By Cynthia Citron BEVERLY HILLS, California — “History is written in black and white, but life is lived in shades of gray.” In this case, the “shades of gray” refers not only to the ambiguous judgments of history, but also to the colors worn by the defeated soldiers of the secessionist Confederacy during the Civil […]
Tom Dugan provides a brilliant portrait of Robert E. Lee Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — In light of increased sensitivity to intelligence leaks, it seemed innocuous – or even admirable – when the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) asked the Senate to remove a few words from the US-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act: the “sense of the Senate” part of the
U.S. continues to shut out Israel to appease Turkey Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–This week, the Supreme Court made a very interesting decision and ruled that it’s unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile to life without the possibility of parole for the crime of murder. The original case involved the robbery and murder of Cole Cannon. Two young thugs, Evan Miller and
Supreme Court moderates a severe decree Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort CARLSBAD, California –On Tuesday, June 26, ’12 Chabad at La Costa took the next major step towards dedicating its new complex as the old Chabad Center was demolished. Many of the community participants turned out to witness this event, which they almost uniformly described as ‘bittersweet.’ Bitter in the
Chabad House demolished to make way for bigger one Read More »
San Diego County, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK– Everyone has his or her own voice. Some express it loudly and clearly; some just mumble or whisper. There are those who let their voices be heard only in their professional lives and are silent and withdrawn at home. Others use their voices only within their families and
Finding the voice of the people of Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion
Story and photos by Yoni Peres SHA’AR HANEGEV, Israel — In an emotional series of ceremonies for San Diegans and residents of Israeli villages situated close to the Gaza border, the Yitzchak Shavit Educational Complex was dedicated on Tuesday, June 26. One of the center’s component buildings, a school for the arts, was dedicated
Viterbis dedicate Sha’ar Hanegev center for arts Read More »
Middle East
Blinky and Me, Directed by Tomasz Magierski (USA: Smoking Mirror Productions, 2012). Available for purchase at www.tomaszmagierski.com By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — What do a a koala cub searching for its mother and a Jewish girl hiding in the forest during the Holocaust have in common? They are all both products of the fertile
The Wandering Review: ‘Blinky and Me’ Read More »
Lawrence Baron
By David Amos SAN DIEGO — I envisioned the ultimate inter-religious composition when Leonard Bernstein wrote his celebrated Mass. But I ran into a piece, newly composed which was offered as an orchestral set to be played during the end of year holidays. It is called “A Klezmer Christmas”. There are many books on the
A medley of musical musings Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The biggest news hereabouts is the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt’s presidential election. Not so long ago, we saw pictures of the same party’s members clawing at their cages in court rooms while being tried and found guilty for one or another variety of rebellion. The Islamists’ victory
Brotherhood must prove it can lead a democracy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SALT LAKE CITY—It was Martin Luther King who described 11 A.M. on Sunday as “the most segregated hour of the week.” No faith community is free of hypocrisy or even cruelty, but the Southern Baptist Convention was founded upon the premise of white supremacy. Black folks were not only banned
A heartfelt mazal tov to the Southern Baptists Read More »
USABy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 31, Israel delivered 91 bodies to the Palestinian Authority. The PA gave them full military funerals, complete with coffins draped in Palestinian flags and a 21-gun salute. While PA President Mahmoud Abbas didn’t speak, he laid wreaths on the coffins and presided over the ceremony. The
Ending Arabs’ anti-U.S., anti-Israel incitement Read More »
Middle East, USA
Story and photos by Donald H. Harrison DEL MAR, California — Attorney Fred Schenk compares his job as a board member of California’s 22nd District Agricultural Association to being an appointed city councilmember of a small town. Given that he is vice president of the board, one might even liken him to being the deputy mayor
Fred Schenk feels like a Del Mar Fair city councilmember Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Here are the questions on Syria: what is the American obligation? What is the American interest? What is the American capability? There is no obligation. Where there is a treaty, the United States has an obligation to spend American blood and treasure. The seriousness of the commitment is why
No up-side for U.S. to become involved in Syria Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Carol Davis CORONADO, California–When John Patrick Shanley’s wrote Doubt: A Parable for the stage in 2004 I doubt many knew that Moonstruck, the movie was his work as well. Or if they made the connection that he had written Joe Verses the Volcano (also a movie) in 1990, or that he would later go
‘Joe versus the Volcano’ fizzles on stage Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast