By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There has been another explosion in Iran. This one in the city of Isfahan, home to spectacular Muslim architecture, and industrial facilities linked to the country’s nuclear program. There are no reports that the explosion damaged the mosques or madrases. Among the Iranian reports are that it occurred at a gas station.
Nuclear sabotage in Iran preferable to all-out war Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Cynthia Citron BEVERLY HILLS, California — In the hands of playwright Kathrine Bates, even history’s certified villains get a sympathetic hearing. Take, for example, Lucrezia Borgia. Bates penned (with Ted Lange) and starred in the one-woman Evil Legacy: The Story of Lucrezia Borgia, performing it first for a dozen friends in her own
‘The Color of Rose’ explores life of Kennedy matriarch Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, the White House pulled the props out from under the military government in Cairo, calling for it to yield power. Now. “The United States strongly believes that the new Egyptian government must be empowered with real authority immediately…we believe that the full transfer of power to a
Rational Egyptians, haters and the U.S. government Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenVISTA, California (Press Release) — Congregation B’nai Tikvah will host a festive Hanukkah celebration on Friday, Dec. 9 at 6:30pm complete with the second annual “Iron Bubbies” Latke Challenge. In addition, there will be a full night of fun activities planned including Candle Lighting, a Silent Auction, activities for the kids and a presentation by
Latke contest will highlight Dec. 9 celebration at B’nai Tikvah Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — It is almost becoming a genre in itself. Instead of journeying through space, the final frontier, in a quest for exploration, people intimately associated with Star Trek explore the various permutations of the old television series in a quest for self-exploration. We recently had Captains, in which William
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Laura Simon’s celebration of her 106th birthday prompted a dramatic and literary convention of sorts, as family members gathered Saturday around their matriarch at the Patrician Retirement Home. It was one of the rare occasions that the far-flung family was able to be together. Simon’s son, Mayo, 83,
Laura Simon, 106, celebrates with literary family Read More »
Travel and Food
By Natasha Josefowitz LA JOLLA, California –We hear a lot about how dual-career couples manage their responsibilities at home when both work full-time. We also read a great deal about the conflicts women experience juggling children and a career, but there is very little written about the couple that is thinking about retirement. It is
What if he’s ready to retire before she is? Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz
Of Guns, Revenge and Hope by D. Lawrence-Young, Gefen Publishing House, 289 pages, ISBN 9789652295330, price not listed. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Although he was killed before I was born, when I first started practicing journalism 50 years ago, I found my hero. His name was Ernie Pyle. He was a war correspondent during
Novel’s focus on foot soldier like Pyle’s reportage Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One of the great failures of my professional life is an inability to convince Israeli Arabs (or Palestinians with Israeli citizenship) to adopt the model of African-Americans as a way of political and social advancement. Arab intellectuals and political activists are well schooled in good reasons to reject the comparison.
Israeli Arabs could be more politically powerful Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastConfidential: The Life of Secret Agent Turned Hollywood Tycoon by Meir Doron and Joseph Gelman; Gefen Books; 288 pages; no price listed. By Norman Manson SAN DIEGO — This is the story of a man of extraordinary talents, as well as amazing drive and perseverance. Arnon Milchan had a fabulous career aiding Israel’s military machine, then
Biography of Arnon Milchan covers triumphs and flaws Read More »
Travel and Food
Nimpentoad by Henry, Josh and Harrison Herz, with illustrations by Sean Eddingfield and Bill Maus, 20 pages, ISBN 9781466463042, price not listed. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — A tribe of Niblings must navigate its way through 15 miles of forest infested with monsters of various sorts who have one thing especially in common.
Father and sons spin an adventure tale Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO—Ion Theatre Company, under the leadership of Claudio Raygoza and Glen Paris (who were named Producers of the Year by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle in 2011), has gone and done it again. First the little theatre that could mounted the memorable Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim musical Gypsy:
‘Angels in America’ another coup for Ion Theatre Company Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Mort Blumberg* (*name changed) once gave me a call concerning an upcoming heart bypass surgery he was slated to undergo. He asked me what religious things he could do for a successful operation. After ‘prescribing’ him the standard regimen of prayer, recitation of Psalms etc., I told him
Fixing the spiritual heart can help the physical one Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Stanley Tiger SAN DIEGO–The concert started more or less promptly at 8:00 pm. Titled in the program flier, “An Evening of Klezmer Music with Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi,” it was a well attended fundraiser for Tifereth Israel Synagogue, opening first with Havdalah prayers, lead by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal with audience participation. Immediately following,
Jews, God and Music: A Klezmer Concert Review Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County