Donald H. Harrison

Obscure Items in Parasaha Va-ayra (Exodus 6:2-9:35)

The Bible commentator Don Isaac Abarbanel (1437-1508) suggests that God wanted the Israelites to borrow objects from Egyptians to give the Egyptians an additional reason to pursue the Israelites when they realized they were trying to escape. God, according to Abarbanel, wanted the Egyptians to rush into the water to catch the Israelites, where they would be punished by drowning. They killed Israelite male children and tossed the carcasses in the river. Now they will be thrown. Is this how we want to picture God acting? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Six Remaining Holocaust Presentations in UCSD Library Series

Beginning at 5 p.m. tonight, there will be six presentations in UCSD Library’s Holocaust Living History Workshop series, an education and outreach program cosponsored by the Jewish Studies program that aims to preserve the memories of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.   [Press Release]

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California, Holocaust, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Santos, the ‘Jew-ish’ Congressman: How Perilous is He?

Until Tuesday, our first “Jew-ish” Congressman established himself as a serial liar, a possible criminal suspect and a punchline. Now it is far worse: George Santos is scary, and maybe dangerous. The Washington Post reports a web of connections that begs questions as to what he is capable of, in or out of Congress. It compounds other disturbing elements of the controversy. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, International, Opinion, USA

Archaeologists Find Evidence of Asian Trade Route Through Israel in 8th Century

“Our findings seem to provide the first evidence that there was also an ‘Israeli Silk Road’ used by merchants along the international trading routes. This route branched off from the traditional Silk Route that passed to the north of Israel, crossing the Arava and connecting to the main historical trade routes that crossed the country, as well as to the main ports of Gaza and Ashkelon that served a major gateways to the Mediterranean world.”

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Travel and Food

Finding Meaning in the Last Part of Your Life

This book is billed as one for women, but in fact the issues it discusses apply equally to the genders.  In her memoir, Laura Black tells of her struggles with weight and her recognition that because of it, her parents were embarrassed by her. To demonstrate her worth, she threw herself first into business and secondly into the law, eventually combining the two to create an agency to supply lawyers on a temporary basis to law firms that were crushed with work.  Her career won her recognition and plaudits, but did not erase her negative self-image. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles

Missing Information Detracts from Passover & Easter Tale

Various items connected to the celebration of Passover have gone missing in their home: Passover placemats, a Seder plate puzzle, Afikomen bag, even matzo.  With the discovery of each disappearance, Michael texts the Easter bunny, asking him to put that item in the Golden Easter Egg.  But the placemats, puzzle, and Afikomen bag, are too large to fit in the bag, even though the Easter Bunny pushed, patted, squished, and squashed. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

Sephardic Family History Stretches from Spanish Inquisition to Post-Holocaust

After years of running and hiding during the Holocaust, Jenny Benrey, decided that her five-year-old daughter, the future novelist Michèle Sarde, should be baptized in the Catholic Church.  So many of her relatives and friends had disappeared in the Nazi Holocaust!  But later, when it came time for Michèle’s confirmation, Jenny could not bring herself to complete her abandonment of Judaism.  Michèle was withdrawn from the confirmation class, thereafter living neither as a practicing Jew nor as a Catholic. And the Holocaust that had prompted Jenny’s impulses became a forbidden subject, enveloped in silence. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History

Jewish Nuggets on MS Koningsdam Cruise from San Diego

One notices almost immediately after boarding this cruise ship that it is musically themed. There are show rooms named for such musicians as B.B. King and The Rolling Stones.  Four decks are named after composers Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Gershwin.  On the most forward of three elevator landings on Deck 5, there is an autographed photo of its namesake Jewish composer, who is well known for “An American in Paris” and “Porgy and Bess.” On the landing for the aft elevator, there is a cassette tape encased in a blue background – a physical interpretation, is it not?—of Gershwin’s celebrated “Rhapsody in Blue.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Travel and Food

‘Ain’t Too Proud’ Production a Temptation for Music Lovers

Playing through January 8, this show will have you clapping and singing along whether you want to or not.  Against the backdrop of chart-topping hits like For Once In My Life; Since I lost My Baby; My Girl; The Way You Do The Things You Do, and of course the title song Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, the story of the Temptations’ rise to fame and the cost to their personal lives is narrated by the last surviving original member, Otis Williams, played by Michael Andreas.  [Sandi Masori]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Dor L’ Dor: ‘Annie’ Continues To Delight 

The sun comes out at the Civic Theatre for the next few days.  The beloved musical Annie is back!  It’s been in San Diego several times, made into a few movies, and is a favorite of children’s theatre groups.  In spite of all this, somehow my son had never seen it, so I was really excited to go with him and show him something that was dear to my childhood. Afterall, what Gen X drama kid didn’t attempt an off-key version of “Tomorrow” at an audition or two?  My inability to hit those notes may have been the reason I was never cast in the show, but 12-year old actress Ellie Pulsifer, in her debut role, knocked it out of the park.  Looking around the theatre, it seemed that there were many parents like myself who were there with their children, excited to introduce the next generation to such happy songs as “Your Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”, “Hard Knock Life”, and of course, “Tomorrow”.  The smiles on the faces of the kids showed that they were just as excited as their parents.  [Sandi Masori]

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast