‘The True Sea’ is a gem of a novel, but like Mark Twain’s ‘Huckleberry Finn’ before it, schools and libraries may ban it because it uses the “N-Word” in portraying relationships between Whites and Blacks in the Florida Keys in the early 20th century. [Donald H. Harrison]
Racism and Literary Censorship Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, USA
NETANYA, Israel — In the April 25, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–Over 80% of Israeli adults have now been vaccinated against Covid-19.
–Israeli optical breakthrough allows for early detection of skin cancer.
–Israel marks Earth Day with national clean-up and new sustainability center.
–New Israeli-developed microchips are the fastest ever.
–Israel signs hi-tech agreement with one of the world’s largest carmakers.
–Discovery in Israel of the oldest example of alphabetic writing. [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (April 25, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
This year’s nominees consist of intimate dramas or recreations of politically or socially relevant events or situations. Among the eight movies nominated for best picture, The Father, The Sound of Metal, Mank, and A Promising Young Woman feature protagonists suffering from some addiction, disease, disability, or trauma and examine how these afflictions affect their careers or personal relationships. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
This Year’s Oscar Predictions Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
How do you readjust to life as an ex-con? Will you make better choices? Surely, that experience will always be a part of you, but does it have to define you for the rest of your days? These are questions explored in San Diego by Playwrights Project, the SDSU School of Theatre, Television and Film and former inmates of the Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility. [Eric George Tauber]
Young Actors Take Us Beyond Prison Walls Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The bystander credited with saving a wounded man’s life following Thursday night’s Gaslamp Quarter attacks said modestly on Saturday that he deserves only half the credit. “My friend also helped,” said Shai Gino, 28, a former captain in the Israel Defense Force now married to an American and studying for U.S. citizenship. His friend, who served in a “special unit” of the IDF, is Dvir Benesh, 26. [Donald H. Harrison]
Former IDF soldiers aided Gaslamp Quarter wounded Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Israel has held four elections in the last two years. Prime Minister Netanyahu set the stage for this farcical and unprecedented cycle of elections by dissolving his government with the mistaken idea that he could gain more members for his coalition if an election were held sooner rather than later. He couldn’t. [Steve Kramer]
Will Israel Need a 5th Election? Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
As we emerge from a year in isolation, we are suddenly thrust into situations we used to take for granted: proximity to others and opportunities to mingle, participate, contribute, to hear and be heard. But we have changed; we are not the same people as of a year ago. The changes in ourselves can be psychological, mental, physical, or fear-related. We must choose whether to accept this and reconcile ourselves to our new identity or to recover who we were. [Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D]
Post-Pandemic Dilemmas Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz
There’s a new social media app making waves that you may have heard of. It’s the all-audio app called Clubhouse. Though it’s only a year old, is still in Beta, and hasn’t had a public offering, it’s been given a $4 Billion valuation. Yes, that’s Billion with a B. [Sandi Masori]
Clubhouse’s Pros Outweigh Its Cons Read More »
Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Emuna is the Hebrew word for faith, and in his newest book, 13 Principles of Emuna, Rabbi Lazer Brody passionately reexamines Maimonides thirteen assertions, ranging from the fervent belief in one God to acknowledging the future resurrection of the dead and the coming of the Messiah, through a traditional orthodox-Jewish frame of reference. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
Author Adopts Maimonides’ Principles as True Judaism Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
Kobili Traore cannot stand trial for killing a Jewish woman since his state of mind was influenced by consumption – voluntary consumption, that is – of cannabis. [Bruce S. Ticker]
France’s Insanity Defense Is Itself Insane Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International
The Israel Prize is awarded for academic or social excellence, and serves as Israel’s attempt to provide its own version of the Nobel Prize. Sadly, I have never attended a Nobel Prize ceremony, but I have read about it, and I know it is a very stately and serious occasion. Just imagine, if the ceremony would be the occasion for a series of pop singers to pop up, sing and play at the tops of their voices a medley of songs of questionable taste (and certainly not my taste). But that was the overriding tone of the Israel Prize ceremony last night. The whole occasion left an impression of bad judgment and inferior standards. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Israel Lowers Its Cultural Standards of Excellence Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
This short, entirely poetic message is from the writings of Amos, one of the 12 ‘minor’ prophets. He was from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, but his preaching (760-755 BCE) was against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, notably its cities of Samaria and Bethel. This was during the reign of Jeroboam II (788-747 BCE), a time of foreign conquests, thus internal peace and prosperity in the North. [1] Amos’ preaching coincided with the reign in the Southern Kingdom of King Uzziah (785-733 BCE), considered one of the ‘good and righteous kings.’ [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah Reading for April 24, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
After a Minneapolis jury on Tuesday convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd, Jewish organizations and individuals issued their reactions. Among them: [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Reactions to Chauvin Guilty Verdict Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
This week’s double Torah portion, Acharei and Kedoshim, springs off the scroll with applicability to the pandemic of our times, COVID, or if you prefer, kaf, bet, dalet, KOVOD. The English letters, K, V, D, form the root of the word Kavod. What’s dignity, respect or honor have to do with these parshiot? Plenty. Kavod, ,כָּבוֹד KVD, a word of strength and importance, refers to “glory,” “respect,” “majesty,” and “honor.” Other uses of kavod can refer to wealth (Gen. 31:1, the first use of kavod in the Bible), reputation (Gen. 45:13), the quantity of something, or splendor, all of which may be summed up in the word “dignity.” Another very important application is found in the fifth commandment, commanding us to “honor” (kavod in verb form) our fathers and mothers. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Extending Kavod to Others Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell