Tetzaveh – Exodus 27:20-30:10 This parasha deals mainly with God’s instructions for the elaborate vestments-outfitting of Aaron, the first High Priest, and his four sons. This is followed by instructions for their ordination. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
High priests in Judaism, other ancient cultures Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Though all the results aren’t in yet, it’s very unlikely that Netanyahu and his right-wing allies will muster 61 out of the 120 votes in the Knesset to form a majority government. But it’s also clear that his rival Benny Gantz, the leader of the Blue and White party, won’t be able to form a government either. Yet, politicians close to both assure us that there won’t be a fourth round, following the three elections within the last twelve months. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
After the Israeli election Read More »
Middle East
Sanders and Bloomberg were two of the 12 Jewish candidates whose names appeared on San Diego County ballots. Of the other 10, semi-official returns indicated that three placed in first positions — Sara Jacobs in the 53rd Congressional District, Joe Leventhal in San Diego’s 5th City Council District, and incumbent Bernie Rhinerson in the District B race for the San Diego Community College District. (Their second-place finishing opponents respectively were San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, City Attorney candidate Marni Von Wilpert, and Daniel Piedra.) [Donald H. Harrison]
Eight of 12 Jewish candidates made runoffs Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, USA
This week’s parasha opens with very clear instructions on how to create and maintain the ner tamid, a light much like the chanukiyah, not to be used for any practical purpose but rather to amplify our connection to Hashem. Indeed, the Talmud Bavli in Masechet Shabbat (22b), tells us the ner tamid is a symbol of Hashem’s presence and that the flame of Torah, our deepest values, are similarly eternal. “And you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall take to you pure olive oil, crushed for lighting, to kindle the lamps continually. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the dividing curtain that is in front of the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall set it up before the Lord…”(Exodus 27:20-21). [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Don’t let the light burn out Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The current practice is that Purim is celebrated as a one-day holiday. Cities that were walled at the time of Joshua’s conquest of Israel – most notably Jerusalem – celebrate Purim on Adar 15, as a commemoration of the end of hostilities in the walled city of Shushan, where the battles occurred on Adar 13 and 14. Elsewhere, the holiday is observed on the one day of Adar 14, to recall the cessation of the battle after the war on the thirteenth in all other places of Ahasuerus’s kingdom. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Purim differs from the biblical requirement Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion
There were 12 Jewish candidates on San Diego County ballots on March 3. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden were in a coast-to-coast race for delegates that stretched from Maine to California, with Biden winning or ahead at press time in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. Sanders won or was leading in California, Colorado, Utah, and Vermont. Michael Bloomfield won in the American territory of American Samoa, and was battling Elizabeth Warren for third place in many of the states. Texas and Maine saw seesaw battles between Biden and Sanders, both too close to call as we went to press. [Donald H. Harrison]
How Jewish candidates fared in March 3 primary Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
The days before Monday’s balloting were as sleazy as any I recall, from watching Israeli elections since 1977. Bibi led the negative campaigning, bringing up issues against all the major figures in Blue and White that had been settled years ago, and charging Benny Gantz with faults up to incipient senility. Blue and White’s campaign pictured Turkey’s President Erdogan, speaking Bibi’s mantra against the charges of corruption, “There won’t be anything because there is nothing.” However, Blue and White’s campaign seemed mostly mild, repeating charges against Bibi, but not getting the air time that Bibi did. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D.}
Only more questions in wake of Israel’s election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
While San Diego Jewish World does not plan to make any formal endorsements until the November election, we would like our readers to be aware of the names of our fellow Jews who are on San Diego County ballots. There are at least a dozen such candidates, whose Jewish affiliation has been made known to us. Whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or independents, we would like to congratulate them for putting themselves out there. [Donald H. Harrison]
12 Jews compete on San Diego County ballots Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
President Trump has been so impressed by the popularity and taste of hamantashen (the three-cornered pastry based on the hat worn by Haman, the Jew-hating Persian bad guy of yesteryear), that he’s contracted with a national bakers organization to produce pastries in his own image. [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]
Tea and trumpets, anyone? Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Joe Biden’s campaign for the Democratic party presidential nomination received a huge boost with his big win in the South Carolina primary. Biden has a long history of support for Israel. At the 2013 AIPAC conference, Joe Biden spoke of his love for Israel and described the moment years earlier when he first realized that Israel mattered to him. As a child in 1948, he sat at his dinner table listening to his father speak about the debate over the establishment of a Jewish state, and it greatly impacted him. How did he describe what his father told him? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: Joe Biden Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Technion student Polina Bronov, speaking to residents of the Vi senior living community on Friday, told of her life before and after enrolling at the university often described as Israel’s MIT. [Irv Jacobs, MD, MPH]
Student tells of life, research at Technion Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Safa is a fifth grader whose family hails from Zimbabwe. She’s precocious, curious, smart and very likable. But there’s a new kid in school, Ryan, who makes Safa the object of his taunts. Ryan isn’t hostile so much as immature. He’s “only joking,” but at Safa’s expense. And when Safa goes to the teacher for support, she’s labeled a “snitch,” which only makes matter worse. Halfway through the performance, the audience gets to weigh in, changing the outcome of the story by changing the characters choices, even stepping into their roles. We can be Safa, standing up for ourselves, her classmates being better friends or the teacher taking the situation more seriously. The one character we can’t replace is the bully. The only way to change him is to stand up to him. [Eric George Tauber]
Safa’s Story responds creatively to bullying Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Award-winning Rabbi Joseph Potasnik is the “Radio Rabbi,” having been on the New York airways at 1010 WINS and 770 WABC since 1972, and starting in 1999, serving as Jewish Chaplain for the New York City Fire Department. In the introductory chapter of his newest book Just Give Me a Minute, Potasnik confesses that people ask him questions about anything and everything. In Just Give Me a Minute, Potasnik shares his insights and answers. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
The radio rabbi shares his greatest hits Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
Our correspondent in Mevasseret Zion, Israel, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, has written a sixth novel, this one called A Ruffled Calm. As with her previous five novels, Shefer-Vanson has illustrated the cover of her book with one of her own art pieces, seen to the right of this story. [Donald H. Harrison]
SDJW correspondent publishes sixth novel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA