By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–To mark the latest heated exchanges about Jerusalem between the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and the Prime Minister of Israel Binyamin Netanyahu, I decided to make my first trip on the city’s new light railway (streetcar). It took me to the Arab villages – now Jerusalem suburbs – […]
Jerusalem railway strengthens Israel’s ‘united city’ claims Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansksy JERUSALEM –The leap of Barack Obama from the academic and political provinces to the White House, and now Rick Santoram knocking at his door highlights a significant weakness of American democracy. Democratic it is, but too much so when individuals with no experience in foreign policy can think of themselves in
Would world be better off if U.S. had parliamentary system? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
-Second in a Series- By Donald H. Harrison BORREGO SPRINGS, California — Today if one stares at the ridge line of the mountain behind the Palms at Indian Head, one can make out nature’s sculpture of an Indian who evidently was lying on his back and contemplating the bright stars in this desert town’s
The Palms at Indian Head reconstructs its glory days Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO –They were not always close as little girls—that three year gap put the younger, Debra, at a social disadvantage with Sari. When Debra, with pinwheel eyes and theatrical exuberance, entered the esteemed Shaker Heights High School, Sari was already a senior and a celestial presence in the theater department.
Can’t help but kvell over two daughters Read More »
Travel and Food
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–The German Jewish poet Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) once wrote, “Those who begin by burning books will end by burning people.” Heine’s admonition certainly became a prophetic portent in the days of the Holocaust. However, his words are no less an admonition for the future we are now—once
Leaders of other religions should not tolerate burning of Quran Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Raquel Benguiat SAN DIEGO –Participating in Shabbat services at El Patronato, a beautiful synagogue in Havana, Cuba, was the highlight of my last traveling adventure. My experience included chanting Shabbat prayers among dozens of Jewish locals and visitors, weaving in sections in Spanish sparkled with a charming Cuban accent. The services were led by
‘El Joint’ serves the Jewish community of Cuba Read More »
San Diego County
By Carol Davis VISTA, California–When Kathy Brombacher retires this year she will have been at the helm of Moonlight Stage Productions for seventeen years having produced over 200 shows. In other words, she has been there from the beginning. She has been a pioneer for the arts in the North County. It was she who
‘Little Women, The Broadway Musical’ a farewell valentine from Kathy Brombacher Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastSAN DIEGO (SDJW) — SDSU History Prof Lawrence Baron, who was the longtime director of the Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies and is considered an expert on how Jews have been portrayed in the movies, has announced tht he will retire from the university faculty at the end of the current Spring semester. In a
Lawrence Baron announces pending retirement from SDSU Read More »
Travel and Food
-First in a series- By Donald H. Harrison BORREGO SPRINGS, California –Diana Lindsay’s excellent illustrated book Ricardo Breceda: Accidental Artist prepared my wife Nancy and me to see the amazing giant sculptures of prehistoric and imaginary animals standing, feeding, nursing, or fighting in vast private stretches of land owned by Dennis Avery, heir to the
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSAELM — The latest nonsense to come out of the summit of American government is that there is “no hard evidence that Iran has decided to build a nuclear bomb.” By some reports, American analysts are talking about “absolute certainty” as a standard for concluding that Iran is intent on nuclear weapons.
U.S. need for ‘hard evidence’ on Iran is political nonsense Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Without any initiative on my part, the comments about events in Israel that friends receive from me appear on several websites. One of them is the San Diego Jewish World. The piece I wrote about the attack on the Baptist Church in downtown Jerusalem resulted in the following letter by the spiritual
Why Israel’s government tolerates Haredi excesses Read More »
Travel and Food
Leon Trotsky: A Revolutionary’s Life by Joseph Rubenstein. Yale University Press, 2011, 225pp. By David Strom SAN DIEGO — In his book, A Revolutionary’s Life, Joseph Rubenstein wrote a well-researched biography of Leon Trotsky that is neither a fawning nor a completely derogatory view of this twentieth century revolutionary. His book is rich in detail
Rubenstein’s biography of Trotsky is informative and balanced Read More »
Travel and FoodHOLLYWOOD (Press Release)–Academy Award nominee Jonah Hill will be honored with the 2012 IFF Achievement in Film Award at the 26th Awards Gala of the Israel Film Festival taking place on Thursday, March 15 at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California. Restoration, which was directed by Yossi Madmoni, will have its Los Angeles premiere as the
Israel Film Festival to honor Jonah Hill, screen over 30 films Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Liam Neeson has always been one of my favorite actors in Hollywood. His films have often been stimulating, entertaining, and often contemplative. His latest film, The Grey, disturbs me for many reasons. It is surprising to see Hollywood produce a movie that portrays
‘The Grey’ is an irresponsible attack on wolves Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi