By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — This column is about smoke and mirrors. In other words, it’s an effort to understand what may really be happening in the fog of Israeli politics. It’s not something that I usually do. I generally scoff at stories of conspiracy, hidden meanings, the secret Torah within the Torah, gematria or […]
Long lead time for drafting Haredim arouses suspicions Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The list of famous people President Obama has invited to the White House is something most of us would find surprising, amusing, and even outrageous. He has on occasions invited Gangsta Rappers like the rap artist named Common, whose poetical lyrics extols the virtues of cannibalism,
Obama’s Middle Eastern guest list raises questions Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– From my vantage point on the other side of the United States, the fact that two Jewish politicians who resigned their offices in separate sex scandals are now seeking to return to elective offices in New York indicates that America continues to change its sexual attitudes. Someday, we may
Weiner and Spitzer: Beneficiaries of changing sexual mores? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Norman Greene SAN DIEGO — If you enjoy having your canine best friend by your side while dining out, a new restaurant just opened in San Diego’s Mission Valley. The Montana styled facility is appropriately called “Lazy Dog.” It is the newest member of a thirteen store chain, only the second to be operated
San Diego Restaurant Review: Lazy Dog Read More »
San Diego County, Travel and FoodEL CAJON , California (Press Release)– Some of the students who will attend Grossmont College this fall are the first members of their families to go beyond high school in their education. In many instances, notes Michael Perez, director for Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS), these students are part of a six-week summer bridge
Holocaust studies prepare freshmen for academic challenges Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
By Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES — The most inspiring and heartbreaking story since Schindler’s List is Nicky’s Family, another authentic Holocaust saga that will make you weep. In my view, there is nothing so poignant as a film showing inhabitants of a long-ago city scurrying along in their huge hats and long skirts, the
Documentary tells of Czech kindertransport organizer Read More »
Cynthia Citron
Israeli Arab who helped Syrian rebels sentenced (JNS.org) The Israeli government on Monday sentenced an Arab-Israeli man who joined Syrian rebels fighting against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to 30 months in prison. Israeli authorities accused Hikmat Massarwa of receiving small-arms training from radical Islamists in Syria, where he was also asked to
JNS news briefs: July 8, 2013 Read More »
InternationalSAN DIEGO — Nominees for leadership roles in the Jewish Federation of San Diego County have been announced on the Federation website. They are: Board chair, Theresa Dupuis, succeeding Claire Ellman; vice chair for philanthropy, Laura Tauber; Women’s Philanthropy Board Chair, Leigh Johnson; Vice-Chair for Community Partnerships, Caryn Viterbi; Vice Chair for Finance and Secretary/
San Diego Jewish Federation names board nominees Read More »
San Diego CountyJuly 7, 2013 Mayor Bob Filner San Diego City Hall 202 C Street San Diego, CA 92101 Dear Mayor Filner, As you know, over the years the publications with which I have been associated (San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, San Diego Jewish World) have endorsed you every time you’ve run, impressed by your commitment since your
An open letter to Mayor Bob Filner Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Chaos in Syria and now in Egypt, with instability in Lebanon increasing as Hezbollah is deeply involved in Syria. Hamas in Gaza is most likely planning its response to the problems of its patron in Egypt. Jordan’s king may be even more worried than usual about threats to his regime,
Egyptian coup another example of Muddled East politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Shanghai Love by Layne Wong; She Writes Press; 2013, ISBN 978-1-938314-18-6; 321 pages, $16.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– Peilin is a young woman from rural China, and Henry is a refugee from Nazi Germany. In this novel, they meet in the Shanghai apothecary where she is working temporarily. They are brought together because
Novel matches Jewish refugee and Chinese woman Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The following are the stages by which the Israelites journeyed up by companies from the land of Egypt under the guidance of Moses and Aaron. — (Numbers 33:1) The biblical narrator lists 42 stopping points beginning with Egypt. Some of the mystical commentaries make a penetrating
Pesach, 4th of July and Morsi’s overthrow Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — I had recently the privilege of bringing two elderly men together with common narratives: both were born in villages along the Carpathian Mountains, both suffered through four Nazi concentration camps, and both were liberated from the notorious Ebensee work-to-death camp by US forces on May 6, 1945. They
Two Ebensee survivors finally meet Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — When praying on behalf of someone who is seriously ill and they unfortunately pass on, there is a tendency to grow despondent and to be overcome by a feeling that one’s prayers are for naught. The Steipler Gaon once enumerated some areas in which such tefillos achieve significant
What good are those prayers for the dying? Read More »
Jewish Religion