By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Refugees aren’t too popular these days in most countries. Israel has some unwanted refugees of its own. These refugees, commonly called “infiltrators” here, number about 30-40,000, down from a much larger contingent several years ago. What happened? Israel’s policy has been to grant asylum to almost none of […]
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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Steve KramerBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — A reviewer too busy to write. Sounds crazy, no? But when this shtetl newspaper went back online March 1, I was caught by surprise, scratching out my annual Oscar predictions while balancing on the precipice of other deadlines. It isn’t easy. You may ask why do I make these
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Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
What The Night Sings by Vesper Stamper; Borzoi Book of Alfred E. Knopf; © 2018; isbn pending: 18.99; 250 pages plus notes and glossary. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This novel is a welcome addition to Holocaust literature. It plumbs the emotions of young Holocaust survivors in the Displaced Persons (DP) camps as
Novel for teens depicts life in the DP camps Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
The Rabbinate in Stormy Days by Shaul Mayzlish; Gefen Publishing House By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — As a Masorti (Conservative) Jew living in Israel, there’s a lot to be learned from this history of the modern State of Israel’s first chief rabbi, Yitzhak Isaac HaLevi Herzog, who of course was deeply religious. The Chief
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — For some people, your first love or passion can be hard to forget. This passion may be related to love or work. In the case of widower, Rafael [Fallo] Mareyna, he had two first loves which were painting, something he left and came back to many
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International, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyNo Resting Place: Holocaust Poland by Rick Halperin and Denise Gee; photographs by Sherry Aikman SMU Embrey Human Rights Program/Terrace Partners (October 2017). Hardcover (11.75” x 11”); 168 pages; 206 color images; $39.95. ISBN 978-0-692-85960-5 By Edwin Black No Resting Place/Holocaust Poland achieves searing power to illuminate the dark burning reality of Nazi concentration camps
‘No Resting Place’ sears and stuns Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Edwin Black, Jewish History
Through My Father’s Eyes by Barry Fischer; Fischer Family Press; © 2014; ISBN 9780991-073313; 211 pages; $19.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –This memoir is a good introduction to the Holocaust for middle school students and older. It is written in a clear, conversational style, the author remembering how his father, Mayer Fischer, described
Son relates his father’s Holocaust survival Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish HistoryBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” opens its tenth season at the Lawrence Family JCC’s Astor Judaica Library Tuesday evening, January 23, at 7 p.m., with three outstanding San Diego poets: Chris Baron, Professor of English at San Diego City College; Roger Aplon, former teacher at The Writing Center; and Ruth Benjamin,
‘Jewish Poets – Jewish Voices’ resumes Jan. 23 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego CalendarBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — As always, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gave her traditional Christmas message, which was televised and broadcast all over the world. Although I don’t usually pay it much attention, this year I happened to catch it live on TV, and watched with greater interest than usual,
Home is where the hearth is Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, Theatre, Film & BroadcastEvery night I hear her croon the Russian Lullaby. Just a little plaintive tune when baby starts to cry. Go to sleep my baby, some day there may be a land that’s free for you and me and the Russian Lullaby. — Irving Berlin By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — What memories that song evoked.
Felder’s ‘Irving Berlin’ evokes childhood memories Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
Holocaust Postal History by Justin Gordon; Six Point Watermark;© 2016; ISBN 9780997-840100; 138 pages plus glossaries, bibliography and index. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The author of this richly illustrated book deserved compliments for his persistence as a collector, his clarity as a writer, and his ability as a researcher. No matter how
The Holocaust seen through its postal history Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History
Editor’s Note: This inaugurates a new series of stories where a Jewish writer searches out Jewish art in museums, galleries and libraries. (c) Oliver B. Pollak SAN FRANCISCO –We joined San Francisco’s De Young Museum and the Legion of Honor. On Thursday between Christmas and New Year we spent an afternoon at the much applauded exhibited
Segal’s Holocaust exhibit is gateway to museum art Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Oliver PollakAmerican Stranger by David Plante, Delphinium Books © 2018, ISBN 9781883-285759; 239 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Nancy is the daughter of Jewish parents who escaped Hitler’s Germany physically, but apparently not emotionally. There is a distance about them that Nancy never can seem to penetrate. Trying to compensate for their lack
‘American Stranger’ describes several of its characters Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonJourney to a Dream; A voyage of discovery from England’s industrial north to Spain’s rural interior by Craig Briggs; (c) 2012; ISBN 9781480-254930; Prices vary on Amazon By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –Author Craig Briggs describes in great detail the process whereby he and his wife decamped from the north of England to Spain in
‘Journey to a Dream’ had many detours Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International