Herschel ran out on two marriages and three children. After being convicted of smuggling marijuana, he fled to Sint Eustatius where he all but disappeared to the outside world, while building a reputation on the Dutch Caribbean Island as a pharmacist and a professor. This memoir starts with a notice to his son Michael that he has died. [Donald H. Harrison]
Death Brought This Family Together Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
From the time she was a child, author Sarah Birnbach always went to her father Marvin for comfort. Her strained relationship with her mother permitted no such interaction. When her father died, in some ways she felt like an orphan, even though her mother was still living. There was no recognition on her mother’s part that Sarah was grieving too. What would she know about loss, her mother would say, she wasn’t married for 54 years. [Donald H. Harrison]
Overcoming Obstacles to Honor a Father Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
Converting to Christianity was not the savior it had been for Jews, not wishing the choice of death, it had been for a millennium. The Nazis were not interested in Jewish souls. The Nazis did not believe Jews even had souls, no more than they believed dogs had souls. [Jerry Klinger]
Remembering an Austrian Artist who Fled the Holocaust Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History
We returned home to heavy campaigning to elect a new government on November 1, the fifth such election in three years. From my viewpoint, it looks like it may be another stalemate, with Bibi Netanyahu, leader of the conservative Likud (the most popular party) failing to form a majority coalition. The current “caretaker” prime minister, Yair Lapid, who heads the leftist Yesh Atid (the second most popular party) has been increasing his clout by performing his interim duties fairly well. {Steve Kramer]
Elizabeth R Led Her State; Who Will Lead Israel’s Government? Read More »
International, Israel, Steve Kramer
Given our sophistication, what relevance does the birthday of man and creation have to do with scientific reality? Who are we fooling? What message might this holiday have for us as we enter the next millennia? How can you seriously believe that Adam and Eve were the first people ever to live on the earth? Or that “God made the world in just six 24-hr. days”? [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Science AND Religion Needed for True Understanding of the World Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Now that the political stunt of shipping undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers to blue states under false pretenses has become the policy of Republican Trump-wannabe governors, Democratic officials should respond in kind. Without requiring them to pay me a fee for political consulting, here are my suggestions. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: Goosing the Gander Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The legislation would combat food insecurity among veterans by providing grants to improve veteran access to proven federal food and nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including by increasing proactive outreach and education to veterans and reducing the stigma associated with utilizing these programs. [Congresswoman Jacobs’ news release]
End Veteran Hunger Act Advances in Congress Read More »
San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
Chabad of San Diego’s regional director Rabbi Yonah Fradkin has announced that he has fired Rabbi Yehuda Hadjadj as the rabbi at Chabad of UC San Diego and has asked for the resignation of Rabbi Mendel Goldstein of Chabad of Poway. Neither Rabbi Hadjadj nor Rabbi Goldstein could be reached for immediate comment. [Donald H. Harrison]
Firing and a Resignation Request at Local Chabads Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
During a rally last Wednesday, Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano reminded his followers that Democrat Josh Shapiro, the state attorney general, “grew up in a privileged neighborhood, attended one of the most privileged schools in the nation as a young man – not college, I’m talking about as a kid.” [Bruce S. Ticker]
Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Hopeful Derides Jewish Day School Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Adrienne Gold Davis, without the benefit of a microphone, silenced a roomful of Jewish women (no mean feat!) while delivering an insightful and timely message about forgiveness. Attendees ranged in age from about 4 to 74 and represented the entire spectrum of Jewish observance. [Eva Trieger]
Forgiveness and the Cause of Jewish Momentum Read More »
Eva Trieger, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County
At 87, Robert Silverberg has won every science fiction award there is on offer, not to mention a tremendously large fan base. You might think he has done it all, but now comes a new paperback version of his 1991 book, The Face of the Waters, in which the Jewish writer offers us an odyssey on a faraway water planet with creatures as fantastical as any that Homer ever conceptualized. [Donald H. Harrison]
Submerged Jewish Themes in ‘The Face of the Waters’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
The Torah reading this Shabbat asks us where we stand as we set the tone for the rest of our lives. “I have set before you, life and death, the blessing, and the curse. You shall choose life, so that you and your offspring will live.” The themes of t’shuvah, renewal, choosing life, and a recommitment to the covenant by everyone in our community resonate throughout Nitzavim. [Michael Mantell, PhD]
Parashat Nitzavim: Choosing Life Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Over the years the Education Ministry has winked at partial compliance with its requirement. The schools of some Ashkenazi Haredi movements teach math, English, and Hebrew, less than described in the formal requirements, and others teach almost entirely religious matters, dedicating perhaps two hours per week to secular subjects. And all in Yiddish. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Math English, Hebrew Get Short Shrift in Haredi Schools Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education
The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that the school must obey the decision of the New York State Supreme Court, which stated that because the school is incorporated as an educational institution, not a religious one, it cannot deny the club’s request. In response, Yeshiva University announced that for the time being, they are suspending all student club activities. A lawyer representing the student organization called the university’s action “a throwback to 50 years ago when the city of Jackson, Miss., closed all public swimming pools rather than comply with court orders to desegregate.” There are almost 100 student organizations affected by the University’s decision, including which of the following? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Yeshiva University Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire