Books, Poetry & Short Stories

The Talmud has defined the Judaism of today

In tracing the origins and development of the Talmud over the millennia in which it has existed in one form or another (first oral, then written, and eventually printed), Harry Freedman, a historian and expert in Aramaic and Judaic studies, introduces us to the different environments and cultures in which the Talmud emerged and eventually flourished, as well as giving us insights into the various rabbis, interpreters, and scholars who helped to formulate and establish it.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Rosh Hashanah: the New Year that Wasn’t a New Year

Rosh Hashanah is not a biblical holiday, although it replaced a biblical one, and is notably different from the holiday it replaced. The biblical holiday, Yom Teruah, had a totally different purpose than Rosh Hashanah, which focuses on the onset of a new year, repentance, and commitment to live the next year properly. Yom Teruah concentrated on months and the number seven.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion

‘Schlepping, Schmoozing’ celebrates S.D. Jewish stories

The nice thing about this book is that you can either read it cover to cover or go through the extensive Table of Contents and choose the chapters that catch your eye. The book is in chronological order starting in 1987 and ending in 2019.

I did the latter and there were 18 stories that I was particularly drawn to read, such as his stories on immigrants –“Immigrant Stories Told at the New Americans Museum”- and his stories on Jewish Family Service and how they have served the community for over 100 years-“JFS, Looking Back a Century, Recalls Rose Neumann>” Moreover, I liked his stories on people who converted and intermarried couples- “Christina de Jesus is a Jewish Song Leader” and “Intermarried Couple Honors Each Other’s Beliefs.” His curious nature has served him well in life.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County

‘Cli-fi’ appears on ‘Jeopardy’ and in crossword puzzle

Editor’s Note: Ever since he coined the term “cli-fi,” SDJW correspondent Dan Bloom has monitored with satisfaction from his home in Chiayi City, Taiwan, the use of the term spreading in popular culture. CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — Hollywood is catching up with the ”cli-fi” buzzword these days, as the popular TV show Jeopardy episode last

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Biography recalls Cantor William Sharlin’s career

By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel ENCINITAS, California — The distinguished Rabbi Richard N. Levy paid tribute to his colleague, Cantor William Sharlin in recognition of 30 years as originator and Director of the Department of Music at the Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. “William, you taught me the difference between davening and singing, between

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Book offers tips and facts about DNA testing

Seed of Israel: DNA Guide To Tracing Your Jewish Ancestry by Joshua Robbin Marks,  48 pages including endnotes; available on Amazon.com for $14.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Perhaps your friends or relatives have told you that they did a DNA test and found out about their ancestry, and now you’re wondering whether

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education

Linguist learns of biological father’s secret past

What Language do I Dream in? by Elena Lappin;  HarperCollins, 2017, ISBN 9781554-684632. By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson DOMEYROT, France — As a bilingual speaker of Hebrew and English as well as having some knowledge of French and German, I was intrigued by the title of this book. But the beginning is something of a surprise, as

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International

The Ramban vs. Maimonides in theological debate

Nachmanides: An Unusual Thinker by Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin, Geffen Publishing House (c) 2018, ISBN 9789652-298874. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most interesting books I have read in years is Rabbi Israel Drazin’s excellent primer on the Ramban, entitled, Nachmanides An Unusual Thinker about a brilliant rabbinic scholar

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Children’s book tells of Miep Gies’s heroism

Miep and the Most Famous Diary by Meeg Pincus, illustrated by Jordi Solano, Sleeping Bear Press (c) 2019, ISBN 9791534-11-0250, 40 pages, for children 6-10; $17.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — The story of the woman who hid Anne Frank and her family focuses on the time immediately after the Franks were dragged

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