Books, Poetry & Short Stories

Jewish biography: Marc Bloch, social historian

Bloch transferred Durkheim’s anti-dogmatism to historical science, abandoning the description of “great men” in favor of the analysis of collective thinking. Bloch was deeply influenced by Durkheim, who also believed that links between historians and sociologists were more significant than their differences. (Alex Gordon)

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors

What did Marilyn Monroe read?

Monroe’s trove is a spellbinder with opportunities for many discoveries about intellectual growth, social connections, political views and the literary milieu between author, publisher, and reader. Monroe, an autodidact, self-directed her education aided by purchases, gifts from authors and friends, and World Literature extension courses at UCLA. She visited Powell Library before it was called the Powell Library. Marilyn did not graduate high school, she wanted to “better” herself. [Oliver Pollak]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Oliver Pollak, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Historic Jewish places dot North America

The states covered are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Texas runs 72 pages; Wyoming a mere 4. California, divided into southern, central, and northern sections, runs over 40 pages with the City of San Diego allocated portions of 5 pages. (Donald H. Harrison)

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish birthday: Oliver Sacks

Oliver Sacks (July 9, 1933 – August 30, 2015) was a British neurologist, naturalist, historian of science, and writer. Born in London, Sacks received his medical degree in 1958 from The Queen’s College, Oxford, before moving to the United States, where he spent most of his career. [Wikipedia]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Marking the 10th anniversary of the passing of Elie Wiesel

In the eyes of the free World, Eli Wiesel is remembered as a recipient of the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize and the author of the 1955 autobiographical book, Night, which is still actively in demand with translations in over 30 languages. It is a first-person document describing his experience of the indelible disgrace of Nazi Germany. In his Nobel speech, the esteemed Jewish author proclaimed, “Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God himself. Never.” [Stanley Tiger]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Kabbalah and the Holocaust 

Kabbalah and the Holocaust: Healing a Broken Cosmos is among Rabbi Samuel’s most ambitious theological works. Instead of asking only the usual, most often heard question, “Where was God during the Holocaust?” he investigates how Jewish mystical thought attempts to understand the existence of evil without diminishing God’s justice and human responsibility. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Novel paints picture of celebrities of the pre-World War II era

This novel spins a story of Einstein and Chaplin taking the luxury Santa Fe Super Chief from Chicago to Los Angeles, along with fellow historical personages J. Robert Oppenheimer, Charles Lindbergh, Mickey Cohen, Lena Horne, and Fritz Duquesne, a Nazi spy. {Donald H. Harrison}

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA