By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — In recent years, the advent of the Impossible and Beyond vegan burger brands has helped fulfill a seemingly impossible dream for the kosher consumer: the taste of an authentic cheeseburger. And that’s exactly what set the stage for my visit this week to Botanic Burgers, the new kosher […]
Botanic Burgers: Creative Kosher Treats, with a Kick Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, Travel and Food
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Can Israel rely on any other country to support it when it’s critically endangered? First of all, Israel has never asked any other country to fight on its soil; but, Israelis hope and expect that other Western democracies would back it — on the world stage, in the
Israel Goes it Alone Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Torah portion is Ki Tetse (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19); Haftorah is Isaiah 54:1-10. By Irv Jacobs, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — These brief poetic lines extracted from the book of Isaiah are attributed to Isaiah II, which scholars consider to be multiple writers. The entire text is a metaphor, with four metaphors and two similes contained
Haftorah Reading for August 21, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — It takes a true optimist to rebel against society. First, you must really believe that you’re right and the world around you is wrong. Then you convince yourself and others that change is possible, that marches, chants, signs and sit-ins will actually make a difference. The alignment of
HAIR Raises the Spirit of Optimism Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Just over a week ago, while en route to Paris on our way home to Israel, we stopped to take a brief look at the famous city of Orleans, one of France’s foremost historical sites, and associated indelibly with Joan of Arc, a.k.a. the Maid of Orleans. Due
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — In the Famous-Last-Words department: “The likelihood there’s going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely.” The “highly unlikely” happened on Sunday as a dozen Taliban fighters garbed in native dress gathered around a desk in the presidential palace in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul.
The ‘Highly Unlikely’ Happened in Afghanistan. Now What? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. This week’s parasha, literally meaning, “When you go out…” opens with a description of facing war with enemies. Maimonides tells us that more than seventy mitzvot, 74 if I counted correctly, spring from this week’s Torah portion, from weights and measures and collecting debts in a righteous way, to proper
Parashat Ki Teitzei: Refining Our Soul Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The Paso Robles Historical Society currently is housed in a building that had been donated for a library many years before by the philanthropist and industrialist Andrew Carnegie – one of 3,000 libraries he donated throughout the world. Outside the building there is a statue, but it is not of Carnegie nor of Drury James, the man who recognized that the city’s hot springs and mud baths could be made into a tourist attraction and who built the grand Hotel de El Paso de Robles. [Donald H. Harrison]
Talented Celebrity and Statesman Made Paso Robles His Second Home Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA
By Laurie Baron, Ph.D SAN DIEGO — Donald Trump castigated Joe Biden for abandoning Afghans who helped U.S. forces: “I would never have done such a thing. It’s un-Kurd of.” Most Americans were appalled by the photograph of over six hundred Afghans sitting on the floor of a C-17 Globemaster III except for the owners
Satire: Reactions to Afghanistan Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Not in Israel, as you might expect, but instead here along the Central California coast do you hear the words “Chumash” and “Jerusalem crickets” in the same sentence. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Tale of the Chumash and the Jerusalem Cricket Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Travel and Food, USA
By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — With the imminent final withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban is quickly taking control of the country. The Jewish history of Afghanistan goes back at least to the 7th century, with some claiming that Afghani Jews were descendants of the so-called lost tribes of Israel.
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Afghanistan Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — “Why don’t we have kosher restaurants?!?!?” That’s the desperate plea — often reaching a primal scream — issued by San Diegans who strictly observe kosher dietary laws. For those consumers, the recent opening of Parisien Gourmandises at 7643 Girard Avenue in La Jolla is certainly a reason to
New Kosher Bakery in La Jolla Offers an Authentic Taste of France Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County
Educators long have worked with STEM curricula — emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. When artists declared such curricula were too limiting, the notion of STEAM was introduced. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Now, here comes STREAM — Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math… [Donald H. Harrison]
STEM, STEAM, and Now STREAM Children’s Books Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori
An Arab Knesset Member, affiliated with Meretz, announced that neither Meretz nor the Arab party Ram, would support the government if it attacked Lebanon. Some days earlier, there was a rocket attack on northern Israel, attributed to a Palestinian group in Lebanon. Apparently, there was no significant damage. Earlier there had been an interchange, with Israeli aircraft bombing Lebanese sites in response to rocket attacks. But there was no Israeli response to the latest attack from Lebanon. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Israel Cautious About Retaliating Against Economically Troubled Lebanon Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East