By Ira Sharkansksy JERUSALEM — Whenever the news described something troublesome, Grandma would wring her hands and ask God that it not be a Jew who was responsible. Life was placid and protected in Fall River, but that was not the case in Bialystok which still fit somewhere in Grandma’s conception of home. It’s been close […]
Squeamish about Sheldon Adelson? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USASAN DIEGO — The meeting on Thursday evening, July 26, to organize a San Diego chapter of J Street, the lobbying group that describes itself as pro-Israel and pro-peace, will draw pickets from the conservative Zionist Organization of America, local ZOA President Howard Dyckman has announced. “J Street is not only far left; although
By Corinne Sauer JERUSALEM– Israel’s modern history is defined by its ability to overcome existential challenges. Today Israel’s very identity faces precisely one such defining moment of tremendous historical import. The ongoing battle over drafting the ultra-Orthodox into the IDF is approaching a crescendo (along with the less publicized efforts to also induct Israeli Arabs).
Should the IDF be volunteer only? Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK (Press Release)–There is a biography. And then there is an autobiography. Our biography is the way others see us. Our autobiography is the way we see ourselves. Typically, there are sharp differences between the two. Others see us from their own perspectives. Some biographers can be boldly objective,
‘Devarim:’ A sublime autobiography Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Michael Ordman, a British expatriate now living in Netanya, Israel, contends that the worldwide media gives a false impression of Israel, focusing mainly on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and paying scant attention to the many positive contributions Israel makes towards a better world. He says he decided
Good news about Israel just a click away Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — In a prior article, I wrote with dismay about the U.S.Secretary of Defense “leaking” to the world that “Israel would attack Iran” in this (now past) Spring, and about others in the Obama administration leaking that “Azerbaidjan had agreed to allow Israel to use its territory
Re-election campaign prompts some diplomatic blunders Read More »
USABy Rhonda Spivak WINNIPEG, Canada — The biggest piece of news that emerged from Israel this month (July 3) is one you may have heard nothing about–but it is a game changer in terms of elevating Israel’s economic/strategic position in the Middle East. For decades, Egypt has been able to potentially isolate Israeli and strangle trade
High-speed train will enable Israel shipping to bypass Suez Canal Read More »
Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–We have one sad and one happy follow-up to stories that we previously ran on San Diego Jewish World. We’re sorry to have to report the death of Dennis Avery, the heir to the Avery Label fortune, who made acres and acres of his land available for public art, in
Sad and happy news follow-ups Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar
By Rabbi Ben Kamin COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho–While visiting here, I came across the news that out along the plains of Kansas, a grandiose vision of the pro-life movement is taking shape—on the backs of Jewish history and anguish. Pastor Mark Holick, who speaks for the proposed International Pro-Life Memorial and National Life Center, scheduled for
Pro-life ‘Wailing Wall’ insults Holocaust victims Read More »
USA
By David Brin ENCINITAS, California — Remember where you were when you heard or read about this. It’s important. In a breakthrough effort for computational biology, the world’s first complete computer model of an organism has been completed, Stanford researchers reported last week in the journal Cell. A team used data from more than 900
Science reaches Frankenstein moment: the creation of new life Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
By Gary Rotto TORONTO, Canada –It was 20:00 and I was waiting at a restaurant for a chicken shishkebab. Make that a kosher shishkebab. Clearly I was not in San Diego County because other than when I join my parents at Seacrest Village Retirement Communities for Shabbat, nowhere can I find a restaurant that serves
A 20:20 view of Toronto’s kosher treats Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Opportunism and politics go together. Some call it dirty. Some say that it is the essence of civilization. One way to decide on important issues is the way they are doing it in Syria. On the other side of the border (wherever it is) is the way we do it
Israeli politicians maneuver domestically and internationally Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Temple Beth Sholom in neighboring Chula Vista is changing its name to Temple Beth Shalom. What’s the difference between spelling the Hebrew word for peace with two o’s, or with an a and an o? Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, spiritual leader of the Conservative congregation, said the double
From ‘Sholom’ to ‘Shalom’: Temple changes its name Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — If you missed Agnieszka Holland’s In Darkness when it was in the theatres, rent a copy now that it is available on DVD or watch it on your On-Demand cable service. In my opinion it the best Holocaust film since The Pianist. My appreciation of it stems from three
The Wandering Review: ‘In Darkness’ Read More »
Lawrence Baron