Here is a journal encouraging children between the ages of 7 and 13 to read, think, and write about everyday secular and Jewish topics. Because it will encourage their children’s self-expression, parents may find this an ideal gift for one of the days of Chanukah. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Journal to Prompt Children to Express Themselves Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
UC San Diego Literature Prof. Amelia Glaser, who has specialized in Jewish studies, will lecture on “Babyn Yar in Contemporary Ukrainian Poetry” at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, at Temple Emanu-El, 6299 Capri Drive, San Diego. The lecture focuses on the Nazi execution of 33,771 Jews at a ravine Sept. 29-30, 1941, and the poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko’s memorial poem written 20 years later. [Temple Emanu-El News Release]
Lecturer to Discuss Holocaust Poetry Oct. 22 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentary: Numbers is the latest of the many brilliant, learned, eye-opening, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand books by the brilliant scholar Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel. It is another one of his excellent contributions to scholarship. San Diego County’s own Rabbi Samuel — currently the
A San Diego Rabbi’s Incisive Analysis of the Book of Numbers Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, San Diego County
Yoni Avi Battat’s debut album, Fragments, explores his Arab-Jewish identity through nine selections. He composed the music for seven of them, delving into the Arabic melodies of his grandparent’s native Iraq for inspiration and including native instruments such as the oud (Arabic lute), qanun (chordaphone with many strings), nay (reed flute), riq (tambourine), frame drum, karakeb (large iron castenets), darbuka (goblet shaped drum) and joza (coconut shell fiddle held on knee). [Eileen Wingard]
Arab-Jewish Musician Releases CD Exploring His Heritages Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
This novel follows a Jewish family through nearly four decades of American history, starting with the couple’s chance meeting at Roosevelt Field on May 20, 1927, while watching Charles Lindbergh begin his solo flight across the Atlantic, and extending through the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Summer Lightning’ and the Sudden Strikes of Love Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
By Rafael Medoff The latest film from Ken Burns, “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” has aroused controversy with its claim that President Franklin D. Roosevelt did his best to help save Jews from the Nazis. As Donald Harrison notes in his October 5 column, filmmakers Burns, Sarah Botstein, and Lynn Novick contend that “FDR would
Getting it Wrong on FDR and the Holocaust Read More »
Holocaust, International, Opinion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Judaism has dozens of meaningful customs and ceremonies, but most people, even Jews, do not know all of them, their origins and their rationale. Rabbi Abraham Chill (1912-2004) gives readers of his book The Minhagim, Hebrew for customs and ceremonies, a very readable discussion of many
Questions About Sukkot Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Many readers of San Diego Jewish World know Baron via his political satire columns, but I asked my colleague to put his hat back on as a Holocaust scholar to assess how well Burns’ documentary had covered the subject.[Donald H. Harrison]
Pros and Cons of Ken Burns’ Holocaust Documentary Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — If you’ve been holding your breath anticipating the return of the San Diego International Film Festival, it’s time to exhale. However, the depth and breadth of films will have you panting trying to keep up with the evocative array of human emotions. To learn more about the SDIFF 2022,
San Diego International Film Festival Runs the Gamut of Human Emotions Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — We Are the Tree of Life (WATTOL) founder and director, Jackie Gmach, is adept at recognizing talent and recruiting them to participate in her initiative. In Israeli-born dancer and circus performer, Tammuz Dubnov, Gmach struck gold. Dubnov is not only young, handsome and talented, but he is committed to
Bringing to Life, Through the Arts, the Victims of the Holocaust Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — I received a pre-publication copy for review of A Banker’s Journey: How Edmond J. Safra Built a Global Financial Empire, by Daniel Gross, from the publisher’s representative. It’s a fascinating look at both Sephardic Jews and the banking industry. “Rather than a biography of a single man this
The Syrian-Born Jew Who Built a Banking Empire Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
This memoir is about different kinds of self-deception. One form is that of a drug addict who keeps telling herself and others that she is on the road to recovery and doesn’t need any 12-step programs or psychological help. The other is about a well-meaning aunt, who enables her drug-addict niece by pretending not to know that she is still using. [Donald H. Harrison]
The Self-Deceptions of a Drug Addict and Her Enabling Aunt Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Herschel ran out on two marriages and three children. After being convicted of smuggling marijuana, he fled to Sint Eustatius where he all but disappeared to the outside world, while building a reputation on the Dutch Caribbean Island as a pharmacist and a professor. This memoir starts with a notice to his son Michael that he has died. [Donald H. Harrison]
Death Brought This Family Together Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Attracted by the intriguing title, I read “The Revenge of the Elders of Zion” in its ebook version on my phone, and as I tend to read books on my phone only when I’m waiting to see the doctor or dentist, it took me rather a long time
The Intrigue of ‘The Revenge of the Elders of Zion’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson