack Howell from Colorado State, who high-pointed a ball thrown by Mordecai to the left sideline. The ball seemed to sail on the quarterback and Howell was able to capitalize on the miscalculation. Running back Jordan James did a sizable amount of work with running backs coach Bobby Turner, giving him instructions. Once the Oregon product joined the offense, he was quickly utilized as a receiver, showing off his route-running abilities. The ball carrier quickly got into a steady rhythm with Mordecai, which could be a sign of things to come for the rookie. Advertisement Second-year players, along with Mordecai, included tight end Mason Pline, linebacker DeShaun White, offensive linemen Drake Nugent and Isaac Alarcon, as well as receiver Terique Owens, all took part in the drills. Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Can the 49ers manage another drama-free offseason at quarterback?
Can the 49ers manage another drama-free offseason at quarterback? There's no guarantee the San Francisco 49ers get to training camp without any drama under center. However, outside of Brock Purdy's pending contract extension there aren't any major questions in the 49ers' quarterback room for a second-consecutive offseason. Last year there was a backup QB battle between Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs, but there was no question about Purdy's place atop the depth chart. This offseason there's not liable to be any battles based on the 90-man roster: Brock Purdy Purdy's contract will likely be done by the time the season starts, which means it's officially 'prove it' time for the 25-year-old QB. Last season he struggled to keep the offensive ship afloat with some of his surrounding cast dealing with injuries. If he's going to be paid like a top QB, he'll have to perform better in those instances. Whether he learned from last season or developed some bad habits of holding onto the ball too long will ultimately determine his and the team's long-term success. Mac Jones Jones should have the QB2 spot locked in. He spent last season as the backup in Jacksonville and while he struggled in seven starts for the Jaguars, he's not an incapable player if he has to step in mid-game or as a starter. Jones should be looking to rebuild his value this year a la Sam Darnold, and barring a disaster the 49ers should give him that opportunity. Tanner Mordecai We'll put Mordecai ahead of Rourke for now mostly because Rourke isn't fully recovered from offseason ACL surgery. Mordecai signed as an undrafted rookie last year and spent the season on the practice squad. He'll have an opportunity to earn the third QB spot on game days if the 49ers opt to suit up an emergency QB again. Last preseason he saw action in two games and completed 6-of-10 throws for 103 yards. Kurtis Rourke Rourke, a seventh-round pick, may wind up missing the entire season if the 49ers want to stash him on IR to fully recover from an ACL tear he sustained in 2022. If Mordecai plays well it opens the door for Rourke to ease into NFL action by being around the facility, rehabbing, working out and being in meetings. On the other hand, if Rourke is ready to go for the start of training camp he should be given the opportunity to compete for the third QB job. He'll give Mordecai a run for the QB3 spot if he's healthy thanks to his wealth of experience and an NFL-ready arm.
The Guardian
21-03-2025
- The Guardian
On the hoof: readers' favourite horse riding breaks in Europe
Sierra Trails, run by Dallas Love and her brother, Mordecai, based in Bubión, two hours' drive from Málaga, offers exceptional village-to-village rides in the Sierra Nevada. Dallas paired us with well-schooled Spanish horses that we rode across varied terrain, stopping to picnic under trees and staying in lovely family-run hotels. After a long day riding, soaking in a hot bath, followed by amazing meals with wine (vegetarians no problem!) was a treat. Five nights' accommodation with four full days riding, including pick up from Málaga airport, was €1,465. Rucha Eldridge Burrowhayes Farm campsite near Porlock in north-west Somerset is a family-friendly campsite on the edge of the beautiful Horner Wood. We have been multiple times, and love the location and the horse-riding. It has a good range of horses and ponies to hire for escorted rides across the Exmoor hills. All riding abilities are catered for and even our eldest, with years of riding experience, had a fun and challenging ride. From £35 an hour for an escorted ride; camping pitches from £19 a Guardian Travel readers' tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage - We return to Freerein in Clyro (Cleirwy), Powys, every year. It's a fantastic way to view the Welsh countryside; you can self-guide with the maps and instructions provided or have an experienced guide with you. Everything is included, including your meals and stays in beautiful country inns or guesthouses. Holidays are from 2-7 days with prices starting at £ Jones Ride the ancient tracks of the Monte Ferru mountain range (meeting bareback Sardinian riders), canter across the empty sandy beaches of the Sinis peninsula or just have a riding lesson at Country Hotel Mandra Edera near Abbasanta. The west coast of Sardinia is still underdeveloped, so it makes for a relaxing riding holiday. It's best to ride in the morning or evening, and relax by the pool in the heat of the day. The countryside is dotted with the remains of bronze age nuraghe buildings, which are also worth visiting. The highlight, though, is the beach Allen Galloping along the limitless beaches south of Bordeaux (professional photographer to hand), riding across dunes and through shady pine forests, and cooling down in the sea or in the pool back at the comfortable chalets on the Unicorn Trails' Atlantic coast trek (eight days from €1,439) made for a holiday of a lifetime for my 16-year-old daughter. It was all about the horses and riding (all day every day), but there was time enough for riverbank picnics and evening dinners. The camaraderie of a diverse (and dusty) group of riders and expert guides was essential to an exciting and unforgettable Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Horses and ponies have privileges in the New Forest due to ancient laws that defend the rights of animals and commoners to roam freely. Our riding holiday last summer was a brilliant way to explore the paths, forests and free land of this lovely area. I based myself with the friendly and helpful Burley Villa Riding School, which rents out ponies or horses with a guide for £99 for a couple of hours. The horses often have right of way, so being in the saddle was a peaceful way to see the countryside. There are plenty of watering holes – for man and beast – such as the White Buck in Burley. One tip: get the New Forest Card for just £10 to access discounts at shops, pubs and cafes – for riders and I did a ride in the western Sierra de Gredos mountains with Jerebeque Trails, which is run by a couple, Emilio and Mamen. This involved a five-day trek across a variety of terrain in rural central Spain: mountains, villages, farms and rivers. What made it unique was Emilio's expertise. He is next-level in his knowledge of the area, and the training of his horses … they don't even use bits. He perfectly matched me with one of his horses, which made it all the better. Be specific about the kind of horse you want to ride and the experience you're after. Celine Northfield Farm's two-day ride (£400pp inc lunch and transfers) offers fantastic variety in the Derbyshire Dales. Day one's route crosses the viaduct over Monsal Dale, continuing through a former railway tunnel. Spine-tingling echoes of hooves reverberate. After a welcome lunch stop at Edensor, it's time for Haddon Hall and a gallop through Chatsworth park. Think period drama vibes without the dresses. Day two is stunning, taking in the High Peak Trail and Staffordshire moorlands. Unflappable horses and guides, and a huge variety of terrain in a weekend. Charlotte
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Purim in Casablanca: Celebrating in Gaza's shadow
For Morocco's Jews, the festival of Purim, beginning March 13, has contemporary resonance, illustrating the tenuous existence of diaspora Jewish communities throughout history and the world. Last year and this, the Gaza War cast a shadow over the holiday, which is traditionally celebrated with costumes and sweets. Purim commemorates a close Jewish brush with genocide in ancient Persia. As read from a scroll called a Megillah, it is a tale of palace intrigue, including the wily Jewish courtier Mordecai and his beautiful cousin Esther, destined to be queen and her people's savior. There is, of course, a villain: Haman, the evil architect of the plot to exterminate Persia's Jews. In many ways, the Purim story exemplifies the history of Morocco's Jews for more than two millennia: an ancient, all-powerful potentate controlling his loyal Jewish subjects' fate. Morocco's Jewish community, once 300,000 strong, now numbers about 3,000, most living in Casablanca. Hamas's brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israel and subsequent conflict involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran (ancient Persia) have raised questions about the North African kingdom's vaunted tolerance for its few remaining Jewish citizens. At the same time, hope and confidence exist among Jews there. As in the original Purim story, today's Moroccan Jews have friends in high places. A modern Jewish Mordecai, a hero of the Megillah's palace drama, would be André Azoulay, who is Jewish. He is King Mohammed VI's senior — some say most influential — advisor. Azoulay, whose office is in the Rabat palace, comes from an old family from the coastal Atlantic city of Essaouira, which was once half Jewish. A beautiful Queen Esther would be Andre's stylish daughter Audrey, former minister of culture and now the Director-General of UNESCO, which oversees grants to world heritage sites, including Moroccan Jewish neighborhoods. Last Purim, a clamorous Casablanca crowd packed Ohalel Haim, a Chabad congregation. Nearby, a smaller, quieter group gathered at the elegant, historic Beth-El synagogue. For both congregations, listening to the Megillah had many echoes. Each welcomed American visitors and expressed cautious confidence regarding their community's safety, thanks to the kingdom's omnipresent security services. But local angry, large pro-Palestinian rallies concerned worshippers. In the wake of the Oct. 7 attack, the head of a Morocco-based media group, Ahmed Charai, published an article with the headline, 'We Are All Israelis,' which provoked a backlash in Morocco, according to the Jerusalem Post. Since the Gaza War began, police and military guards at Moroccan Jewish sites have grown. Across town is Morocco's Jewish Museum. Last year, several armed, uniformed guards outside scrutinized holiday visitors. Inside, a glass display features a collection of scrolls, including 'The Hitler Megillah,' evidently a World War II-era parody with the Fuhrer's name replacing Haman's. Last year, museum curator Zhor Rehihil said the October events in Israel and Gaza left her sad and frustrated. Despite no incidents or attacks on the museum, Rehihil, a Muslim with a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies, had to cancel long-standing intercommunal educational efforts, and an iftar fast-breaking dinner during Ramadan, which that year (and this) coincided with Purim. She worked hard but sometimes felt the war had destroyed all her efforts to promote peaceful coexistence. In November 2024, Morocco's foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, reaffirmed his nation's diplomatic ties with Israel for the first time since Oct. 7 and the subsequent Gaza war. However, this support was not unqualified. The government walks a diplomatic tight rope, both domestically and internationally. 'Morocco has strongly condemned, at the highest levels, Israeli attacks on civilians, hospitals, and schools, deeming them unacceptable,' Bourita told French publication Le Point. 'This approach [reaffirming diplomatic ties to Israel] should not be seen as abandoning the Palestinian cause. Morocco's position on Palestine remains a priority,' added Bourita. He emphasized Morocco's Jewish heritage as a basis for this complex relationship, given widespread anti-Israel protests in the kingdom. Some Moroccan Jews claim, without persuasive evidence so far, that Jews first arrived in what is now Morocco sometime after destruction of Jerusalem's First Temple in 586 B.C.E. While retaining their religious identity, they became infused with Berber (also called Amazigh) culture, with some mountain tribespeople intermarrying and converting to Judaism. Moroccan Jews experienced ups and downs over the subsequent 2,500 years. Jews often prospered as merchants and traders. But in Fez in 1033, inter-tribal warfare saw 3,000 Jews massacred. When the 12th-century sage Maimonides fled the murderous Almohad Caliphate that ended Spain's 'Golden Age' for Jews, the city of Fez became his haven. The same fundamentalist Almohads that ultimately drove Maimonides to Cairo offered Jews remaining in the city a stark choice: leave, convert to Islam — or die. (Thus, converts' descendants today include a Muslim tourist guide named Mohammed Cohen.) At the 15th century's end, many Jews who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula by reconquering Spanish Catholics migrated to Morocco's coastal and inland cities. For a time, friction existed between local Amazigh Jews and these newcomers, but over centuries, it has faded. Today, Morocco remains proud of its Jewish history, and — until the Gaza War — annually welcomed thousands of Israeli tourists. Acknowledgment of Jewish presence in Morocco seems ubiquitous. Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries are being restored at government expense, and several Jewish museums have appeared. Moroccan cities' protected Jewish quarters are being refurbished (and guarded) as commercial markets. At the Museum of History and Civilizations in Rabat, in the Islamic section, is a clay oil lamp with a miniature menorah attached, found in the Roman garrison town Volubilis around the fourth century. Some tombstones recovered from the ruins bear Hebrew inscriptions. In the original Purim story, Persia's Jews evade planned genocide, but the deliverance miracle was not unalloyed. In response to a previous decree, calling on Jews' enemies to kill them, the king issued a new, equally draconian proclamation. It authorized Jews to take up arms, and 'to assemble and to protect themselves, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish the entire host of every people and province that oppress them, small children and women.' The Megillah says Jews slaughtered 75,000 people. In light of the mass killings of Palestinians in Gaza, it is fair to ask this Purim: What is the cost of Jewish survival? 'Most of us ignore the violence that concludes the Esther scroll,' writes Peter Beinart, author of the new book 'Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza.' 'The ending reads differently when Jews wield life-and-death power over millions of Palestinians who lack even a passport. Today, these blood-soaked verses should unsettle us. 'More often, we look away. We focus on what they tried to do to us. Purim isn't only about the danger gentiles pose to us. It's also about the danger we pose to them.' Mark I. Pinsky is a Durham, N.C.-based journalist and author who served as a civilian volunteer attached to the Israeli military in El Arish, Sinai, in 1967. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
10-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Purim in Casablanca: Celebrating in Gaza's shadow
For Morocco's Jews, the festival of Purim, beginning March 13, has contemporary resonance, illustrating the tenuous existence of diaspora Jewish communities throughout history and the world. Last year and this, the Gaza War cast a shadow over the holiday, which is traditionally celebrated with costumes and sweets. Purim commemorates a close Jewish brush with genocide in ancient Persia. As read from a scroll called a Megillah, it is a tale of palace intrigue, including the wily Jewish courtier Mordecai and his beautiful cousin Esther, destined to be queen and her people's savior. There is, of course, a villain: Haman, the evil architect of the plot to exterminate Persia's Jews. In many ways, the Purim story exemplifies the history of Morocco's Jews for more than two millennia: an ancient, all-powerful potentate controlling his loyal Jewish subjects' fate. Morocco's Jewish community, once 300,000 strong, now numbers about 3,000, most living in Casablanca. Hamas's brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israel and subsequent conflict involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran (ancient Persia) have raised questions about the North African kingdom's vaunted tolerance for its few remaining Jewish citizens. At the same time, hope and confidence exist among Jews there. As in the original Purim story, today's Moroccan Jews have friends in high places. A modern Jewish Mordecai, a hero of the Megillah's palace drama, would be André Azoulay, who is Jewish. He is King Mohammed VI's senior — some say most influential — advisor. Azoulay, whose office is in the Rabat palace, comes from an old family from the coastal Atlantic city of Essaouira, which was once half Jewish. A beautiful Queen Esther would be Andre's stylish daughter Audrey, former minister of culture and now the Director-General of UNESCO, which oversees grants to world heritage sites, including Moroccan Jewish neighborhoods. Last Purim, a clamorous Casablanca crowd packed Ohalel Haim, a Chabad congregation. Nearby, a smaller, quieter group gathered at the elegant, historic Beth-El synagogue. For both congregations, listening to the Megillah had many echoes. Each welcomed American visitors and expressed cautious confidence regarding their community's safety, thanks to the kingdom's omnipresent security services. But local angry, large pro-Palestinian rallies concerned worshippers. In the wake of the Oct. 7 attack, the head of a Morocco-based media group, Ahmed Charai, published an article with the headline, 'We Are All Israelis,' which provoked a backlash in Morocco, according to the Jerusalem Post. Since the Gaza War began, police and military guards at Moroccan Jewish sites have grown. Across town is Morocco's Jewish Museum. Last year, several armed, uniformed guards outside scrutinized holiday visitors. Inside, a glass display features a collection of scrolls, including 'The Hitler Megillah,' evidently a World War II-era parody with the Fuhrer's name replacing Haman's. Last year, museum curator Zhor Rehihil said the October events in Israel and Gaza left her sad and frustrated. Despite no incidents or attacks on the museum, Rehihil, a Muslim with a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies, had to cancel long-standing intercommunal educational efforts, and an iftar fast-breaking dinner during Ramadan, which that year (and this) coincided with Purim. She worked hard but sometimes felt the war had destroyed all her efforts to promote peaceful coexistence. In November 2024, Morocco's foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, reaffirmed his nation's diplomatic ties with Israel for the first time since Oct. 7 and the subsequent Gaza war. However, this support was not unqualified. The government walks a diplomatic tight rope, both domestically and internationally. 'Morocco has strongly condemned, at the highest levels, Israeli attacks on civilians, hospitals, and schools, deeming them unacceptable,' Bourita told French publication Le Point. 'This approach [reaffirming diplomatic ties to Israel] should not be seen as abandoning the Palestinian cause. Morocco's position on Palestine remains a priority,' added Bourita. He emphasized Morocco's Jewish heritage as a basis for this complex relationship, given widespread anti-Israel protests in the kingdom. Some Moroccan Jews claim, without persuasive evidence so far, that Jews first arrived in what is now Morocco sometime after destruction of Jerusalem's First Temple in 586 B.C.E. While retaining their religious identity, they became infused with Berber (also called Amazigh) culture, with some mountain tribespeople intermarrying and converting to Judaism. Moroccan Jews experienced ups and downs over the subsequent 2,500 years. Jews often prospered as merchants and traders. But in Fez in 1033, inter-tribal warfare saw 3,000 Jews massacred. When the 12th-century sage Maimonides fled the murderous Almohad Caliphate that ended Spain's 'Golden Age' for Jews, the city of Fez became his haven. The same fundamentalist Almohads that ultimately drove Maimonides to Cairo offered Jews remaining in the city a stark choice: leave, convert to Islam — or die. (Thus, converts' descendants today include a Muslim tourist guide named Mohammed Cohen.) At the 15th century's end, many Jews who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula by reconquering Spanish Catholics migrated to Morocco's coastal and inland cities. For a time, friction existed between local Amazigh Jews and these newcomers, but over centuries, it has faded. Today, Morocco remains proud of its Jewish history, and — until the Gaza War — annually welcomed thousands of Israeli tourists. Acknowledgment of Jewish presence in Morocco seems ubiquitous. Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries are being restored at government expense, and several Jewish museums have appeared. Moroccan cities' protected Jewish quarters are being refurbished (and guarded) as commercial markets. At the Museum of History and Civilizations in Rabat, in the Islamic section, is a clay oil lamp with a miniature menorah attached, found in the Roman garrison town Volubilis around the fourth century. Some tombstones recovered from the ruins bear Hebrew inscriptions. In the original Purim story, Persia's Jews evade planned genocide, but the deliverance miracle was not unalloyed. In response to a previous decree, calling on Jews' enemies to kill them, the king issued a new, equally draconian proclamation. It authorized Jews to take up arms, and 'to assemble and to protect themselves, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish the entire host of every people and province that oppress them, small children and women.' The Megillah says Jews slaughtered 75,000 people. 'Most of us ignore the violence that concludes the Esther scroll,' writes Peter Beinart, author of the new book 'Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza.' 'The ending reads differently when Jews wield life-and-death power over millions of Palestinians who lack even a passport. Today, these blood-soaked verses should unsettle us. 'More often, we look away. We focus on what they tried to do to us. Purim isn't only about the danger gentiles pose to us. It's also about the danger we pose to them.'
