By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The arrest and arraignment in New York of DSK (Dominique Strauss-Kahn) was somewhat ‘déjà vu’ for Israelis. There is something both terrible and fascinating in seeing a prominent, successful and influential personage brought down low in public. The sight of the haggard face and pitiful stance as they […]
The sexual hubris of some men in power Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
By Cynthia Citron NORTH HOLLYWOOD — His exuberance could suck all the air out of a venue as large as New York’s Winter Garden. His massive ego was on display as he referred to himself in the third person, as Jolie, and as “the WOW.” He bragged that he was the first to break the
Oh mammy, Burstyn does Jolson to a turn! Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Danny Bloom TAIPEI, Taiwan — Overseas, and in India in particular, the big movie gossip involving the 2012 Warner Bros. remake of The Great Gatsby has nothing to do with Leonardo DiCaprio or Tobey Maguire. Rather, it involves Bollywood film star Amitabh Bachchan and what will amount to the actor’s first-ever Hollywood film appearance
Bollywood star to play stereotyped Jewish gangster in ‘The Great Gatsby’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–The news that Israel’s Knesset is considering a new “Basic Law” purifying what makes the nation a Jewish state is both disheartening and bewildering. The proposed twelfth Basic Law, filed in recent weeks, collects all the basic elements of Israeli society—including its Hebrew language, national anthem, banner, and calendar—concretizing all
Beware anti-democratic legislation pending in Knesset Read More »
Middle EastBy David Bramzon LA JOLLA, California — Israel’s Consul General David Siegel addressed a large gathering at Congregation Beth El on Saturday, Sept. 10, during morning services. He was invited to speak on behalf of the San Diego Israel Advocacy Leadership Forum; a coalition of 15 non-profit organizations that have Israel education or advocacy as
Israeli consul general praises U.S., Egyptian actions following mob attack on embassy Read More »
Middle EastBy Ehud Eilam, PhD WASHINGTON, D.C. — States are evaluated through many parameters, the economic factor being a major one. Thus, the Palestinian Authority (PA) – judged by its economic progress in recent years – is almost a state, while Afghanistan is barely one. Another major criterion for assessing a state is its national security.
The Palestine-Afghanistan analogy Read More »
Middle EastSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Congregation Beth Israel, the oldest synagogue in Southern California, kicks off a year-long commemoration of its 150th anniversary with an opening celebration Sept. 18 at the temple in La Jolla. Free and open to all is the afternoon of fun and festivities, including appearances by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders,
Festival Sept. 18 to kick off Beth Israel’s 150th anniversary celebrations Read More »
San Diego CountyBy Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES — I’ve never heard more enthusiastic responses to a song than the ones that greeted each fabulous number in the new musical Falsettos. And I was right there, clapping and screaming with all the rest of them. By the second act, some two hours into the show, however, the applause
Too much of a good thing in ‘Falsettos?’ Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Carol Davis LA JOLLA –There’s something inherently wrong about watching three naïve sixteen year old African American high school girls, or any other children for that matter, chatter and plan about the parties and gifts they would get if they all decided to have babies at the same time. As the mother of three
‘Milk Like Sugar’ premieres at Playhouse Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO – Ten years ago and 2,800 miles away, Rabbi Yael Ridberg emerged from a doctor’s office on East 33rd Street in Manhattan. She peered downtown and could see smoke billowing into the sky -although the World Trade Center towers were 55 blocks away. “You could see the smoke – it
Rabbi recalls her 9/11 terror Read More »
USAHAIFA (Press Release)– White light bulbs that emit light at shorter wavelengths are greater suppressors of the body’s production of melatonin than bulbs emitting orange-yellow light, a new international study has revealed. Melatonin is a compound that adjusts our biological clock and is known for its anti-oxidant and anti-cancerous properties. The study investigated the influence
Artificial lighting may prevent body from defending itself against cancer Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Danny Bloom TAIPEI, Taiwan — Are there any Jews in Taiwan? Well, there are 23 million Taiwanese Buddhists and Taoists, and a few Christian converts and Muslin converts, but there aren’t many Jews in Taiwan to speak of. But that isn’t stopping Lubavticher Outreach Rabbi Schlomi Tabib at the Taipei Jewish Center from celebrating
Festive Torah dedication ceremony in store for Taiwan Read More »
International
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – After we all were settled at our patio table at the Apollonia restaurant in the Costa Verde Shopping Center on Saturday night, Laura Simon reached into her purse and distributed three copies of a letter she had received from Bridgette C. Jenkins, head of the U.S. Monographs Section
Oldest author, newest news show anchor meet over Greek fare Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES–There is just one word for Jean Baker and Jean-Loup Dabadie’s new film My Afternoons with Margueritte, and that’s DELICIOUS! In this one Gerard Depardieu is a big soft chocolate mousse and his costar, 97-year-old Gisele Casadesus, is a lean, crunchy baguette. The two unlikely companions meet on a park bench,
May-December friendship blossoms on a park bench Read More »
Cynthia Citron