The Arts

Why Is There Suffering in the World?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Bart Denton Ehrman, born on 10/5/55, a PhD American New Testament scholar and author or editor of several dozen very popular, fascinating, and informative books, began life as a fundamentalist Christian, became a minister, and preached in churches. But he gave up Christianity and became an […]

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

Book Expands Cerebral Understanding of the Jewish Faith

“The Foundation of Judaism,” by Akiva Aaronson (originally published by Targum Press, Inc. 1997, 2000); Feldheim Publishers, 2021; ISBN: 978-1680254815; 216 pages. By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — I just finished composing my weekly D’var Torah on parashat Terumah, focusing on gifts, and a surprise parcel arrived at my front door. A delightful

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

‘The Jews of Sing Sing:’ Understanding Why Some Jews Fell Into Crime

“The Jews of Sing Sing,” by Ron Arons; Barricade Books, 2008; ISBN 978-1569803332; 384 pages. By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Back in 1965, I remember sitting on the stoop of the bungalow in Far Rockaway, and hearing my Pop Pop and his brothers-in-law kibitzing about the gonif who broke into his butcher shop

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, International

Book Provides an Ideological Scaffolding of Jewish Life

“Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood,” by Zack Bodner; Gefen Publishing, Jerusalem, ©2022; ISBN 978-965-7023-68-6; 196 pages, plus references and index; $18.00. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Prognostication is very difficult, particularly as it pertains to the future. Zack Bodner, having extensive background in Jewish communal life and currently

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Judaism

Program Showcases San Diego Jewish Community’s Poetic Talent

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California —The poetic talent in the San Diego Jewish Community was once more on display last Monday evening, January 24, when three featured poets and nine others on open mic read their works during the “Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices” program. Sponsored by the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center’s Astor Judaica Library

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard

Soviet Jewry Book ‘Hidden Heroes’ Will Both Haunt and Inspire You

Hidden Heroes: One Woman’s Story of Resistance and Rescue in the Soviet Union by Pamela Braun Cohen; Gefen Publishing House © 2021; ISBN 9789657-023365; 393 pages including appendices and an extensive index. By Toby Klein Greenwald EFRAT, Israel — How did the prisoners of Zion and refuseniks have the courage, strength and dedication to apply

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Toby Klein Greenwald, USA

Entrepreneur Tells of Taking 2 Companies Public and the Deal He Made for the San Diego Jewish Academy

This memoir tells of a man bouncing on the exceedingly rough seas of entrepreneurship and finding emotional safe harbor again and again in the warmth of his family.  It is not your standard how-I-made-a-bundle-and-you-can-too motivational book; it is a very intimate autobiographical portrait of Del Mar resident Richard Jaffe, which he wrote with the assistance of his daughter Charly.  [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA

Author Tells of Survivor Mother and the Extraordinary Medical Campaign that Saved Her

This is an academic work, yet a very personal one for Bernice Lerner of Boston University’s Center for Character and Social Responsibility. The Jewish girl referred to in the subtitle was author Lerner’s mother, Rachel Genuth.  Her Romanian hometown of Seghet was annexed by Hungary, then an ally of Nazi Germany. Teenaged Genuth and the town’s other Jews were rounded up and sent to Auschwitz. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

‘Mozart and Figaro in Vienna’ is Hershey Felder’s Latest Hit

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Hershey Felder created another hit with Mozart and Figaro in Vienna, streamed January 9 from Florence, Italy. In this musical film, Felder portrayed Mozart’s librettist, the remarkable Emmanuele Conegliano, better known as Lorenzo Da Ponte, the name given him when his father converted the family from Judaism to

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Children’s Literature: Turning Conflict into Cooperation

Their story starts off as a tale of conflict between two towns, one of which grows apples, and the other which raises honey bees.  When the residents of Dvash stripped an apple tree in the town of Tapuchim, the first reaction of the adult residents of Tapuchin was to retaliate against Dvash.  But a little girl suggested that before they do anything, they should seek the advice of their rabbi. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Congregation Beth Israel to Preview San Diego International Jewish Film Festival

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — On Tuesday, January 25, from 7-8 p.m., the Congregation Beth Israel Men’s Club will preview films of the 32nd San Diego International Jewish Film Festival (SDIJFF), with commentary by Linda Levine. The mission of the SDIJFF is to offer outstanding world cinema that promotes awareness, appreciation and pride in the

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San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

North Coast Rep’s ‘Desperate Measures’ an Antidote for Pandemic Blues

By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do,” do not miss Desperate Measures at the North Coast Repertory Theatre. This delightful show is an antidote for the

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast