November 2011

The marriage of superstition and modernity: thoughts on the evil eye

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –The belief in the Evil Eye (in Hebrew, it is known as the Ayin Hara) has existed since time immemorial in cultures all around the world. Ancients believed that the world was suffused with invisible powers that could be utilized as a supernatural weapon against one’s foes. In magic, […]

The marriage of superstition and modernity: thoughts on the evil eye Read More »

Travel and Food

Can the desert be made to yield more water, food and energy?

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Scientists at the Sde Boker campus of Ben Gurion University of the Negev are making strides in their quest to make the world’s deserts more productive by increasing their yields of energy, food and water, Pedro Berliner, director of the Blaustein Institute for Desert Research told about 50 people Tuesday

Can the desert be made to yield more water, food and energy? Read More »

Donald H. Harrison

Nuclear sabotage in Iran preferable to all-out war

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There has been another explosion in Iran. This one in the city of Isfahan, home to spectacular Muslim architecture, and industrial facilities linked to the country’s nuclear program. There are no reports that the explosion damaged the mosques or madrases. Among the Iranian reports are that it occurred at a gas station.

Nuclear sabotage in Iran preferable to all-out war Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

‘The Color of Rose’ explores life of Kennedy matriarch

  By Cynthia Citron BEVERLY HILLS, California — In the hands of playwright Kathrine Bates, even history’s certified villains get a sympathetic hearing. Take, for example, Lucrezia Borgia. Bates penned (with Ted Lange) and starred in the one-woman Evil Legacy: The Story of Lucrezia Borgia, performing it first for a dozen friends in her own

‘The Color of Rose’ explores life of Kennedy matriarch Read More »

Cynthia Citron

Rational Egyptians, haters and the U.S. government

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, the White House pulled the props out from under the military government in Cairo, calling for it to yield power. Now. “The United States strongly believes that the new Egyptian government must be empowered with real authority immediately…we believe that the full transfer of power to a

Rational Egyptians, haters and the U.S. government Read More »

Middle East, Shoshana Bryen

Latke contest will highlight Dec. 9 celebration at B’nai Tikvah

  VISTA, California (Press Release)  — Congregation B’nai Tikvah will host a festive Hanukkah celebration on Friday, Dec. 9 at 6:30pm complete with the second annual “Iron Bubbies” Latke Challenge. In addition, there will be a full night of fun activities planned including Candle Lighting, a Silent Auction, activities for the kids and a presentation by

Latke contest will highlight Dec. 9 celebration at B’nai Tikvah Read More »

Travel and Food

‘Trek Nation,’ airing Nov. 30, features exploration by Gene Roddenberry’s son of his father’s life and work

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — It is almost becoming a genre in itself.  Instead of journeying through space, the final frontier, in a quest for exploration, people intimately associated with Star Trek explore the various permutations of the old television series in a quest for self-exploration. We recently had Captains, in which William

‘Trek Nation,’ airing Nov. 30, features exploration by Gene Roddenberry’s son of his father’s life and work Read More »

Donald H. Harrison

Israeli Arabs could be more politically powerful

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One of the great failures of my professional life is an inability to convince Israeli Arabs (or Palestinians with Israeli citizenship) to adopt the model of African-Americans as a way of political and social advancement. Arab intellectuals and political activists are well schooled in good reasons to reject the comparison.

Israeli Arabs could be more politically powerful Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East