Hello Again by Stan Schatt © 2016; ISBN 978-1-533182-87-6; 256 pages By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This is both a detective mystery and a dip into the waters of the paranormal. One of the main characters, Bill Eisner, is a Jewish owner of a coffee shop, which offers “Good Karma” free table
A whodunit with a paranormal twist Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego CountyJewish historian pens bio of ‘seminal figure’ of the 20th century Linda Forgosh holds a copy of her new book, Louis Bamberger: Department Store Innovator and Philanthropist. Photo by Robert Wiener Louis Bamberger, center, with shovel, at the ground breaking of The Newark Museum in 1930. Photos courtesy Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey A
Bamberger book is author’s ‘obsession’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, USA
Fun & Games by David Michael Slater; Zharmae Publishing, La Mesa, California © 2016; ISBN 978-1-943549-58-0; 246 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Jonathan Schwartz has a common Jewish name and, one might think, a not uncommon adolescence as he and his friends binge drink and talk about hoped-for sexual encounters with hot girls.
‘Fun and Games’: Identity crises abound Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO–Every once in a while it is interesting to type one’s name into Google and see what comes up. It almost never fails to be amusing and upon occasion perplexing as well. On one such recent excursion I came across an item which caught my eye: “Moral Issues and Christian Responses:
Internet surprise: I’m quoted by a Christian philosopher Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish ReligionA Second Daniel; A Tudor Intrigue by Neal Roberts; Booktrope, Seattle By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I was drawn to the title of this book which appeared on a list of books that could be downloaded, and seized the opportunity to read it on my Kindle as I recognized the quote from The
The trial that may have influenced the Bard Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-VansonBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Five Soille Hebrew Day School students and one San Diego City Schools Middle School student presented their poetry at the final Jewish Poets- Jewish Voices eighth season’s concluding event. Rabbi Meir Cohen, principal of the Soille Hebrew Day School, was present to enjoy listening to his young students read their
Student poets featured at LFJCC Astor Library Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard
Creation’s First Light by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, illustrated by Joani Rothenberg; © 2013 IBJ Book Publishing; ISBN 978-10934922-94-1; 32 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This might be subtitled “A Child’s Guide to Torah and Spirituality.” Rabbi Sasso begins with a paraphrase of God’s first command, “Let There Be Light” and subsequently explains
‘Creation’s First Light’ introduces Torah, spirituality Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionLONDON — By accident, almost the first thing I do when interviewing Tim Samuels is to give him an opportunity to demonstrate his masculinity. For the writer of “Who Stole My Spear?” — a highly entertaining book on how to be a man in the 21st century — it was the possibility of demonstrating recording
Humorous book guides men seeking masculinity Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, InternationalMount Pleasant: My Journey from Creating a Billion-Dollar Company to Teaching at a Struggling Public High School by Steve Poizner, Portfolio, Penguin Group, 2010 By Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — Steve Poizner describes himself as the quintessential nerd – and proud of it. Taught by his Jewish parents to dedicate himself to the constant pursuit
Wealthy business executive becomes a school teacher Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories
By Toby Klein Greenwald EFRAT, Israel — Miriam Peretz has become a legend in Israel and the translation of her riveting book, Miriam’s Song, written, with her, by beloved Israeli author Smadar Shir and expertly translated by Jessica Setbon, will now ensure that she becomes a legend in the English speaking world as well. I
Mother of two slain soldiers an Israeli inspiration Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East, Toby Klein GreenwaldTorah and Western Thought: Intellectual Portraits of Orthodoxy and Modernity by Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik, Dr. Stuart W. Halpern, and Rabbi Shlomo Zuckier, editors, Magid Books, New Milford, Connecticut; ISBN 978-1-59264-436-0©2015, $29.95, p. 313, plus index and appendix By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–Over its nearly 5,000 years of existence, Judaism has struggled with
Jewish Orthodoxy and the modern world Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionAviva Orenstein’s “Fat Chance” explores issues of identity Author Aviva Orenstein acknowledged that her Fat Chance protagonist, Claire, is in many ways her alter ego. Fat Chance, a new novel by Aviva Orenstein, is set in an imaginary New York suburb, but you would not be blamed for thinking that Hudsonville is a stand-in for
Author evokes her NJ Jewish life in novel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories
Johann Trollmann and Romani Resistance to the Nazis by Jud Nirenberg; KO Publications; (c) 2016; ISBN 978-0-9903703-76; 220 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Despite some problems in its organization, this is an important book for the Jewish community to ponder. Utilizing the story of Johann Trollman– a Sinto boxer who in 1933
Recognition sought for Gypsies as Holocaust victims Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish HistoryBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO –Seven students from the Soille Hebrew Day Middle School will be participating in the May 17, 7:15 p.m. Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices program at the Astor Judaica Library at the Lawrence Family JCC. Also reading that evening, will be a prize-winning student poet and playwright from Mesa Verde Middle School. Rabbi
LFJCC to feature Hebrew Day School poets May 17 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego Calendar