He moved to Tel Aviv in 1924, where he served until his death as head of the Hebrew Writers Association. He is remembered today as Israel’s national poet. Actress Mayim Bialik is his triple great-grandniece. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Chaim Bialik Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday
Published by Kyiv Independent President Volodymyr Zelensky was said to have “resembled a walking corpse” in the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, which he did not believe would happen “until the final hours,” the Telegraph reported on Jan. 4 in an excerpt of a book on Zelensky by Time journalist Simon Shuster. Zelensky and
Book excerpt reveals details of Zelensky’s bunker routine during first weeks of invasion Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Nordot
This story book was published in plenty of time to purchase and read before the Passover holiday to the children ages 2 to 7 in your families. It focuses on the ceremonial foods of Pesach, most particularly that piece of matzah that is utilized as an afikomen. [Donald H. Harrison]
Bear Detective Searches in a Novel Way for the Afikomen Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The poetry of two academics and one prize-winning journalist will be featured at the next “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” in the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 16. This free program is co-sponsored by the JCC and the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture. [Eileen Wingard]
2 Academics, Son of a Journalist to Read Poetry on Jan. 16 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Approximately 673 years ago, the Sarajevo Haggadah was given as a wedding present, not in Bosnia but in Spain, where it remained until 1492, when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled those Jews who would not convert to Catholicism. The ancient and beautifully illustrated narration of the Passover seder was a treasure that the Jewish family carried with it over the generations, first to Italy and later to Sarajevo, Bosnia. [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Book Relates the Odyssey of the Sarajevo Haggadah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The family immigrated to the United States in 1923 and owned candy stores, where, as youngsters, Isaac, his sister Manya, and brother, Stanley, all worked. The stores stocked science fiction magazines and newspapers, perhaps accounting for Isaac becoming a science fiction writer and Stanley a vice president of Long Island Newsday. [SD Jewish World staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Isaac Asimov Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
The Catcher in the Rye, featuring the adventures of the cynical Holden Caulfield, was greeted enthusiastically by literary reviewers and by high school teachers, but in other parts of the country, it was denounced as smut because of Salinger’s frequent use of such words as “goddamn,” bastard,” “Chrissakes.”[SDJW Staff report]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: J. D. Salinger Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
By Prof. Dr. Jeton Kelmendi The French Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, has officially approved the decree conferring the esteemed title of “Officer of Arts and Letters” upon the celebrated poet from Kosovo, Tafa. This distinction, the highest accolade in the realm of arts and literature bestowed by the French government, marks a historic
French Government Honors Kosovo’s Lulzim Tafa, Advocate for Kosovo-Israel Relations Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International
Sandy fostered long-lasting connections to friends around the world such as Jacob Goldberg, who had served as an adviser to Israel’s prime minister, Ehud Barak. That 40-year friendship began when the Lakoffs hosted Goldberg’s lecture at their home on behalf of American Professors for Peace in the Middle East. [Eileen Wingard]
Remembering Sandy Lakoff, Founder of UCSD’s Political Science Department Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Eileen Wingard, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
The late philanthropist Ben Weingart, a prominent businessman and a dedicated advocate for the betterment of Southern California, is remembered in San Diego through the Weingart Branch Library, a cultural and educational hub that serves City Heights, one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in San Diego. [Emily Scalmanini]
Library in City Heights Reflects Ben Weingart’s Values Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & EducationJewish Poets—Jewish Voices got off to a great start Tuesday evening, November 28, in the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family JCC. This first program of the 2023-4 season featured Felicia Morgenstern, Larry Gach and Maya Tevet Dayan.[Eileen Wingard]
Morgenstern, Gach, Dayan inaugurate LFJCC’s 2023-24 Poetry Season Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A basic aspect of life in Israel is the requirement that every adult, whether male or female, must serve in the IDF for a few years upon reaching the age of 18. While serving in the military, soldiers are trained in one of the many areas in which
Family in Reserves Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Opinion
This is a memoir of an American falling in love with a French man who is more traditional in his religious observance than she is. They marry and live for a while in France, but Israel calls to him. She wants to live in the familiar U.S. of A. He wants his family to be raised as traditional Jews in Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]
Home in Israel or U.S.A.? A Couple’s Dilemma Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA
Some people become increasingly conservative as they age; but the reverse has been true in Dosick’s life. He grew up in a Conservative congregation but decided to enter the Reform seminary of Hebrew Union College because he objected to the Jewish Theological Seminary of the Conservative movement on two grounds. First, it still separated men and women during prayer services and Dosick opposed mehitzahs (physical barriers). Second the JTS leadership was then on record supporting the war in Vietnam in the mistaken belief that if the U.S. left Vietnam to the Communists, its support for Israel against its enemies also might be shaky. [Donald H. Harrison]