By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Parashat Mas’ei begins with a review of the journeys of the Israelites after the Exodus: “These were the marches of the Israelites who started out from Egypt . . . Their marches, by starting points, were as follows:” (Num. 33:1-4) In the first half of Numbers 33:2 the Torah […]
Importance of the future… and the past Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison OAKLAND, California – Ever since the 1990 enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it has been increasingly commonplace to see buildings, vehicles, and streets built to be accessible to wheelchairs. But such was not the case in 1936 when Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President of the United
FDR’s presidential yacht awaits the public in Oakland Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –One of the elementary lessons in civics is that government does the job of sorting through various demands and deciding priorities, or Who Gets What. The key to the ongoing exercise is politics. In a democratic regime, votes bring to office the officials who make those decisions. If enough citizens find
The summer of Israelis’ economic discontent Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One might say that this is a hell of a way to run a government, and then argue whether the reference is to Israel or the United States. Here the quarrel is whether the problem is housing, medicine or the government. There it is the the stubbornness of Republicans
U.S.’s and Israel’s focus on economic disquiet puts Palestinian issue on back burner Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –The horror of mass murder in Oslo last week begs nothing as much as distance. All the first comments were wrong. Knowledgeable people – “experts” – were sure it was Muslims and wondered why Norway was a target since Norway is certainly hospitable to Muslims and hostile – sometimes virulently
Ideologies of the lunatics may differ, but they are willing to kill for them Read More »
International, Shoshana Bryen
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO –The last time San Diego audiences saw The Who’s Tommy performed locally was in 1992 when Pete Townshend (of the Who from 1962-1982) and Des McAnuff (former artistic director or the La Jolla Playhouse) staged its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse. The musical soon moved to Broadway in
Who’s Tommy? You’ll enjoy finding out at the Rep Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — This business of obesity and its strain on the American health picture, including the unfair and disproportionate and attendant drain of medical and extended care funding, is one of the key crises of our time. Having just shed nearly 80 pounds with the supervision of a hospital weight-management
Conquering the fat me Read More »
Travel and Food
By Lloyd Levy LONDON –Much heat has been generated in some circles in the Jewish Diaspora in recent weeks, by the Israeli Knesset passing laws to fight back against attempts to undermine the State. For example, Israeli citizens who allegedly incite boycotts of their own country’s products , or who work hand in glove with
Western critics of Israeli democracy should look to their own houses Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle East
By David Amos SAN DIEGO — What a magnificent job of portraying Leonard Bernstein at the Old Globe by actor-musician Hershey Felder! I was pleased to see this one-man-show, Maestro, the Art of Leonard Bernstein on Tuesday, July 26. I have frequently written about Bernstein, and his life, which has been called “the most spectacular
Felder’s portrayal of Bernstein prompts many pleasant memories Read More »
Travel and Food
By Donald H. Harrison CARMEL, California – In some parts of the world, particularly Europe, the saint for whom Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo is named is better known than the man nominated for sainthood whose body is buried under the floor next to the altar. But here in California, the reverse
Is that a future Catholic saint buried in Mission Carmel? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN LUIS OBISPO, California – In the heart of downtown is an alley that runs between two high brick walls – or, at least, brick are what they once appeared to be. For generations, students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, abetted by tourists, have been covering the walls each
A sticky tradition in San Luis Obispo Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SOLVANG, California –This famed Danish village in central California made bookseller Kathy Mullins and her late husband, Gary, an aerospace engineer, feel welcome after a life in which they crisscrossed the country on assignment for Boeing Aircraft. Their business selling books to tourists and to locals grew, and the Mullins, of
In Solvang, museum pays tribute to Hans Christian Andersen Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By David Ogul JERUSALEM — The discussion was getting a bit heated, in a polite sort of way. But the point made by the newlywed Israeli who is a native of New Jersey has caused me to think about what it means to be a Jew in America and the challenges we face. I was
Are American Jews lazy? Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It is instructive to compare the experiences of African-Americans and Palestinians. We can find differences, similarities, and lessons for one and the other in their histories, social statistics, cultures, and politics. While some may see Israeli paternalism in what follows, my intentions are the admirable ones of seeking insights that
Comparisons and contrasts between Palestinian and African-American politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East