Byliners

OpEd: Removal of Adolph Sutro’s Name from a School Was a Travesty

The San Francisco School Board voted 6-1 on January 29 to rename over 40 schools. The Board believes it inappropriate to have schools named for people who have been “engaged in the subjugation and enslavement of human beings, oppressed women, committed acts that led to genocide or who otherwise significantly diminished the opportunities of those amongst us to the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” [Jerry Klinger]

OpEd: Removal of Adolph Sutro’s Name from a School Was a Travesty Read More »

Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Chula Vista Leaders Rally Against Antisemitism

Chula Vista community leaders came out on Tuesday, Nov. 4,  to address the problem of anti-Semitic and anti-LGBT graffiti that was written across the Bonita Vista High School building over the Halloween holiday this past week. Although Councilmember Steven Padilla pointed out that graffiti, in general, is not an unusual incident when it comes to Halloween.  However, this year, the Chula Vista community must stand together in complete solidarity and condemn this kind of hateful activity, he said. Our community must declare that hatred and intolerance cannot be tolerated. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

Chula Vista Leaders Rally Against Antisemitism Read More »

Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County

Visit to Holocaust Exhibit Impresses Mother and Daughter

During my daughter Harriet’s recent visit from Portland, Oregon, I suggested we visit the Chula Vista Public Library to see the Holocaust Exhibit arranged by our friend, Sandra Scheller. Harriet teaches Middle School Humanities at the Portland Jewish Academy and one of her classes is learning about the Holocaust. The drive down from University City was under 25 minutes. Both of us found this visit profoundly worthwhile. Sandra met us there and gave us a private docent tour. [Eileen Wingard]

Visit to Holocaust Exhibit Impresses Mother and Daughter Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

OpEd: Jews Endangered by Trump’s and Cruz’s Reckless Words

Those “authoritarian school board Nazis.” “Israel literally owned Congress.” Reckless words. Wacky parents raging at school officials? Pro-Arab students whipping a crowd into a frenzy? Comparable words were uttered by them, yet such words were echoed in the past week by the unfiltered voices of Republicans Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. [Bruce S. Ticker]

OpEd: Jews Endangered by Trump’s and Cruz’s Reckless Words Read More »

Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

Novel Depicts Survivor’s Search for His Family

Dr. Julius Matthias, the chief protagonist of Michelle Mazel’s previous book, has managed by the skin of his teeth to escape deportation by the Nazis from his hometown in Transylvania. His wife, who had refused his entreaties to leave the town together with him, was shot and killed by the invaders during the round-up of the Jews of the town. Many years before that Matthias had sent his grown-up children to France to study, and so, left on his own, he manages for many months to make his way on foot through the fields and forests of Europe, eventually reaching Geneva, where he has friends and a bank account. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

Novel Depicts Survivor’s Search for His Family Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

Letter to Congresswoman Sara Jacobs: Pleading for Ethiopia

Sam Litvin penned the following letter to Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53): By Sam Litvin Dear Congresswoman Jacobs, I am sure you are aware that the Tigray and Oromo rebels are two hours from entering Addis Ababa. What you may not know is that they are the sworn enemy of the Jewish community of Ethiopia and

Letter to Congresswoman Sara Jacobs: Pleading for Ethiopia Read More »

Middle East, Sam Litvin, San Diego County

Memoir Relates How 2 Young Sisters- One Deaf, One Hearing – Survived the Holocaust Together

This joint memoir, intended for students in grades 3 through 7, tells the story of two young sisters — one hearing and one deaf — who survived World War II notwithstanding their transport as orphans from Bratislava to the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, where, a year later, Renee, the older of the two sisters, was near death from typhus when the camp was liberated by British soldiers. [Donald H. Harrison]

Memoir Relates How 2 Young Sisters- One Deaf, One Hearing – Survived the Holocaust Together Read More »

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

What do we know about Lot, Abraham’s nephew?

A careful analysis of Abraham’s nephew Lot raises the question of whether or not he was a righteous man. What did he do to merit saving when the people among whom he lived died by fire? We may think we know about him, but actually virtually everything the Torah tells us about him is obscure, requiring us to make up our own interpretations and learn lessons from them. There are rational interpretations by rabbis and scholars as well as mystical and midrashic ones. Which should we accept? The following are some questionable items. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

What do we know about Lot, Abraham’s nephew? Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Our Jewish Parenting: Keeping Consistency Constant

Two key factors have kept us sane while raising the next generation of Jewish kids: involving God in the process and striving for consistency in our parenting effort. My wife, Shira and I leave the heavy lifting to God. What we eat, how we treat others and what we do on Shabbat and holidays isn’t something we have to negotiate. We have a priceless 3500-year-old tradition offering precise guidelines on maximizing life and minimizing drama. [Sam Glaser]

Our Jewish Parenting: Keeping Consistency Constant Read More »

Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Sam Glaser

Holocaust Museum LA’s Expansion Advances Its Founding Vision

By Jacob Kamaras When California state lawmakers recently announced $2.5 million in funding to support the expansion of Holocaust Museum LA, it marked the latest step toward realizing a cornerstone of the museum’s founding vision. The state support will fund a new learning center pavilion and new programming for younger learners at the museum. It

Holocaust Museum LA’s Expansion Advances Its Founding Vision Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Jewish History, USA