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 Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The 1930s are one of the most famous periods of early 20th century American history. Most of us of the Baby boom era grew up watching The Untouchables television series. Chicago, 1930, is best remembered for Al Capone, America’s most successful gangster, who made organized crime into […]
Niso Shaham is Israel’s version of Eliot Ness Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The opening evening of the 2012 poetry reading series in the Astor Judaica Library featured three women, Frieda Levinsky, Elizabeth Schwartz and Sue Marder. Levinsky, a native of Poland and a Holocaust survivor with famous Talmudic scholars among her ancestry, is an award-winning published poet. One of
Poetry thriving in Astor Judaica Library series Read More »
Eileen WingardBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Two remarkable young men will be the next featured soloists on the January 29, Musicians in the Making program at 2 p.m. at the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. Pianist and bass-baritone Elliott Wulff, 17, is a senior at Rancho Bernardo High School
Two teens to be featured at Lawrence Family JCC’s ‘Musicians in the Making’ program Read More »
Eileen Wingard
From Within the Tent: The Haftarot by Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman and Stuart W. Halpern, Editors; Yeshiva University Press, New York; ISBN 978-161-329-0316 ©2011, $29.95, p. 719 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California– Ezra and Nehemiah, prophet and governor respectively, introduced the first public reading of the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, in the late
‘From Within the Tent’ is a book for those wanting intense Jewish study Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–The greatest violinist of the 20th century is brought to life in an excellent documentary, G-d’s Fiddler: Jascha Heifetz by Peter Rosen. Heifetz’s biography is outlined through photos, video clips, testimonials by famous violinists Itzhak Perlman, Ivry Gitlis and Ida Haendel, former students Andre Granat, Sherry Kloss and Ayke Agus and two
Heifitz documentary shows his talent and humor, but neglects his love for Israel Read More »
Eileen WingardBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Wunderkinder is a German film filled with wonder, beauty and brutality. It takes place in Poltava, Ukraine. It is in German with English titles. The story unfolds as flashbacks from the recollections of an elderly woman, the violin pedegogue, Hanna Reich. An unexpected visit from a strange man jogs
Children brought together by music despite hateful times Read More »
Eileen Wingard
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Congregation Beth Israel, celebrating its sesquicentennial year, on Thursday evening, Jan. 19, honored some five dozen past and present leaders from its congregation who have built and led the organizations that serve the Jewish community of San Diego. It treated these leaders and other members of the Reform congregation
In celebration of Jewish leadership, Wolpe examines Moses Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Whenever I read the Lubavitcher website, it seems as if we are reliving history. The Lubavitcher character assassination of Shmuley Boteach reminds me of how the 17th century Dutch Jewish community treated one of its heretical spirits and his name was Uriel da Costa (1585-1640).
Critics of ‘Kosher Jesus’ author reminiscent of 17th Century Dutch Jewish community Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Raising Kids to Love Being Jewish by Doron Kornbluth, K’hal Publishing, ISBN 978-1-60204-016-8, 189 pages including notes, retail price unlisted By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Anyone who is active in the Jewish community will not be surprised by the suggestions here compiled by Doron Kornbluth, a Jerusalem writer. They follow mainline thinking that if you
Author offers ‘how to’ book for raising children Jewishly Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –As we give pause to the memory of Martin Luther King and his profound ethical message concerning the evils of racial intolerance, it behooves us to ask ourselves: Have we, as a religious community, fully embraced the principles that cost this great man his life? Most American
Chabad should end its discrimination against Ethiopian Jews Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–When one of their movies was over, Hollywood movie moguls typically filmed a placard reading “The End.” But how were the end of their own lives marked on their tombstones? In an engaging article in the Winter 2012 issue of Western States Jewish History, Regina Merwin tracks down the gravestones
The not-so-big finales of Hollywood’s movie moguls Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –I could not help but read the Chabad reaction to Shmuley Boteach’s new book, Kosher Jesus. Most of us, who have no inner access to the Chabad inner circle, might be surprised by the ferocity of the Lubavitchers’ reactions. Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf, Dean of SJ Abrams Cheder
Boteach’s ‘Kosher Jesus’ stirs Lubavitcher wrath Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–One of my congregants asked a recent synagogue class, “How can we try to be respectful and understanding of the ultra-Orthodox when they are at the forefront of hostile activities like rioting at places which are open on Shabbat and more recently, vandalizing a girls’ school in Bet
Is everyone worthy of our respect? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–The other day, I came across an interesting story, worthy of a Sherlock Holmes tale. Some time ago in 2011, Lubavitcher women sponsored a special collection for Shaarei Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. Deena Yellin writes, “The herd of brightly-colored stuffed animals filled our front porch with all the panache of
In defense of unkosher animal toys Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi