By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — One of the most lamentable recent events was the death of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who was born in 1948 and died on November 7, 2020. He was a British Orthodox rabbi, philosopher, theologian, award-winning author, international religious leader, respected moral voice, and public figure. He […]
The Legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
San Diego’s eminent Israeli folk dancer teacher, Yoni Carr, will be going back to Israel as a returning citizen, a toshav hozer. After 37 years of teaching Israeli Dance in San Diego, Yoni was feted by two events…. (Eileen Wingard)
Esteemed Israeli Dance Teacher Returns Home Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Every step we take in life carries with it magnificent opportunities, but when we are promised that we will be made into a great nation, that we will be blessed, that we will become a blessing, what would make us hesitate to take that step? Abraham, following his Divine calling more than 3700 years ago, took a step that changed the world. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Answering Your Divine Calling Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is arriving in Washington for talks with a wide range of American political figures and establishments. But most important is likely to be his peer-to-peer meetings with counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The last such meeting took place in May, at the end of the Hamas rocket war against Israel, abetted by intense incitement to anti-Israel violence by the Palestinian Authority (PA). That meeting, between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and PM/FM Benjamin Netanyahu, was itself cordial, but it laid out a wide gulf in the priorities of the two countries — and that gulf remains for FM Lapid. [Shoshana Bryen]
Lapid and Blinken Have Numerous Differences to Overcome Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
City Councilman Raul Campillo told a forum sponsored by the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club that dealing with the problem of homelessness in San Diego requires not only money, but an understanding that there are different sub-classes of homeless people, whose needs are different. [Donald H. Harrison]
San Diego City Councilman Raul Campillo Outlines Homelessness Problem Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County
Last week President Biden announced that today would be Indigenous Peoples Day to offset the deleterious impact Christopher Columbus’ voyages had on Native Americans. Of course, they already memorialized Columbus Day as Genocide Genesis Day. If this serves as a precedent for renaming other holidays to reflect what they stand for, then expect Biden make the following announcements in the future: [Laurie Baron, Ph.d]
Satire: Renaming Holidays Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
After New York City public relations practitioner Marcia Horowitz received the diagnosis that she was suffering from Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, she and her husband, author Richard S. Cohen, discussed how they would prepare for her death, which came 160 days later. They decided that they would have both a medical plan and a life plan, both of which they would pursue with equanimity. [Donald H. Harrison]
An Intellectual Approach to Looming Death Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has made two major speeches, One to the United Nations, and one to the Israeli Knesset. Both came in a prominent setting, although the UN speech was to a largely empty hall. The Knesset speech was at the onset of the body’s winter season, as part of a program for the Knesset chair, the Prime Minister, and the leader of the opposition to make themselves heard. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Bennett Prompts Speculation about Missing Israeli Soldier Ron Arad Read More »
Ira Sharkansky
There has been a Jewish presence in Taiwan since the mid-twentieth century, comprising mostly foreign business executives, students, and diplomats. The community currently numbers approximately 800. In the late 1970’s, members of the Jewish community decided to form an official organization, the Taiwan Jewish Community. What concerns were raised early in the history of the Taiwan Jewish Community (TJC)? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Taiwan Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The following selections are from the commentaries I have written on Philo and Maimonides. The selection from Philo comes from Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Jewish Commentary: Vol. 1: Genesis (Sarasota, FL: First Edition Design, 2016). The selections from Maimonides are from my new commentary, Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentary Vol. 1 Genesis (Sarasota, Florida: First Edition Design, 2016). Each work introduces an approach I call “philosophical peshat,” which contains the plain meaning of a biblical passage along with its philosophical nuances and meaning. Although both these scholars lived over a thousand years apart, they often arrived at a similar philosophical understanding of Scripture. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
What Philo and Maimonides Said About Parashat Noach Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Rabbi Dr, Michael Leo Samuel of Chula Vista, California, is one of the top world experts on Maimonides and Philo. His books on both philosophers are filled with easy to read information that will open the eyes and minds of readers. Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentary to Deuteronomy is the final book of Rabbi Samuel’s series on Maimonides’ hidden Torah commentary. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Chula Vista Rabbi A ‘Top World Expert’ on Maimonides and Philo Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — It might otherwise have been delightful to witness a lone irregular Republican senator join with a handful of insufferable House Democrats take a bipartisan stand over process and money in the halls of Congress. Yet $1 billion to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome missile system – a defensive system, mind
The Chilling Iron Dome Spectacle in Congress Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — It starts in the morning. Voice 1: “Get up!” Voice 2: “I’m still sleepy.” Voice 1, impatiently: “You’ll be late for work!” Voice 2, pleading: “Five more minutes.” It goes on at breakfast. Voice 1: “Cereal and fruit!” Voice 2: “There’s a doughnut left in the
Reason and Emotion: Understanding and Monitoring Our Inner Voices Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz
The Anatomy of a Spy: A History of Espionage and Betrayal by Michael Smith; Arcade; 2020; ISBN: 9780750-992572; 383 pages; $18.99. By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — It is very rare for a book to elicit loud exclamations of surprise, delight, or amazement from me while I’m reading it, but this did
Book Provides Eye-Opening Account of Espionage Operations Through the Ages Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson