The Arts

The Haggadah seen through mystical eyes

Faith and Freedom, a commentary on the Haggadah based on the teachings of Eliezer Berkovits By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Hungarian-born scholar Eliezer Berkovits (1908-1992) was a highly respected Orthodox rabbi. He was educated in Berlin, Germany, where he received his PhD. He authored 19 books in several languages. He held

The Haggadah seen through mystical eyes Read More »

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

Man who coined ‘cli-fi’ exults over Jeopardy

By Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — Hollywood is catching up with my ”cli-fi” buzzword these days, if the popular TV show “Jeopardy” is any indication. Let me explain: On my cable TV set in Taiwan, where I can watch over 100  channels from around the world in over a dozen languages, I cannot get

Man who coined ‘cli-fi’ exults over Jeopardy Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA

‘Chaps’ is a British take on American cowboys

By Eric George Tauber CORONADO –Since 1922, the BBC has been broadcasting news and entertainment, informing and connecting the English-speaking world. Never was their mandate more crucial than during World War II. Their broadcasts brought hope to beleaguered troops under fire and folks at home cowering in bomb shelters during German air raids. This is

‘Chaps’ is a British take on American cowboys Read More »

San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Editor’s E-Mail Box ~ March 21, 2019 (5 items)

Britain vows to vote against all resolutions presented under UNHRC’s ‘Item 7’  The American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised the United Kingdom decision to vote against all resolutions under the United Nations Human Rights Council’s notorious agenda item 7, which deals exclusively with Israel. “Britain’s decision, the first European country to take this principled step, is

Editor’s E-Mail Box ~ March 21, 2019 (5 items) Read More »

International, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Editor’s E-Mail Box: March 20, 2019 (6 items)

Republican Jewish Coalition denounces Clyburn’s comparison of Trump to Hitler The Republican Jewish Coalition responded to remarks Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) made to NBC News Tuesday, comparing Donald Trump’s presidency with Hitler’s rise to power. RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:  “Asked about today’s political environment, Rep. Clyburn drew parallels between President Trump and Adolf

Editor’s E-Mail Box: March 20, 2019 (6 items) Read More »

International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Book Review: ‘kaddish.com’ by Nathan Englander

Kaddish.Com by Nathan Englander; Alfred A. Knopf; © 2019; ISBN 9781524-732752; 203 pages; $24.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – As a young man, Larry, bridles at having to sit shiva for his father and absolutely refuses to say kaddish for him for the year after his death. Instead, he arranged for someone in

Book Review: ‘kaddish.com’ by Nathan Englander Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Moti’s Purim Story

(c) By  Leba Lieder and Israel Drazin     Page 1 The Purim holiday was around the corner and kids and mice everywhere were preparing their costumes and getting ready to give Purim gifts. Moti, a special mouse, wondered if he could find a Purim gift to give to someone. Page 2 As much as it was

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Moti’s Purim Story Read More »

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

What Elie Wiesel taught his students

Witness: Lesson’s from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom by Ariel Burger, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York © 2018, ISBN 9781328802699, p. 264 plus notes, $26. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Elie Wiesel (1928 – 2016), Holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize laureate, perhaps best known for his memoir Night, and arguably the most well-known Holocaust spokesman of

What Elie Wiesel taught his students Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish History

Hassadna teaches music to all classes of Israelis

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM —  I was privileged to attend a concert in a private home given by young musicians who are students at Jerusalem’s Hassadna Music Conservatory. Together with the rest of the audience, I was greatly impressed by their professional standard and aplomb. Some of the musicians were of Ethiopian background and displayed

Hassadna teaches music to all classes of Israelis Read More »

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Israelis musicians First, Laskin perform at Beth El

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — It was encouraging to see two young Israeli artists performing so beautifully last Sunday evening in the sanctuary of Congregation Beth El. Violinist Tal First, currently a student at the Juilliard School in New York and an America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship recipient, opened the program with Bloch’s Nigun

Israelis musicians First, Laskin perform at Beth El Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

Moynihan doc. provides strong political role model

Moynihan, a documentary by Joseph Dorman and Toby Perl Freilich; 105 minutes, coming to iTunes and DVD on April 9. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Raised in impoverished circumstances by a single mother, Daniel Patrick Moynihan always had compassion for those who were not as lucky as he was.  By fortuitous circumstances, a

Moynihan doc. provides strong political role model Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Quest for Rynecki’s art fuels ‘Chasing Portraits’

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Making the rounds of Jewish film festivals across the country is the documentary Chasing Portraits by Elizabeth Rynecki, concerning a quest to learn more about the pre-Holocaust art of her Polish Jewish great-grandfather Moshe Rynecki (Pronounced Renetsky).  Previously, Elizabeth Rynecki published a book with the same title that

Quest for Rynecki’s art fuels ‘Chasing Portraits’ Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA