Democrats united via Zoom on Tuesday night in a show of support for the candidacy of Terra Lawson-Remer, who is seeking to oust Republican County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar in the technically non-partisan race in the 3rd Supervisorial District. [Donald H. Harrison]
Democrats launch major push for Lawson-Remer Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
Judaism Reclaimed: Philosophy and Theology in the Torah is an interesting book written by R. Shmuel Phillips who attempts to create a philosophical midrash of the text using primarily two important Judaic thinkers: Maimonides and Samson Raphael Hirsch, the founder of Modern Orthodoxy. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Author probes the philosophy of the Torah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
The Netflix miniseries Unorthodox, about a woman who leaves her husband, casts off the ways of the Satmar Hasidim, and seeks to rebuild her life in the secular world, drew Zoomcast rebuttals on Monday night from a first cousin of the author upon whose 2012 memoir the series was based, as well as from educators and rebbetzins of the Lubavitcher Hasidim, better known as Chabadniks, here in San Diego County. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
‘Unorthodox’ draws critical response from Chabad women Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
I have long been and remain a believer in Morocco’s existing frameworks for the people’s development. There is, after all, a lot to like. Municipalities are to create development plans made from the participation of all communities and groups. Environmental management is understood to integrate the local people. Agricultural programs seek to achieve the value-chain with communities of small landholders. Morocco is committed to the goals of decentralization, renewable energy, liberation of women and youth from social and economic hindrances, and well-established southern unity. Multicultural preservation is a non-equivocal national choice. [Yossef Ben- Meir]
Morocco struggles with development plans Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Middle East, Yossef Ben-Meir
Even as our nation is convulsing from the unprecedented and converging crises of COVID-19 and the (mostly peaceful) street protests manifested under the canopy of ‘Black Lives Matter,’ some in our Jewish community have expressed concerns and indignation: there are scattered elements of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism expressed by BLM. The May 30 riotous disturbances that occurred in the Fairfax section of Los Angeles, including the defacing of a synagogue with Nazi symbols, have sharpened these Jewish sentiments and denunciations. [Ben Kamin]
Another Jewish perspective on ‘Black Lives Matter’ Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA
Moses chooses twelve men to slip into the city as spies. They’ll gather intel to see if the city is safe to conquer. Two spies, Joshua and Caleb, return with good news. “If God is on our side, we can take over the town.” Ten spies return, quivering and complaining. “There are giants in the town. We will lose everything if we try to enter.” Moses and the people have a problem. One group is not telling the truth. Who should they believe? [Marcia Berneger]
Two spies who had faith and ten who didn’t Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger, Travel and Food
The length and weight of protests by Whites as well as Blacks may spur yet another step toward equality in treatment, along with the lowering of Confederate statues. We’ll see. And likewise the quarrels here about the promise or threat of extending Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank where there are settlements, Israeli law, flags, and loyalties, but a lack of the recognized extension of formal Israeli boundaries. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
George Floyd, Israel’s annexation plans, and coronavirus Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
As so many have said in one way or another, to create our lives, we’d be wise to control our minds. For me, I know I was created to create. My focus is not on my purpose, but on my creation. James Allen in his As a Man Thinketh, observed, “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” In other words, stop with the “change your outlook,” and start with your “inlook.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Inlook is the New Outlook Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
“Intentional Jewish communities” are groups of Jews who not only want to worship and learn together, but who also want to live in close proximity to each other, fostering a sense of shared destiny similar to that found on the kibbutzim of Israel. There is at least one such group in San Diego known as the Urban Kibbutz. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
‘Intentional Jewish communities’ incubator wins award Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Let’s pretend President Trump decided to throw a surprise birthday party — for himself. A very plausible thought, as he prepared to celebrate his 74th yesterday, Sunday, June 14. Because he wanted to make the celebration extra-special, we can speculate that the planning that went into it was extra-special, too. [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]
Satire: If Trump threw himself a birthday party Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
There is a long Jewish history at West Point. The 2019 graduating class included the 1000th Jewish graduate of the Academy since its founding in 1802. And in fact, half of the graduates in the very first class in 1802 were Jewish (though there were only two students in the class). The Jewish student, Simeon Magruder Levy, graduated at the bottom of his two-person class, but went on to distinguish himself at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, marking the end of the Northwest Indian War. For more than 60 years the West Point Jewish Chapel Choir has been a part of student life. The Choir sang at what presidential event? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: West Point Jewish Chapel Choir Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Whenever Election Day comes to Israel, you can always count upon the Haredi political parties to boost voter turnout in their cities. The religious politicians will often offer amulets and blessings to ensure their people will be blessed. This year, in particular, some of the Shas and United Torah Judaism political parties handed out amulets with prayers and excerpts from the Jewish liturgy, promising that their reelection would guarantee that the coronavirus would not affect the voters’ families. {Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Amulets, Coronavirus, & Election Day in Israel Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
Most of us have been glued to our television sets watching protesters marching on our streets and around the world. They are responding to the murder of George Floyd. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Riots are the language of the unheard.” [Vocal and story by Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]
Sounding Alarms Through the Centuries Read More »
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
The installing officer was at home in Florida. The incoming president was in Oregon. And the other members of the outgoing and incoming boards of the Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood were right here in San Diego. Welcome to what the Sisterhood members called their very first “Zoomstallation.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Zoom! Zoom! You’re the Sisterhood President Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Judaism, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, USA