This novel about the friendship that forms between two preteen girls in a time of great stress hits many important issues. The danger of radiation from a nuclear power plant. Government cover-ups. Antisemitism. Domestic abuse. The Holocaust. The redeeming power of love. [Donald H. Harrison]
Overcoming Hatred in a Time of Crisis Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The first in-person program of Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices in two years took place in the Astor Judaica Library Tuesday evening, October 25, and featured three Southern California poets, Nathan Grinshpun, Jane Muschenetz, and Omer Zalmanowitz. Moderator Joy Heitzmann introduced them. First to read was Nathan Grinshpun. Although
Returning In-Person, Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices Features Poem on Lviv and More Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County
The PJ Library says Notice the Good Stuff: Give Thanks is for 8-year-olds, but I think there are many adults who would profit as well from its upbeat message. [Donald H. Harrison]
The Fun of Giving Thanks Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
For its October selection for 4-year-old children, PJ Library has brought back an oldie but a goodie: Chicken Man, the story of a kibbuitznik who does everything well, because he has such a good work attitude. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Kibbutznik Who Did Everything Well Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
In Stein’s version of the story, illustrated by Sabina Hahn, Jonah is a teacher, whose class of elementary school students meets under a tree. He told the children stories, brought them snacks of figs and raisins, and gently reproved naughty behavior. He was such a good teacher that God decided he would be ideal for teaching the people of Nineveh {Mosul, in modern-day Iraq) that they must change their evil ways. [Donald H. Harrison]
Story Book Interprets the Jonah Tale for Children Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — I wrote in past reviews of Chaim Grade’s books that I and many others are convinced Grade deserves the Nobel Prize for literature. Most readers of his book published in Yiddish in 1967, titled Tsemakh Atlas and translated into English in 1976 as The Yeshiva in
‘The Yeshiva:’ Chaim Grade’s Crowning Achievement Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr.
By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — Tragedies often have a comic origin. This affair started out as being amusing and pleasurable, as well as uplifting, life-affirming and optimistic. It is August 25, 1917 Berlin. The premier of the operetta, The Black Forest Girl (Schwarzwaldmädel) is performed at the Komische Oper theatre. It has been a
By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — From 1843 to 1854 the literature of Germany, a country which had been fragmented into 36 states, began to produce unifying folk tales in which the German nation began to crystallize. The founding father of the new national identity expressed through literature was the writer Berthold Auerbach. He portrayed
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Urim Publications and Ktav Publishing in Jerusalem and New York have just republished Jewish Women in Time and Torah. It focuses on three periods of time in how Judaism treated women: (1) The early period of more than a thousand years until around the beginning of
Will ‘Jewish Women in Time and Torah’ Stimulate Change in the Orthodox World? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionThe opening Jewish Poets–Jewish Voices program of the 2022-23 season will feature three local poets who immigrated to San Diego from other countries. The Tuesday, October 25, 7:00 p.m. gathering will take place in person in the Astor Judaica Library and feature Ukrainian native Jane Muschenetz, Uzbekistan-born Nathan Grinshpun, and Tel Avivian, Omer Zalmanowitz. [Eileen Wingard]
Jewish Poets/ Jewish Voices’ New Season Begins Oct. 25 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, International, San Diego County, USA
(JNS) On Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. at the beautiful, lakeside Shamir Park located in Ma’ale Adumim, a growing city outside of nearby Jerusalem, the district’s newest tourist and interpretive cultural attraction, the “Tree of Life,” will be dedicated by Mayor Benny Kashriel. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and share in the
Largest-of-its-Kind ‘Tree of Life’ to be Dedicated in Ma’ale Adumim Read More »
Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
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