Donald H. Harrison

Prayers for rain bring science and religion into philosophical conflict

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Many believers affirm that precipitation comes from God. Throughout history, the absence of rain in its due season has constituted a formidable threat to humans and animals alike. A drought in the ancient, largely agrarian, world meant death by starvation, in the face of which people turned to the skies — […]

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Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish critics of Israel need to accept the facts of life

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel —  I never know whether to laugh or cry when I read those perennial complaints that things are getting worse, the country (no matter which) is going to the dogs and ‘fings ain’t wot they used to be.’ The trouble is that change happens, it is inevitable, we are

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

Conference probes halakhah’s role in 21st century life

By Rabbi Dow Marmur  JERUSALEM–Though Israel hasn’t (yet?) become the Jewish spiritual centre that some early Zionists envisaged, there’re currently many important efforts to build bridges between Jewish tradition and contemporary Jewry that might renew Judaism and reinvigorate the Jewish people everywhere. Some of it, alas, is ugly and dangerous, e.g., using biblical myths about the

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Jewish Religion

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, August 5, 1955, Part 2

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff Now, HearThis! Southwestern Jewish Press, August 5, 1955, Page 4 This space, formerly occupied by Junior Hostess Joyce Addleson, is happy to extend sincere best wishes to her and her fiancé, Sailor Boy Sherman Love of Albany, New York.  Seabee l c Wally Walter also broke the good

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Jewish History, San Diego County

ADL says new ‘big lie’ is that Israel conspired with WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The unauthorized publication of thousands of pages of classified U.S. diplomatic cables by the WikiLeaks organization has had a serious unintended consequence: the proliferation of anti-Israel conspiracy theories claiming that Israel and the “Israel lobby” played a secret role in the documents’ release. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said the WikiLeaks

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USA

Nimble Cate Blanchett highlight of Australian production of ‘Uncle Vanya’

By Cynthia Citron SYDNEY, Australia–Who would have guessed that the elegant Cate Blanchett had a flair for physical comedy reminiscent of Chevy Chase in his pratfalling prime?  As Yelena in Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya at the Sydney Theatre, she jumps, she pirouettes, she kicks up her heels, she falls backwards, legs in the air, into

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Cynthia Citron

Surprise! Many people in Jerusalem get along with each other

By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg is visiting Jerusalem over the Christmas holiday with his family–Goldberg penned a little piece for the magazine’s blog about how astonished he was by all the multi-cultural experiences he’s had here over the past few days–things that Jerusalemites take completely for granted. Goldberg waxes eloquent about being

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Travel and Food

Amphora found at Tel Aviv site may be oldest of kind from Lesbos

TEL AVIV (Press Release) ― Tel Qudadi, an ancient fortress located in the heart of Tel Aviv at the mouth of the Yarkon River, was first excavated more than 70 years ago ― but the final results of neither the excavations nor the finds were ever published. Now, research on Tel Qudadi by archaeologists at Tel

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Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish organizations call for boycott of U.N.’s ‘Durban III’

 NEW YORK (Press Releases)—Jewish groups have urged nations to boycott the special session of the United Nations general assembly that has become known as Durban III.   Here are their statements: American Jewish Committee: AJC expressed profound regret that the UN General Assembly voted to convene a special meeting next year commemorating the tenth anniversary of

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USA

AJC urges U.S. to close gaps in Iran sanctions policy

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is urging the U.S. government to move expeditiously to close any gaps in the otherwise stringent economic sanctions imposed on nuclear-aspiring Iran. A New York Times investigation, published Monday, revealed that sanctions enforcement is not uniform. “Loopholes in our own country’s sanctions regime, now exposed, require

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Travel and Food

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, August 5, 1955, Part 1

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff Jewish Center Made Part of S.D. Chest Southwestern Jewish Press, August 5, 1955, Page 1 The Jewish Community Center was admitted to the Community chest of San Diego for 1956 according to Edward Breitbard, President. Admission came after a study made by the Community Welfare Council indicated that

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Adventures in SD History, San Diego County