By Carol Davis CARLSBAD, California — When I was in college my friends and I used to enjoy philosophical riddles. One in particular (I know you heard these riddles as well) that I remember was “if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it still make a sound?” Based on […]
This ‘Thom Pain’ lacks common sense Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For anyone inclined to think of the Jews as inordinately concerned about their past and future, Israel is currently providing all the reinforcement necessary. It’s not quite the case that the country is in full panic. There are two items–quite different from one another–that are taking large shares of media
Domestic protesters and U.N. Palestinian supporters worry Israelis, but not overly Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A number of my columns, as well as conversations with family members, have brought forth the assertion that I am anti-American. I deny that, even while I understand why some may think it is so. I have great regard for the country where I spent the first half of my
Criticizing U.S. far different from being anti-U.S. Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—The first monument at the Miramar National Cemetery, which one day will be the final resting place for nearly a quarter million veterans, was dedicated on Friday, Sept. 16, in honor of American Ex-Prisoners of War. Unveiled was a 15-foot-tall, seven-ton-statue, named “The Liberation Moment,” sculpted by Richard Becker
‘Liberation Moment’ at Miramar N.C. honors American ex-POWs Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — There is an old story told about a small yeshiva’s rowing team that never won a match. They finally decided to send an observer over to another school to see how they could improve their performance. The volunteer returned and was excited to share his observations. “I know
Leadership not as important as leader’s direction Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Rav Yosef Poesner was a brilliant scholar and an amazingly righteous individual. During his entire life, he seemed to be plagued by a nagging wife who would humiliate him at every opportunity. His wife was the daughter of the reknowned Nodeh B’Yehuda, the esteemed Rav of Prague. After
The wife publicly quarreled with the rabbi Read More »
Travel and Food
By Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — One of the most powerful men in history once told his people that they really ought to fill up a basket with their best fruit and bring it to the priest. In fact, this is what Moses instructed the Hebrews to do when they settled in the land that
Gathering the first fruit Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Congregation Beth Israel returned on Thursday night, Sept. 15, to its original home to install the president and board of directors who will preside over the Reform congregation’s sesquicentennial celebrations in the forthcoming year of the Hebrew calendar. Like the congregation, the building to which Beth Israel’s board members and
Installation of officers inaugurates Beth Israel’s sesquicentennial Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The arrest and arraignment in New York of DSK (Dominique Strauss-Kahn) was somewhat ‘déjà vu’ for Israelis. There is something both terrible and fascinating in seeing a prominent, successful and influential personage brought down low in public. The sight of the haggard face and pitiful stance as they
The sexual hubris of some men in power Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
By Cynthia Citron NORTH HOLLYWOOD — His exuberance could suck all the air out of a venue as large as New York’s Winter Garden. His massive ego was on display as he referred to himself in the third person, as Jolie, and as “the WOW.” He bragged that he was the first to break the
Oh mammy, Burstyn does Jolson to a turn! Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Danny Bloom TAIPEI, Taiwan — Overseas, and in India in particular, the big movie gossip involving the 2012 Warner Bros. remake of The Great Gatsby has nothing to do with Leonardo DiCaprio or Tobey Maguire. Rather, it involves Bollywood film star Amitabh Bachchan and what will amount to the actor’s first-ever Hollywood film appearance
Bollywood star to play stereotyped Jewish gangster in ‘The Great Gatsby’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–The news that Israel’s Knesset is considering a new “Basic Law” purifying what makes the nation a Jewish state is both disheartening and bewildering. The proposed twelfth Basic Law, filed in recent weeks, collects all the basic elements of Israeli society—including its Hebrew language, national anthem, banner, and calendar—concretizing all
Beware anti-democratic legislation pending in Knesset Read More »
Middle EastBy David Bramzon LA JOLLA, California — Israel’s Consul General David Siegel addressed a large gathering at Congregation Beth El on Saturday, Sept. 10, during morning services. He was invited to speak on behalf of the San Diego Israel Advocacy Leadership Forum; a coalition of 15 non-profit organizations that have Israel education or advocacy as
Israeli consul general praises U.S., Egyptian actions following mob attack on embassy Read More »
Middle EastBy Ehud Eilam, PhD WASHINGTON, D.C. — States are evaluated through many parameters, the economic factor being a major one. Thus, the Palestinian Authority (PA) – judged by its economic progress in recent years – is almost a state, while Afghanistan is barely one. Another major criterion for assessing a state is its national security.
The Palestine-Afghanistan analogy Read More »
Middle East