Fear, “false expectations appearing real,” puts the brakes on a good life. Faith, “fear ain’t in this house” takes the brakes off and promotes a more enjoyable life. This week, Sh’lach reminds us just how powerful and limiting fear can be. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Fear Not, This Week’s Torah Portion Advises Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The answer to the question, “Is Superman circumcised?” in literature probably would depend on what the custom might have been on Krypton concerning the ceremony we Jews know as brit milah. Such an operation would have been impossible on Earth. If a bullet couldn’t penetrate Superman’s skin; how futile would be the use of a mohel’s lknife? [Donald H. Harrison]
Superman: The Mighty Analog Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
Learning about one’s identity may be a traumatic and profound event. When we discover that a trusted person, such as a parent, has withheld critical information, that revelation is all the more upsetting and confusing. This is the basis for the JFest play What We Found. [Eva Trieger]
‘What We Found’ Explores Mixed Racial, Religious Heritages Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Yair Lapid strongly opposed the Iran nuclear deal when it was first announced in November 2013. How did then Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid describe the proposed nuclear deal with Iran at that time? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Yair Lapid Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Yair Lapid has a few days left in his mandate. Possibilities exist, commentators bet against him a few days ago. Now not so sure.. Naftali Bennett has decided against Netanyahu, and Bibi has responded with a vicious attack. It isn’t done until it’s done, but now it looks like the end of Bibi. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Even Without Bibi, Israeli Politics Will Be Muddled Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
From my point of view, Jewish Family Service, the Leichtag Foundation, and the Encinitas City Council are to be commended for their humanitarian outreach to families who have lost their homes but who have retained their vehicles. [Donald H. Harrison]
In Support of Safe Parking for Homeless Vehicle Owners Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County
Highlights of Good News from Israel for the May 30, 2011 edition include:
–Israeli wound treatment uses patients’ own blood to save their lives.
–Israeli-invented pill camera to be given to 11,000 UK patients.
–Media reports of Israel’s civil war are fake news.
–Israeli technology is out of this world.
–20 Israeli companies have partnered to make Israel’s roads safer.
–Almost every week there’s a new Israeli billion-dollar company.
–Israelis smash swimming and singing records at Euro events.
–Birthright has resumed free Israel tours for American Jews.
[Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (May 30, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
The newly unveiled outdoor Rady Shell, with its modern design and excellent acoustics, will be the site of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s in-person concerts, beginning the first Friday in August and continuing through Sunday, November 14. [Eileen Wingard]
In-Person Concerts Coming Soon to Rady Shell Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyFor many years, performing any of Richard Wagner’s orchestral works was verboten in Israel. Wagner was a virulent antisemite and Hitler’s favorite composer. In a country that had taken in so many victims of the Holocaust, performing any of Wagner’s works would have been like pouring burning oil onto an open flesh wound. [Donald H. Harrison]
Goodbye Columbus, Schweitzer, and Lindbergh Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
After their meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made what were supposed to be “soft” public statements. The politely worded remarks deliberately slid past serious policy differences, but those differences cannot and should not be hidden. Moreover, they should form the basis of conversation between the two allies in the future. [Shoshana Bryen]
Netanyahu, Blinken Paper Over Differences During Jerusalem Meeting Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
This week’s reading is Parshat Bi’ha’loh’ticha, which begins with the Mitzvah of lighting the Menorah. This special and symbolic Mitzvah was given to Aharon HaCohen and his children. When thinking about this portion it occurred to me that there are some powerful messages that can be applied to marriage, as this week I celebrate my 33rd wedding anniversary. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
The Menorah Provides Lessons for Happy Marriages Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
A friend recommended the eight-part PBS Masterpiece series Atlantic Crossing written and directed by Norwegian film maker Alexander Eik. [Oliver B. Pollak, Ph.D]
Historiography of ‘Atlantic Crossing’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The Joe Biden administration closed the US State Department’s investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. But as the pandemic recedes in the United States, there is renewed interest by the scientific and journalistic communities about the origins of the virus and whether it could have escaped from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). So, a day later, the president opened a new investigation. [Stephen D. Bryen and Shoshana Bryen]
Was U.S. Complicit in Development of COVID-19? Read More »
International, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shoshana Bryen, Stephen D. Bryen, USA
This small book, subtitled (in German) “I want to be a compatriot of the Jewish people,” describes the life of the man who rebelled against the bourgeois and orthodox way of life of his family in early twentieth-century Hamburg, and embarked on a life of almost unceasing adventures and escapades in Europe and the Middle East. Although the book is short, the content is amazingly dense and Sealtiel’s life was so eventful that this review will inevitably be long. What an astonishing life this man had! [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Biography of David Sealtiel Tells Struggles of Pre-State Israel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East