I just made a contribution to the NAACP after being mesmerized listening to the audible edition of Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Perhaps my contribution is a guilt offering. No matter, it is never too late to step up to the plate and take a swing against profound racial injustice in our country. [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]
Caste: A Mind-Opening Book Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l
Laurie Baron, PhD, compiles scholarly programs of Jewish interest available on the Internet during the week of Nov. 1-7.
Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 1-7) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Often politics is eschewed by rabbis because by its very nature it polarizes us. We often lose sight of the humanity of others, believing that “everyone’s entitled to MY opinion” or failing to believe that someone with diametrically opposed views is just as caring and compassionate a person as we are. Personally, I have experienced this on multiple fronts: in rabbinical school, where I was more conservative than the majority of my peers and in a previous synagogue where some felt I was a “bleeding heart liberal.” I take it in good stride, believing that if I displeasing people on multiple sides, I’m doing my job. [Rabbi Benjamin Herman]
The Election from Jewish Perspectives Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
According to James is an interesting and thoughtful book. Whether readers are Christians, Jews, Muslims, or something else, and even if they strongly disagree with the story Howard Rubenstein tells about James, an older brother of Jesus, they will find that the story prompts them to think about many aspects of religion. The story is fiction. But it is based on the views of many scholars. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Examining Jesus as a human Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Sam Glaser’s The Joy of Judaism contains 407 pages of very interesting insights into Jewish practices offered to readers by a very accomplished communicator in a clear, often humorous, always insightful and inspiring way. Glaser’s book covers virtually all aspects of Judaism. He shows readers how they can enjoy Jewish practices. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Humor, song lyrics, and Jewish practice Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionScholarly programs on diverse Jewish subjects, compiled by Laurie Baron, Ph.D.
Streaming Jewish Programs (Oct. 25-30) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
A vertical construct
making a line
upward to the sky –
the Tower of Babel –
it was meant
to unite all humanity …
(Poem by Jeremy Friedman)
Our New Tower of Babel? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion
With illustrations accurately depicting life as it was in the 1880s, this is the tale of Nate, a king-size, gentle spirit who loves helping people. His magic can stretch a small lump of chocolate big enough for an entire family or a small jar of oil long enough to last eight days. He takes a special liking to the Glaser family as they journey from Europe in the late 1870s and follows them as they work side by side with their neighbors, the O’Malleys in their new American life. [Marcia Bernegere]
Two Jewish tales to read to your youngsters Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Fiction, Jewish Religion, Marcia BernegerCompiled by Laurie Baron, Ph.D SAN DIEGO — All times are Pacific Daylight Time. Sunday, October 18 8 am Luca Ascoli, “The Jews of Italy,” Sephardic World. 8 am Yevilah McCoy, “Keynote Address,” Jewish Coalition for Racial Equity Virtual Conference. 8 am Moshe Halbertal and Jonathan Sacks, “Strange New World- Conversations in Times of Crisis- Religious
Streaming Jewish programs (Oct. 18-23) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USACompiled by Laurie Baron, Ph.D All times Pacific Daylight Time Sunday, October 11 11am Mikhal Dekel, “Tehran Children: A Holocaust Refugee Odyssey,” Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum. Monday, October 12 10 am Elai Rettig, “Israel’s ‘Special Relationship’ with the US,” Israel Center, Washington University. 10 am Eliezer Diamond, “Generosity, Gratitude, and Faith: Rav Eliyahu Dessler’s
Streaming Jewish programs (Oct. 11-16) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — The short-term and long-term psychological effects of bullying – on either side of the bullying fence, as a victim or as an aggressor – are well documented. Sadly, Jewish day schools, synagogues, youth groups and camps are not necessarily free of children and teens intentionally and
Bullied as a student? Here’s how you can recover Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Michael MantellBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — All Times Are Pacific Daylight Time Sunday, October 4 10 a.m. Moshe Halbertal and Eva Illouz, “Can Home Be a Shelter in Times of Pandemic?” The Reading Room, National Library of Israel. Monday, October 5 8:30 a.m. Yossi Beilin and Ido Aharoni, “The Future of Middle East Peace,” Temple
Streaming Jewish Programs (Oct. 4-9) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Avraham Azrieli’s The Elixirist is excellent, so full of exciting events that it will make a wonderful motion picture. It is the story of a young boy of 16, Sall, who lived in the biblical time of the judges, before the Israel tribes united, when they
A tall tale during the ancient time of the judges Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr.
The story of the late Irena Sendler, who is credited with saving the lives of as many as 2,500 Jewish children, is already well known. She was honored by Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem as a Righteous Gentile more than 50 years ago. Books and movies have been written about her, with more to come, including one in which Israeli actress Gal Gadot, known as “Wonder Woman” to movie goers, has been signed to portray her. In this novel by James D. Shipman, we meet an Irena drawn from both the historical record and Shipman’s imagination. Some of the characters are real, but Irena’s chief antagonist, a Gestapo major called Klaus Rein, is fictional. [Donald H. Harrison]
A fictionalized account of a well-known Righteous Gentile Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison