Books, Poetry & Short Stories

Why Obama Won’t Pardon Snowden

On September 14, 2016, days before the premiere of Oliver Stone’s hagiographic movie Snowden, Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International launched a well-funded campaign, with full-page ads in The New York Times, imploring President Barack Obama to pardon Edward Snowden, a former contract worker at the National Security Agency, for […]

Why Obama Won’t Pardon Snowden Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, USA

Sales Skyrocket For Special Edition Of ‘Mein Kampf’ In Germany

Sales of a new, special edition of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” are skyrocketing since a German publisher brought it to market last year. “Mein Kampf,” which translates in English to “my struggle,” is an autobiographical depiction of Hitler’s ideology that served as the bedrock for Nazism. It laid out his hatred for the Jewish faith

Sales Skyrocket For Special Edition Of ‘Mein Kampf’ In Germany Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History

‘Europa’ — a guidebook to help migrants and refugees navigate Europe

The thick, colorful book titled, “Europa: An Illustrated Introduction to Europe for Migrants and Refugees,” aims to broaden the perspectives of Europe’s newest immigrants, with plenty of historical photos, maps and individual accounts and factual information. That’s according to Alia Malek, a Syrian-American journalist who was one of the book’s editors. Overall, the guidebook tries

‘Europa’ — a guidebook to help migrants and refugees navigate Europe Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International

Song Meaning Of NYE Tune ‘Auld Lang Syne’

Aside from lots of booze and cute appetizers, there’s something very familiar about New Year’s Eve: “Auld Lang Syne.” While the famous song is almost always played at the stroke of midnight, not everyone knows what it means– and they certainly don’t know the words to it. In “Harry Meets Sally,” Billy Crystal’s character Harry

Song Meaning Of NYE Tune ‘Auld Lang Syne’ Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

“Watership Down” author Richard Adams dies

Not many authors can claim to have reinvented an entire genre but Richard Adams, who has died aged 96, did just that with “Watership Down”, which became one of the biggest-selling childrens’ books of all time. He took the ancient theme of talking animals, but instead of cutesy, this was cruel and savage, like nature

“Watership Down” author Richard Adams dies Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Obituaries & memorials

What third generation Holocaust survivors might learn

The Conversations We Never Had by Jeffrey H. Konis; Outskirts Press; © 2016; ISBN 9781478-767299; 197 pages; $13.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – On the back cover of this book is the listing “Fiction: Historical” and that, perhaps, constitutes the author’s greatest regret. If he could have gone back in time, the listing

What third generation Holocaust survivors might learn Read More »

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

Genetic mutations, Shoah affect coming generations

Aftermath by Allison Nazarian, Allie Girl Publishing, 2016, ISBN 978-0-9828922-2-0, pgs. $9.99 Kindle, $14.99 paperback. By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — In general most of us shy away from ultimatums or at least prefer not to be tested by a “now or never” choice. This was how Allison Nazarian explained her decision to write

Genetic mutations, Shoah affect coming generations Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Jewish History

‘The Falconi Effect’ envisions the Third Temple transforming the world

By Susie Rosenbluth TheJewishVoiceAndOpinion.com ENGLEWOOD, New Jersey — The symbol of Jerusalem’s Third Temple and its implications for Messianic Times, including world peace, universal brotherhood, and the end goal of the Jewish mission, looms large in Jewish, Christian, and even some Muslim traditions. According to the Bible, both the First and Second Temples stood on

‘The Falconi Effect’ envisions the Third Temple transforming the world Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East

Turkish Jewish author murdered in Istanbul

Beki İkala Erikli shot dead outside her apartment building; motive of killing unclear By Times of Israel staff Beki İkala Erikli (LinkedIn) A Turkish Jewish writer was murdered at her Istanbul home Thursday by an unknown shooter, local media reported. Beki İkala Erikli was shot at the entrance to her building in the Kabataş neighborhood

Turkish Jewish author murdered in Istanbul Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East

In praise of Mona Golabek, author and performer

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Several years ago I read The Pianist of Willesden Lane written by Mona Golabek about the experiences of her mother, Lisa Jura, first in Vienna and then in London. She had been sent there at the age of fourteen in the framework of the Kindertransport, the undertaking that

In praise of Mona Golabek, author and performer Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

A travel case filled with love for Israel

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – As the widow of billionaire Carnival Cruise Lines founder Ted Arison, Lin Arison has had the chance to travel wherever she wants to around the world.  The Carnival Corporation owns not only Carnival Cruise Lines, but such other cruise lines as Princess Cruises, Cunard Lines, Holland-America, Seabourn Cruises,

A travel case filled with love for Israel Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Travel and Food