By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– In the profound lack of certainty and the possibility of dire consequences concerned with Iran’s nuclear program, it is possible to conceive of a scenario that is less than perfect, but way short of catastrophic. Let’s start with some basics. In politics, it is generally impossible to achieve ideal solutions for […]
Constraints on North Korea may be model for Iran Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–It’s being said that Facebook and its siblings are changing the world by giving vox populi a new meaning. The Arab Spring, the calls for social reforms in Israel last year, the Occupy Movement soon thereafter are cited as examples. The latest is an initiative by an Israeli couple that put
Facebook diplomacy seeks Israel-Iran friendship Read More »
Middle East
LA JOLLA, California (Press Release)– Hadassah’s centennial in the San Diego area was celebrated at a special Shabbat service on Friday, Feb. 24, at Congregation Beth El. Highlights of Hadassah’s achievements through each decade were shared with the congregation, including more than half of Israel’s hospital medical research and the rescue of thousands of children
Hadassah celebrates a century in San Diego Read More »
Jewish History
By David Amos SAN DIEGO — One of the most exciting aspects of being an orchestral conductor is to choose the music to be presented for a particular concert, or season. And for me, the upcoming two programs were very satisfying to prepare, because it brought together four works of music that not only strongly
Composers aren’t all Jewish, but concert’s music definitely is Read More »
Travel and Food
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO — Can you imagine being kidnapped by robots? No? Neither can I. Because from the looks of things in playwright Elizabeth Meriwether’s off the wall play Heddatron, a San Diego premiere, the five robots twirling about the stage at ion Theatre Company just don’t listen to reason. Well, why would
Robots and humans co-star in Heddatron Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Tales of the Righteous, by Simcha Raz and Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, Foreword by Elie Wiesel, Gefen Publishers, 2012, Jerusalem, ISBN 978-965-229-540-8. $24.95. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — I enjoyed reading a translation of Simcha Raz’s latest new book, Tales of the Righteous. This book reminded me much of Louis Newman’s
‘Tales of the Righteous’ is an inspiring book Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — Witnesses said the 24-year old man on the scooter pulled up to the Ozar Hatorah school in Toulouse, France. It was just before 8 a.m.—a new morning in the rustic community. Students were arriving for class, chatting, joking, and thinking of their sunrise prayers. Suddenly, the man began
Gunman turned a school into a house of carnage Read More »
International
By David Brin ENCINITAS, California–The notion of gun-propelled launch goes back to Jules Verne. Such Mass Drivers have been envisioned in numerous Sci Fi tales, including Earthlight, by Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, and Heart of the Comet by Benford & Brin. We’ve also seen them portrayed in
Space launcher proposed in Ecuador Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis, San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith and State Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced Wednesday that retail giant, Walmart, was ordered to pay $2.1 million for overcharging customers and for violating a previous 2008 judgment. “Our Consumer Unit worked closely with the City Attorney and California
Dumanis announces Walmart settlement Read More »
Travel and FoodJERUSALEM (Press Release)–Urology patients at Hadassah Medical Organization were the first to move on Monday into its new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower at Hadassah-Ein Kerem in Jerusalem. In subsequent weeks, patients from the Departments of Orthopedics, General Surgery, ENT, Plastic Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, OB/GYN and Vascular Surgery will be transferred. Toward the
Patients begin moving into Hadassah’s new hospital Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — The funerals in Jerusalem on Wednesday for the four latest Jewish victims of Muslim terror were heart-wrenching. The unbridled pain of Miriam Monsonego’s brother; the wailing of the friends and relatives and the sobbing eulogy of Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar were hard to take, but tragically, not a
Funeral for French school victims heart-wrenching Read More »
Middle East
SAN DIEGO–Michael Naiman recently was looking through some old family albums when he came across a photo that his grandmother, Edith Naiman, had meticulously labeled. It was a photo of the B’nai B’rith Auxiliary taken on May 22, 1939. The auxiliary later became the Birdie Stodel Chapter of B’nai B’rith. The photo and its caption
Historic photo: 1939 gathering of B’nai B’rith Auxiliary Read More »
Jewish HistoryBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Silence is the policy of Israeli authorities with respect to the rebellion in Syria. Figuring out what is happening, and what is likely to happen is like deciphering reports and comments about Iran. Currently there seems to be a standoff, bloody in the extreme, between the regime and its opponents.
Israeli authorities officially mum on Syria Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California — On nearly any given weekday, the Main Quad at Grossmont College is a place where a student, faculty member or staff member might find entertainment, taste new foods, hear a speaker, or sample the wares of vendors, who have the choice of paying a fee
Jewelry vendors find niche on college campuses Read More »
Donald H. Harrison