
By Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — City Ballet of San Diego’s world premiere of the full length Romeo and Juliet at the Spreckels Theatre on May 13, was a triumph for the Company but especially the resident choreographer, Elizabeth Wistrich and the Company’s ballerina, Ariana Samuelsson. This drama in three acts gave Samuelsson the [...]
By Mimi Pollack LA JOLLA, California — “Hybrid Culture.” Those words resonated with me because I was brought up in a hybrid culture. On Wednesday, May 9, there was an interesting platica [discussion] given at the Lawrence Family JCC by Isaac Artenstein, a well-known producer, writer, and director of such movies as A Day without [...]

By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Windfall! Q: I’ve just received millions from an inheritance. My head is spinning! What do I need to think about? A: Oy, such a problem! If you’re single, have I got a girl for you… Seriously, though, dealing with sudden wealth, although a “good” problem, can be quite stressful. [...]

SAN DIEGO — Mmmm. Mmmm. Our mouths are watering already, if this license means what we suspect it does. CHocolate Babka, a well-known, well-loved Eastern European Jewish pastry. Melanie Rubin spotted the license plate, and now we’re all hungry!

By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Have you ever wondered about what the Talmud says about investing? The following Q&A may be instructive. Q: Does the Talmud provide guidance on investing? A: Actually, yes. According to the Talmud, “Let every man divide his money into three parts, and invest a third in land, a third [...]

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — While I am not a political junkie, from time to time I do watch the candidates debate. They are often unintentionally entertaining. One of my favorite exchanges took place during the Republican primary debate on January 26, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida. It was an exchange between [...]

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — On Tuesday night I shared a fascinating lesson plan from Yad Vashem (Israel’s Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority) with my Community Jewish High students. The lesson juxtaposed two reports from a transport that carried Jews from Dusseldorf, Germany to Riga, Latvia that left on December 11, 1941. [...]

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Some of our seder customs were originally introduced to help children pay attention during the service (for example the youngest child asking the Four Questions and the hide and seek game played with the afikoman). Over the years most of us have found it is just as challenging to keep [...]

By Sheryl L. Rowling SAN DIEGO –As usual, the Money Maven needs to take a break for “tax season.” Luckily, the Passover Fairy has agreed to answer your questions. The Money Maven will return next time! Dear Passover Fairy, I’m trying to save money. Passover food is so expensive! Nobody even likes to eat matzo! [...]

SAN DIEGO — Our thanks to Melanie Rubin, who has spotted a license plate with double Jewish interest. MAZLTAV, of course, means good luck in both Yiddish and Hebrew. But there is also the specialty ‘Yosemite’ plate on which the happy expression is printed. Some pronounce it ‘Yo-Sem-It-Ee,’ but others, think of the [...]