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
The Hatikvah melody has been heard more recently when a singer sampled the tune in one of his songs. Which rap or hip hop musician sampled the music of Hatikvah in a rap song? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: ‘Hatikvah’ Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
There are Shakespearian scholars who feel that Measure for Measure is Shakespeare’s greatest play. This is very possible. It certainly is one of his best. It is very thoughtful. It addresses ancient unresolved problems of human nature that still exist today, and it prompts us to consider the good verses the evil inclination; male dominance over females and the frequent male harassments; the power of the sex drive over the intellect, morality and the inability to control it; hypocrisy, irony, religion, and other conflicts that invade all humans at times and are often unresolvable. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Measuring ‘Measure for Measure’ Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The holidays have passed, and we’re back to work. More or less. Bibi has used up almost half of the time allotted him to form a government, and still no results. Smotrich remains adamant about not relying on an Arab party, and without that Bibi remains short of a Knesset majority. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Israel’s Government, Policies Adrift Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Blindspot Collective in San Diego is known for its shows for young audiences, tackling difficult topics such as mental illness, the bullying of immigrants and the tribulations of the transgendered. They specialize in “forum theatre” in which audience members actually get to step into the show and give the actors do-overs with better outcomes. But, like all of us, the current situation has forced them to rethink how they do things. And so, they have created Lit: A Virtual Musical, written and directed by Desha Crownover of SD Junior Theatre with book and lyrics by Blake McCarty and Music by Ian Brandon. [Eric George Tauber]
‘Lit’ warms the Heart Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
To commemorate Yom Hashoah, Ohr Shalom Synagogue screened the premiere of the documentary, We Are the Tree of Life: Carry On. The Zoom screening was introduced by former Ohr Shalom president, Susie Meltzer. Many participants in the film were in the Zoom audience, including Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. [Eileen Wingard]
‘We Are the Tree of Life’ debuts in San Diego Read More »
Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
When my father had back surgery, he shopped around to nearly every top orthopedic surgeon in L.A. until he found one willing to cut into his ailing eighty-five-year-old frame and repair three levels of his lumbar vertebrae. We were overjoyed to see him recover from the spine operation but soon thereafter he needed a knee replacement. Oy vey! For all his health issues, he still maintains his Dodger and Laker season tickets, trades on the stock market and teaches a monthly Jewish history class. But his pleasure in life is sharply curtailed in what seems to be a cruel downward spiral of Job-like proportions. [Sam Glaser]
Caring for Aging Parents and Beyond Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Sam Glaser
At the end of last month, we ran an article by Korean-American Kelsey Kloza about what she described as “Asian fetishization” by which American males tend to construe any Asian woman as an “exotic and erotic two-dimensional object designed only for tempting male characters into forbidden pleasures.” [Donald H. Harrison]
On Asian fetishization and the humanity of migrants Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, USA
In the April 18, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–3 Israeli research breakthroughs into cancer, aging and obesity.
–NASA names two asteroids after their Israeli-Arab student discoverer.
–Japan praises Israel for its help on the 10th anniversary of the tsunami.
–A hi-tech Israeli competitor to zoom.
–Investment in Israeli startups breaks three all-time records.
–Israelis once again were able to properly celebrate the nation’s birthday. (Michael Ordman)
Good News from Israel (April 18, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
By Jerry Klinger BOYNTON BEACH, Florida — Our little dog, Norman, died this week. He was 13. He loved us, and we definitely loved him. He was more than a family pet whose life had run its course. Norman was the forgotten soul of Israel. He had passed. But because of little Norman, a process
A dog, memorials, and Herzl’s last descendant Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jerry Klinger
Bernie Madoff died in prison this week. In accordance with his will, his tombstone will be shaped like a pyramid. … {Laurie Baron, Ph.D}
Satire: Short Takes Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Almost Havana: A Collection of Short Stories by F.W Belland and Chris Belland; Whiz Bang LLC, 2014; ISBN 9780692-378885; 192 pages; $14.95; Available on Amazon Amazon.com : almost havana By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Brothers Fred and Chris Belland each contributed ten stories to this well-written collection. While reading older brother Fred’s stories,
The Brothers Belland Team on Short Stories Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Tzarat was a consequence of numerous sins, most prominent of them was Lashon Harah – evil gossip. Interestingly, the person suffering from Tzarat was placed into quarantine, not so that the disease wouldn’t spread, but instead to demonstrate to the person with the disease that his anti-social behavior resulted in an anti-social situation. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
Receiving Direct Feedback from Hashem Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi