Donald H. Harrison

No instant experts in Israel

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –I’ve always pleaded with visitors to Israel not to believe that, after a brief visit or an orchestrated “mission,” they really understand the situation here. Instead, I’ve urged them to be settling for being confused even after – or because of – all they’ve seen and heard, but if possible

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Middle East

Nuggets of ‘gold,’ history, family lore at Smith Ranch in Julian

Photos and story by Donald H. Harrison JULIAN, California – The 90-minute Smith Ranch train and gold mine tour serves up nuggets of history, Smith family lore, and some miners’ “gold.”  This last Saturday, along with three international visitors and my 10-year-old grandson Shor, I found the well-planned, well-choreographed outing to be both educational and

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Donald H. Harrison, Science, Medicine, & Education

Wedding unified British people, strengthened the monarchy

By Lloyd Levy   LONDON–Billions of  people around the World watched television on Friday, to witness the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton.  It was a magical occasion, which even transfixed an old cynic as myself.   I cannot however comment on any Jewish perspective, because there wasn’t one.  British Jewry was officially

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Lloyd Levy

J*Company to perform ‘Children of Eden’ May 13-22

LA JOLLA, California (Press Release)– The award-winning J*Company Youth Theatre, a program of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus, is pleased to announce its production of Children of Eden, A Joyous New Musical based on The Garden of Eden and Noah’s Ark.  Performances run

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San Diego Calendar

Three New York plays winning standing ovations

By Cynthia Citron NEW YORK, N.Y. —  It was a “Three Standing Ovations” week!!  Not easy to come by in New York, where audiences reward only the very best.  (Not like Los Angeles audiences, who habitually award standing ovations to actors just for showing up.)  There is so much energy and anticipatory excitement generated in the elegant, intimate theaters on Broadway that it’s enough to

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Cynthia Citron

‘Sweet Storm’ charms at New Village Arts

By Carol Davis     CARLSBAD, California—Toward the end of Scott Hudson’s new play, Sweet Storm now in a heartwarming production at New Village Arts Theatre, when Bo (Adam Brick) is holding Ruthie (Kelly Iversen) and they are swaying to the lulling sounds of “Sleep Walking”, your heart wants to beam and break at the same time.

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Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Iran and Syria’s nuclear deception verified

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Finally. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) formally acknowledged that the target destroyed in the Syrian desert in 2007 was a covertly built nuclear reactor.  Director General Yukiya Amano publicly accepted U.S. intelligence information that identified it as a nearly completed nuclear reactor that would have been able to

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International, Shoshana Bryen

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, March 16, 1956, Part 2

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff Mission Bay Sportfishing Southwestern Jewish Press, March 16, 1956, Page 3 Sportsfishermen around San Diego are eagerly waiting the opening of this area’s newest fishing fleet when Mission Bay Sportfishing Landing opens on March 15. “And we’ll promise you a fishing trip, not a boat ride,” says Garric

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Adventures in SD History, Jewish History

Hamas-Fatah reconciliation counterproductive to Palestinian cause

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It looks like they lost the farm. The reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas surprised Mahmoud Abbas as well as Israelis. Fatah’s leadership had signed a draft agreement in 2009, and Hamas’ signing on this week came out of the blue. Or, on the basis of a post hoc analysis,

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East