SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Temple Emanu-El, a Reform Jewish synagogue, welcomes Rabbi Devorah Marcus as congregational rabbi beginning July 1. Marcus comes to San Diego from Temple Beth-El in Great Neck, New York, where she served as associate rabbi for five years. At Temple Beth-El, she worked extensively with young people and families, developing
Rabbi Devorah Marcus takes helm at Temple Emanu-El Read More »
San Diego County
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– San Diego Jewish Academy students and staff have deployed to the tornado-devastated community of Moore, Oklahoma to do volunteer work. “Several students came to me asking what they could do to make a real and meaningful difference,” said Alan Rusonik, SDJA’s Director of Judaic Studies. “The practice of Tikkun Olam
SDJA contingent providing tornado relief in Oklahoma Read More »
USA
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — The decorated French-born violinist, Jacques Israelievitch, who served as assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony, then concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony followed by a two-decade stint as concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony, undertook a marathon performance challenge: playing three violin concerti in one evening! The three concerti, performed
This violin concert was a musical marathon Read More »
Eileen WingardTEL AVIV (Press Release)— Mannitol, a sugar alcohol produced by fungi, bacteria, and algae, is a common component of sugar-free gum and candy. The sweetener is also used in the medical field — it’s approved by the FDA as a diuretic to flush out excess fluids and used during surgery as a substance that opens
Substance in artificial sweeteners may fight Parkinson’s Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
Iranian election ‘doesn’t have the power’ to change nuclear ambitions, Netanyahu says (JNS.org) Iran president-elect Hassan Rohani, who is considered a relative moderate, “doesn’t call the shots” when it comes to Iran’s nuclear program, but rather, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sdoes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Monday. “The Iranian election clearly reflects
JNS news briefs: June 18, 2013 Read More »
International
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 686 men who expressed their desire to run in Iran’s presidential election were whittled down to 8 — not by primaries, debates and polls, but by the six theologians and six jurists on the Guardian Council. The candidates had to be Iranian-born, over 21, and believe in “God,
Rouhani election not likely to change much in Iran Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBennett: Drop two state solution (JNS.org) Israel should discard the two-state solution when it comes to the conflict with the Palestinians and instead seek to “live with the problem,” Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett (Habayit Hayehudi) said on Monday in a conference sponsored by the Yesha Council in Jerusalem. Bennett said Israel should annex—“as
JNS news briefs: June 17, 2013 Read More »
International
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — What do actor Herbert Siguenza and the late activist Abbie Hoffman have in common? Having had the honor to meet them both, I can say they are not only warm and charismatic, but they also share idealism as they want to make the world a better place and fight
Herbie and Abbie, such a match! Read More »
Mimi PollackBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– America, i.e., the United States, is a different land. It is a world leader in science, technology, medicine and several varieties of music, art, and theater, along with a military capacity that can overwhelm most others and a great deal of wealth. It is also different from virtually every other country
An Israeli’s critique of America Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Sandi Masori SAN DIEGO — Not so long ago, I found myself in a shopping center in the Scripps Poway Parkway area around lunchtime. I wandered into Luna Grill restaurant, and ordered grilled meat, which turned out savory and perfectly grilled. The flavors were juicy and tangy and possibly even addictive (in a good
Luna Grill is especially for meat lovers Read More »
Travel and Food
TORONTO (Press Release)–The eighth in a series of very successful Moslem-Jewish Dialogues (MJD)was held in a Toronto community centre on the afternoon of Sunday June 9th. The humbling majesty of respectful, good-natured dialogue was in full display as high school students met with their peers separate from adults, who met in circles. Stereotypes were
Muslims and Jews have much to talk about Read More »
Jewish Religion
The Hope Chest by Melanie Ross, illustrated by Tess Heimbach, Underwood Publishing, (c) 2012, ISBN 9780-6156-2337-5, 168 pages, $13.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Leprechauns and kabbalah? Anything is possible, especially in a book written to stimulate children’s imaginations and to carry them off as readers to a far away, magical land. San Diego
Leprechauns and kabbalah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Parashat Chukkat is best known for containing the mitzvah of the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer, whose ashes were used for ritual purification. Parashat Chukkat also contains various other laws dealing with Tumah v’Tahara, ritual uncleanliness and ritual purity. One of the greatest sources of ritual impurity is
Gossip makes a person ritually impure Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The subject of the status of women in Israel is a tricky one, because on the one hand Israel aspires to be a modern, democratic society, and in the public sphere women are treated as equals, on the whole. On the other hand, though, its laws
Women’s status in Israel reflects a long ago age Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East