The Jewish service corps known as “Avodah” – Hebrew for “work” – has announced that San Diego will be the fifth city in the nation where its fellows will spend a year volunteering to combat poverty, help the homeless, and work with immigrants and asylum seekers, among other projects. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Avodah’ Jewish Service Corps commits to San Diego Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
There is anger and then there is righteous anger. Peter Finch yelling out the window, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”From Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, where parts of a whole are coming undone, to Hong Kong to Puerto Rico to France and Venezuela, people are mad as hell. [Shoshana Bryen]
Global hot spots boil over with righteous anger Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir taught a middle school class from space on Monday, speaking via a video link from the International Space Station to San Diego students. Meir, who has been on the station since September, spoke to 150 students from Fulton Middle School and Memorial Preparatory for Scholars and Athletes at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. [Times of San Diego]
Jewish astronaut lectures SD students from space Read More »
International, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
some of the ‘stuff’ said by character’s ‘A’ -Timothy L. Cabal and ‘M’ – Nancy Ross (the two adults playing the eleven-year olds in the West Coast Premiere of “Red Bike” at Moxie Theatre through Feb. 16th) , brought me back to an old TV Show -“Kids Say The Darndest Things.” … But these kids are not saying just the darndest things. They are looking at their world and their decaying community/low wage-earning parents, and the old bus driver who will one-day die on the job, through a different lens than those who are living the American Dream. [Carol Davis]
The world according to 11-year-olds Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The carob tree has been appreciated for its various features throughout the ages. Nowadays, people are starting to rediscover this amazing plant. It is both a wild growing forest tree, and an easy to cultivate fruit tree. Because of this combination, the carob tree lends itself to a wide range of uses, thus making it the perfect tree to solve many of Morocco’s pressing economic and environmental issues. [By Nora Martetschläger]
Can carob save a nation? Read More »
International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
When I first read the premise for The Great Leap, I imagined an errant ball hitting a patron in the third row. No need to worry. Even though there is a hoop hanging over the middle of the house, they only mime those shots. Projection Designer Blake McCarty presents a flowing river of images of basketball games, newsreel footage and stills of party propaganda that sweep us into playwright Lauren Yee’s complex, bi-cultural world. [Eric George Tauber]
China jumps into basketball in ‘The Great Leap’ Read More »
Eric George Tauber, International, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Trump is on trial, whether he concedes it or not. Bibi’s immunity is waiting confirmation or denial in the Knesset. Chances are that it’ll be denied if it gets to a vote. [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
Speculation rife over Trump’s deal, Bibi’s immunity Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
“Hear-ye, hear-ye, the polls are now open.” These seven words are one of the foundations of our democracy. In October 2016 I heard a public service announcement on KPBS Midday Edition asking for volunteers to become a poll worker for the 2016 Presidential Election. Little did I know that it would be the start of an incredibly important, interesting, and fulfilling journey. [Ron Marx]
How you can help keep democracy strong Read More »
San Diego County, USA
Anti-semitism? City Councilwoman Barbara Bry blames President Donald Trump. City Councilman Scott Sherman points his finger at the Internet. And Tasha Williamson says it’s the fault of domestic terrorists, who ought to be prosecuted with the same tenacity as are terrorists from foreign countries. The three candidates made their comments Sunday night at a forum at Temple Emanu-El skipped by Assemblyman Todd Gloria, who polls show to be the frontrunner in their race to be San Diego’s next mayor. [Donald H. Harrison]
Mayoral candidates discuss anti-Semitism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
The film 1945 and the play The Class give new meaning to the phrase “bad neighbor.” These very relevant works of performance art were among those highlighted at the 5th Kisufim (Hebrew for “longings”) conference held at the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem, in November. This year’s topic was: “Writing, Memory and Vision” and it was produced in partnership with the Zalman Shazar Center, the Hebrew Writers Association, and the Matanel Foundation, among others. [Toby Klein Greenwald]
Movie, play offer gripping Holocaust stories Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Toby Klein Greenwald
When most people unfamiliar with the custom see silverware that seems to be growing out of the soil in a Jewish person’s yard or flower pot. They’ll probably listen to the explanation, accept or reject the premise, and move on. [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]
Trump and the silverware garden Read More »
Joel H. Cohen
Lawyer and professor Alan Dershowitz has spent much of his career defending controversial figures, including O. J. Simpson, Claus von Bülow, Patty Hearst, Mike Tyson, Leona Helmsley, Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and now Donald Trump. He has also been a staunch defender of Israel and advocate for Jewish causes. Professor Dershowitz was scheduled to participate in a mock trial; however, the hosts canceled the event. What were the circumstances? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: Alan Dershowitz Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
After seeing so many Jews say such horrible things about him, I decided to look further into Trump’s background to learn more about his feelings toward the Jews. This is what I learned: [Dan Feinreich]
Trump family has long record of supporting Jewish causes Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USAWe have to wait until President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan is unveiled to discuss it; those already discussing are likely to be wrong. But it is worth reviewing where Israelis, Palestinians, Arab states, and Americans have been — and why this time may be different. The central flaw in the “Palestinian-Israeli peace process” has never been addressed. There has not been — and there is not now — a shared goal toward which Israelis and Palestinians can be induced to work. Instead, each side has three specific and irreconcilable objectives. [Shoshana Bryen]
What Mideast parties want ahead of a peace proposal Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA