Below are the names of writers who are currently active. For others, living and deceased, please type their name into the search box above the masthead on our home page, www.sdjewishworld.com
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — It was very gratifying to hear two of our grandsons (aged 22 and 18) express a desire to be taken on a tour of the exhibition entitled ‘By the Rivers of Babylon’ concerning the exile of the Jews of Judea by Nebuchadnezzer II in 586 B.C.E. and currently being held […]
Exhibit traces ancient warfare in the Middle East Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East
Max’s Diamonds by Jay Greenfield; © 2016; Chickadee Prince Books; 385 pages; ISBN 978-0-9913274-2-3; $15.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Paul Hartman is incredibly bright, extraordinarily calculating, and horribly conflicted about the diamonds that his cousin, Max, a survivor of Auschwitz, conferred upon his family before he committed suicide. Even as a boy, Paul
A post- Holocaust tale of ill-gotten diamonds Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
-51st in a Series- Exit 19, Second Street, El Cajon ~ Danielle Van Dam Memorial Overpass By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California – One of the most painful murder trials in San Diego County was that of David Westerfield for the February 2002 murder of 7-year-old Danielle Van Dam, who lived two doors away
I-8 Jewish Travel: Memories of a child’s murder Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and FoodBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — With California’s June 7th primary drawing closer, as editor of San Diego Jewish World and as a registered independent voter, I have come to some non-partisan conclusions about which candidates in the Democratic and Republican primaries are the best choices for our community. On the Republican side, I favor the
Best choices June 7: Clinton, Kasich Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — We all have to do what we have to do to get by. Some of us have had it easier than others. Our privileged positions give us the luxury of looking down. Rain brings us to a boarding house in Western Samoa in 1924. A ship en route
Get caught in the ‘Rain’ at the Old Globe Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem by Sarit Yishai-Levi St. Martin’s Press, 2016; ISBN 978-1-250-07816-2; 372 pages; $25.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– The heart rules supreme, or at least it should have, in this novel covering four generations of Ladino-speaking Israelis. Next time that you try to forbid a son or a daughter from
Marriage choice should be “right” not “in” nor “out” Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — At the same time that colleges were competing in the NCAA basketball championship series, Hillel chapters from around the country were competing in the annual National Hillel Basketball Tournament, held at the University of Maryland. Yeshiva Unversity-Ammar (men’s competition) and Emory University (women’s competition) won this
Jewish trivia quiz: Basketball tourneys Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Sports & Competitions, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org HOUSTON, Texas–“It’s nice that he understands both English and Hebrew,” Father Gabriel Naddaf tells his interpreter, Amit Barak, at Houston’s Royal Sonesta hotel while I go back and forth between the two languages during my interview with the Israeli Greek Orthodox priest. Hebrew is Naddaf’s stronger tongue, and English is mine—despite
Naddaf: Fight against Israel is religious, not political Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle EastBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO─ Donald Trump backtracked on his call for punishing women who have abortions. He only advocates punishing doctors who perform the procedure, but feels that the women minimally should be forced to wear a Scarlet A on their clothing so pro-life advocates can shun them. * Ted Cruz blamed Donald Trump
Humoring the headlines: April 3, 2016 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Michael Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — Of course, those who really need this article probably won’t read it. That’s the way arrogance works. It makes you feel that you are better than the next person, that you certainly don’t need to change, and besides, no one is really smart enough to teach you anything. In
Arrogant? Here’s how to become humble Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellSAN DIEGO — San Diego Jewish World expresses its appreciation to the byliners and staff photographers whose works appeared in March 2016 editions. They included: David Amos Eitan Arom Judy Lash Balint Kenneth Bandler Laurie Baron Amber Bartlett Jeremy Ben-Ami Boaz Bismuth Ronnie Blair Dan Bloom Shoshana Bryen Stephen Bryen Cynthia Citron Richard L. Cravatts Jack Forman
SDJW thanks its March 2016 contributors Read More »
Barry Shaw, Cynthia Citron, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Eileen Wingard, Eric George Tauber, Eva Trieger, Fred Reiss, EdD, Ira Sharkansky, Lawrence Baron, Mark D. Zimmerman, Melanie Rubin, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Michael Ordman, Natasha Josefowitz, Sheryl Rowling, Shor M. Masori, Shoshana Bryen, Steve Kramer
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — We all love bee honey. No Rosh Hashanah meal would be complete without it. Yet, in this week’s Torah portion of Shemini, we find ourselves asking a conundrum that has puzzled many rabbinic minds since the days of Late Antiquity. I am referring to the verse in Leviticus, “But
The kosher paradox of the bumble bee Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –As we read about the various permitted and forbidden animals in this week’s Torah portion of Shemini, I found myself remembering some thoughts I once penned about this particular subject. Several years ago, I came across an interesting story, worthy of a Sherlock Holmes tale. Actually to
In defense of non-kosher animals Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Where to start? So many great shows, so many legendary writers and time-tested directors. I, for one, cannot wait for this new season to open. Unbelievably, David Ellenstein, artistic director of my intimate neighborhood theater, has created a veritable feast for the thespian in all of us. I almost
North Coast Rep plans varied 35th season Read More »
Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast