Yakov Nayerman

A Serious Discussion about Israel Between an American Jew and a Pakistani Muslim

“…In Pakistan, a person can be killed not just for converting, but even for behaving outside religious norms—not by the government, but by mobs of extremists. Very few countries are like Pakistan in this regard. Still, we’re an open nation. If someone doesn’t want to follow our laws, they’re free to leave for any country—except Israel.”

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International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA, Yakov Nayerman

Fiction Writer Capsulizes Sacrifices by Israelis on Both Sides of Hostage Debate

I took them along my favorite one-day guest route: the sandy cliffs and beaches of Torrey Pines, the seal lairs in La Jolla, and the Spanish-style facades in Balboa Park. My guests were thrilled and kept saying how much San Diego reminded them of Haifa. I was the one doing most of the talking and guiding. [Yakov Nayerman]

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Israel, Jewish Fiction, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Yakov Nayerman

San Diegan Recites His Own Personal Exodus — from Russia!

I don’t consider myself religious, but in our family, celebrating Passover is one of the most important events of the year. Every year, we gather around a festive table to repeat the formulaic sequence of storytelling and symbolism (after all, “Seder” means “order”). [Yakov Naverman]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA, Yakov Nayerman

Pro-Israel Rally Held Sunday at UCSD

We were instructed not to interact with them, but I felt an urge to ask some of the poster holders for explanations. Not to pick a fight, but to understand what they meant or to confirm my suspicion that they didn’t fully grasp what they were saying. For example, I would have liked to discuss with a lady holding a sign that read: “Proud to be a Jew. Proud to be anti-Zionist.” What did she mean? As anti-Zionism literally means the dismantling of our Jewish state, how could it coexist with being a “proud Jew”? [Yakov Nayerman]

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Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Yakov Nayerman