Byliners

‘Becoming Dr. Ruth:’ A Passion for Purpose, Action, and All Things Jewish

By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Hummingbird-like, Tovah Feldshuh inhabited Dr. Ruth Westheimer as she flitted around the stage, all the while, espousing optimism, warmth, and humor. The actress incredibly mastered the German-Swiss-French-Hebrew-English accent with nary a dropped rolling R, as she relayed the fascinating life of the petite renowned sex therapist. The audience […]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

More Than a Raceway: Novel Presents a Jewish Side of Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen by Eleanor Lerman; Mayapple Press 2021; ISBN 9781952-781018; 213 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is known for Watkins Glen International, a race car venue that permits ordinary citizens to take three laps around the track in their personal cars for a fee.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, USA

Cautious Optimism After Israel’s Political Deadlock

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — About three years ago my husband and I rescheduled our flight back to Israel from London, at considerable financial and personal cost, because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called a snap general election. We were determined to cast our votes in order to get rid of the party

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

One-Day U.S. Screening of Documentary on the Warsaw Zookeepers Who Hid Jews

An unusual, although not unprecedented, rollout for the documentary Of Animals and Men will occur on Tuesday, June 22, in theaters around the nation when the film telling “the true story behind The Zookeeper’s Wife” will be given a one-day only showing. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Black Lives Matter Should Stick to Its Core Issue; Leave Israel Out of It

How does the Black Lives Matter movement find the time and energy to brand Israel as an apartheid and genocidal state and equate its policies with police brutality? And why don’t any BLM members speak up about those among their associates who have diverted attention from the primary issue that inspired the Black Lives Matter campaign? [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

A New Prism for Viewing ADHD

When I heard that Avigail Gimpel was writing a book, called HyperHealing, The Empowered Parent’s Complete Guide to Raising a Healthy Child with ADHD Symptoms, I knew from the subtitle that this was going to be an out-of-the-box book, by referring to their behavior as “symptoms” and not “children with ADHD.” [Toby Klein Greenfield]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Science, Medicine, & Education, Toby Klein Greenwald

Author Tells How to Recognize and Treat Addiction

Readers with limited knowledge of addiction will find the book useful as it provides signs and symptoms to look for that may indicate that you, your child or other family member may be at risk of addiction. Also useful is the information provided that lays out possible treatment strategies and organizations that can be contacted for help with addiction issues. [Ben Dishman, Pharm.D]

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Ben Dishman, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Holocaust music showcased during ‘We Are the Tree of Life’ Programs

A pair of ‘We Are the Tree of Life’ programs, May 27, with Ali Viterbi interviewing Francesco Lotoro, and June 1, with Nuvi Mehta and Kate Hatmaker introducing nine Holocaust composers, were both impressive and informative. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Satire: Swiss Army AK-15s

Last week a US District judge declared California’s ban on semi-automatic assault rifles unconstitutional by declaring, “Like the Swiss Army knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment. Good for both home and battle.”  The more I think about it, the two are almost identical in their uses. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Lawrence Baron, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: F. Lee Bailey

Attorney F. Lee Bailey died last week. Bailey gained fame for defending a wide range of controversial figures, including The Boston Strangler, Patty Hearst, and O. J. Simpson. He brought a very theatrical presence into the courtroom, and advocated strongly for his clients with a focus on the concept of reasonable doubt. What did Bailey say that offended many in the Jewish community? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Bye Bye Bibi — But Not Yet

A half hour before the end of his mandate, Yair Lapid announced to the President the formation of a government.

It’s something of a mess. Eight or nine parties, or portions of parties. Still some issues having to be sorted out. And Bibi is not going quietly, to be head of the opposition, accused of three crimes, and in a trial that may last for years, or until there’s an agreement about a plea bargain. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East