By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — All my readers know that Israel is undergoing a major assault, which in its first day was the most horrific in Jewish history since the Holocaust. And this in one day! It’s hard for Israelis to get our heads around this existential war, but even more so for […]
What if New Jersey Were Israel? Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In this, the third Torah reading of this remarkably eventful new year, we learn in Lech Lecha of the spiritual trajectory of our lives. Hashem tells Avraham, “Lech Lecha,” go for yourself, “me’artzecha,” from your homeland, “mimoladitecha,” from your birthplace, “u’mi’beit avicha,” and from your father’s house
Parashat Lech Lecha: The Value of Discomfort Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
For years, the Adopt-A-Family Foundation has been helping Israeli victims of terror, mainly in the southern part of that country. According to the Foundation’s executive director, Carine Chitayat, the Foundation had been providing economic support and friendship to approximately 21 families, which expanded to 25 families following the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas of approximately 1,400 persons. [Donald H. Harrison]
Adopt-A-Family Helping Israeli Victims of Terror Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Israel, San Diego County, USA
Imagine that you are an amateur chemist who comes upon a way to manufacture wheat. Such an invention could end hunger worldwide, would it not? There would be celebrations for you, perhaps a Nobel Prize, and everywhere you’d go, you’d be the subject of popular acclaim. Or would you? [Donald H. Harrison]
Another Feingold Short Story Collection Satisfies the Imagination Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — We all have, or should have, concern about the prevalence of Jew-hatred on American college campuses. Previously it was couched in anti-Israel phrases, but lately it’s become blatantly about Jews in general. Frankly, this is the attitude in the U.S. towards Jews in the 1930s, coinciding with local
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Jim Jordan failed to win over enough “moderate” Republicans to vote for him in his bid to become Speaker of the House. Eavesdropping through the microphone I planted in the men’s bathroom outside the House Chamber [the toilets there are called Chamber Pots], I heard the following promises Jordan
Satire: Shouter of the House Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Scoring doesn’t matter in the Miracle League’s two-inning games in which every player per side gets to hit and circle the bases at least once per inning. At the end of the game, the score is always tied, and every player has had the thrill of crossing home plate at least twice to the cheers of their families, friends, and their game “buddies.” [Donald H. Harrison]
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — A few days after the outbreak of the war, I went into a neighborhood hardware store where two old timers were muttering that things would be different today if only Begin were still prime minister. My goal is not to disparage Netanyahu or any of Israel’s politicians. Rather, I would
If Only We Had Menachem Begin Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion
By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Planned before the onset of the war in Israel, a lecture by Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig, a leading expert on the intersection of mental health and halacha (Jewish law), gained extra relevance on Monday night at Congregation Adat Yeshurun of La Jolla. Rosensweig is the founder of Maaglei Nefesh –
Expert Unpacks the Intersection of Mental Health, Jewish Law, and the War in Israel Read More »
Israel, Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Heidi Gantwerk SAN DIEGO — On Tuesday, I, along with Federation Board Chair David Bark, flew to Washington D.C. to gather with more than 200 Federation and partner agency leaders, philanthropists, and many national officials — all in support of Israel. We heard extraordinarily strong words of support from Congressional leadership from both sides
Jewish Federation CEO: My Trip to Washington in Support of Israel Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson 1938 A young couple fled Nazi Germany, found refuge in England and survived the war. Their parents were left behind and murdered. Four years later I was born, thus making them my parents. 1944 V2 rockets fired on London caused the evacuation of children from the city. My two-year old self was
Timeline: Why the War in Israel Feels Like Déjà Vu Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Opinion
By Jacob Kamaras SAN DIEGO — As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, StandWithUs co-founder and CEO Roz Rothstein grew up deeply immersed in the shadow of the Shoah. That is what made the unprecedented Hamas assault on Israel all too familiar, Rothstein said at the StandWithUs Southwest “Leaders of Tomorrow” gala on Sunday at the Marriott
‘We Have Been Here Before,’ StandWithUs Reminds San Diego Amid War in Israel Read More »
Israel, Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — “Does the whole world hate the Jews?” The question was posed by a self-identified Democrat from Waterbury, Conn., who called into C-Span Saturday morning to confess that he believed white nationalists owned antisemitism in America. With reports of the dreadful Hamas raid dominating the news, the caller said he
Hamas Defenders Can’t Handle the Truth Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Look at the world Noach lived in. Greed, oppression, corruption, sexual excess, and worse. Wait. What’s changed? Look at our world. How do we cope without an ark to escape into? Floods, figuratively at least, surround us. Our response, our Jewish response, is to continue to be resilient,
Parashat Noach: Being a Mensch in a World Flooded With Strife Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell