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 Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– I should like to acknowledge a debt to three musicians whom I’ve never met, but whose fine work has made some historical research quite a bit easier. Their names are Yael Weiss, Mark Kaplan and Clancy Newman. Respectively, they play the piano, violin, and cello. Last year, Bridge Records […]
Two piano trios to research by Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Some time ago, I had a friendly discussion with Rabbi Yisrael Goldberg, a young Chabadnik who lives in Israel. In the course of our talk, he told me that Rabbi Avraymo Levitanski (a former teacher of mine) had recently died. Avraymo was a great man;
Should a Chabadnik say “Today is Thursday, January 5th, in Santa Monica”? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
The 4 Steps to a Successful Marriage by Sam and Terry Krause, Createspace Publishers, ISBN 978-1466474413 ©2011, $12.95, p. 118 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–There is an old adage about marriage, which goes something like this: a woman marries the perfect man and then spends the rest of her life trying to change
How to keep your marriage working Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Travel and FoodBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — A ginger cat scampered along the gangway in front of the stage at the special concert given in the Jerusalem Theatre by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra last Independence Day. The young soloist who was playing Rachmaninoff’s very demanding third piano concerto didn’t seem to notice, though the audience did.
Feline interruptions not cat-astrophes for the orchestras Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-VansonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — People often talk about David Ben Gurion’s encouragement of Haredi Jews to settle in Israel as his “greatest blunder.” Yet, not even he could foresee the damage the Haredi would cause in the future. Ben Gurion acknowledged the terrible mistake he made in a letter he
A Polish homeland for Israel’s haredim? Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — This past Shabbat, I spoke about the theme of risk as it pertained to Judah’s dilemma; it is only when he shows a willingness to risk his welfare for Benjamin, Judah suddenly displays the heroic trait that many of his descendants would later emulate. Heroes throughout
Beit Shemesh haredi man shows courage in open letter Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO –– Everyone dreams of having a grand adventure in life. However, Robert [Bob] Gannon has had many adventures since he learned how to fly in 1992. That same year, he bought a Cherokee 6 airplane [Lucky Lady] after getting a pilot’s instrument license, and flew to Paris, France,
Solo around-the-world flyer found Israel most challenging Read More »
Middle East, Mimi PollackBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Tribute was paid to the life of Roberta Dosick on Friday, Dec. 30, by three of this area’s most senior rabbis, including her son, Rabbi Wayne Dosick, leader of the Elijah Minyan of Carlsbad, California. Funeral services for the 89-year-old Roberta Dosick were co-conducted at Tifereth Israel
Roberta Dosick memorialized in three-rabbi service Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Like a bad penny, the problem will not go away. It doesn’t seem to matter what people say or do to prevent it. Beth Shemesh is a lot like a train-wreck waiting to happen; actually, it has already happened, but the extent of the damage and
The Sikrikim threaten Haredi and other Jews alike Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Jewish legal tradition, better known as “Halachah,” teaches that silence is “tantamount to admission.” The moral implications ought to be clear enough for anyone to readily grasp. When somebody is attempting to do something wrong and illegal, one cannot dissociate oneself from the situation and
The guilty silence of some Haredi rabbis Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most colorful figures of the 18th century, who almost single-handedly raised the morale of the Jewish people, was a man named R. Yisrael ben Eliezer, a.k.a., the famous “Baal Shem Tov,” (literally, the “Master of the Good Name.”) When one looks back in
The Baal Shem Tov would be horrified Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Grandson Sky is an energetic four-year-old. With only a little coaxing he will clean up whatever room he left looking like it was subjected to a hurricane. But I’m not certain that he is ready to absorb the lesson at the downtown Children’s Museum that the world
Learning to think globally at the Children’s Museum Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The other day, I watched an interview with the Jewish Reggae singer Matisyahu, shortly after he had shaven his beard! I could just imagine what some of his Hassidic fans were saying to one another after they heard the news, “Matisyahu! Please
More than a shave, Matsiyahu’s shorn beard represents a change in outlook Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Second through fourth grade students who participate in Deeds by Kids, a nonprofit organization that encourages them to practice volunteerism and philanthropy, saw the payoff for their first project on Friday, Dec. 16. The reward came in the form of smiles from nearly 200 students of Cabrillo
‘Deeds by Kids’ donates books at Cabrillo Elementary School Read More »
Donald H. Harrison