By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–I was born in a still-young Israel just a few years after its inception in 1948. My father and mother were there, however, as the British withdrew on May 14 of that year, lowering the Union Jack over the port of Haifa, and raising the stakes considerably for the 600,000
Thoughts of a Sabra on Israel’s Independence Day Read More »
Middle EastBy Daniel Halper WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Middle East has undergone systemic and radical change since the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring over a year ago. The leaders in Egypt and elsewhere are different-and in their place, well, there is not overwhelming evidence to suggest that the new guys are any friendlier to
America in search of a Middle Eastern policy Read More »
USA
JERUSALEM (Press Release)–Prominent lay leaders and supporters from the FIDF San Diego Chapter accompanied by 50 IDF soldiers and officers embarked on an impassioned ten-day excursion to Poland and Israel. This once-in-a-lifetime “From Holocaust to Independence” journey, left on April 16 and will return on April 27, to celebrate 30 years of FIDF support
Julian Josephson leads FIDF tour of Poland and Israel Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel’s settlement policy has returned to the headlines with a ministerial decision to convert three West Bank outposts (Rehalim, Bruchin, and Sansana) into legal settlements, and to find a solution for a neighborhood of Beit El that the Supreme Court has ruled to be illegally located on Palestinian land. Also
Expansion of Israeli settlements a response to Palestinian rejectionism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — While I am not a political junkie, from time to time I do watch the candidates debate. They are often unintentionally entertaining. One of my favorite exchanges took place during the Republican primary debate on January 26, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida. It was an exchange between
The perils of lashon hara Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Horace Mann School of Cherry Hill, NJ, is still living in the dark ages. It is ironic that the original Horace Mann opposed corporal punishment in the classroom. He was an early advocate for teaching moral values in the classroom, and that the character formation was as
If schools won’t take action against bullying, it’s time for lawsuits Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — The latest brain research—I should know something about it. The political rally—I should support the cause. A lecture on…whatever—I’m afraid to miss an opportunity to learn something. And so it goes: read the latest book—see the well-reviewed movie—attend the informative lecture—use the latest technology—do volunteer work—join the committee, the
Why do we overschedule ourselves, even in retirement? Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz
By Matt Quijas SAN DIEGO — Members of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, and the San Diego Teen Coalition congregated for Earth Day Sunday, April 22, to give back to San Diego community. JCC Teen Director, Karen Flexer Friedenberg, coordinated the day’s events in which each teen team had an adult coordinator. JSERVE’s community
JCC Teen Coalition helps ‘repair the world’ for Earth Day Read More »
San Diego CalendarBy Peter Huessy WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, missile defense is under attack. This is not a new thing, however. Opponents tried to eliminate funding for ballistic missile defense when Ronald Reagan was President, sneeringly calling it “Star Wars” to denote how foolish they thought the idea to be. Under President Bill Clinton, defenses against
The case for a solid missile defense Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Congresswoman Susan Davis (Democrat-San Diego) called for the United States to stand with Israel against the nuclear threat posed by Iran, in a floor speech observing Israel’s Independence Day. The text follows: I rise in strong support of the contribution of the State of Israel as it celebrates its 64th anniversary as
Congresswoman seeks steadfast U.S. support for Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Cynthia Citron SAN DIEGO — Hold on to your music. It will be your best friend.” This has been the Golabek family mantra for four generations of concert pianists. As pianist and playwright Mona Golabek settles on a sofa in a private meeting room outside the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, the intimate performance space
Your talent may get you through the darkest of times Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –Twenty four thousand talmidim (students) of Rebbi Akiva perished in a horrible plague. These were the best and the brightest. It was a devastating blow to the leadership, to the entire existance of Klal Yisroel. Hashem in His infinite mercy enabled our nation to rebuild after this tragedy. Torah
Power of Torah Judaism demonstrated at Dachau Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — By all accounts, the most admirable feature of American Thanksgiving is that it’s being celebrated by all citizens. Irrespective of religious affiliation, skin colour or income, all Americans feel the need to give thanks for the country in which they live, even when they’re grossly disadvantaged in comparison to
Most Israelis celebrate Yom Ha’atzma’ut, but some pointedly refrain Read More »
Middle East
The Gilboa Iris by Zahava D. England, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, 2012, ISBN 978-965-229-574-3, 454 pages, Price unlisted. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –A young American girl wearing a dress has an embarrassing moment trying to get down from a tree. Her muscular Israeli boyfriend comes to her aid, and they kiss with enthusiasm
One-dimensional characters detract from Israeli novel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison