The fireworks are over. The crowd is gone. National Park System workers are taking down the folding chairs. Towering above them the sculpted heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt are discussing the speech they just heard. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
The presidential pundits of Mt. Rushmore Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
The Fourth of July is my friend Ben Dishman’s birthday, just as it was the birthday of my late father, Martin B. Harrison. When both of them were pre-schoolers, their parents fibbed to them that the fireworks and celebrations all were in honor of their birthdays. Of course, they both believed the story, as it had come from what for them was the source of all knowledge — their parents. It wasn’t until they were old enough to go to school that they were disabused of the notion by their classmates. [Donald H. Harrison]
July Fourth, American history, and cultural myths Read More »
Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Why did Bib Netanyahu delay his plans for annexation of territory in Judea and Samaria.? The fact that the Trump administration may have got cold feet about its “peace” (piece?) plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may have been the decisive inhibiting factor. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Netanyahu, under various pressures, sets aside annexation Read More »
International, Middle East
When it comes to the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, not even COVID19 can stand up to the chutzpah, commitment and ingenuity of Associate Producer Ali Viterbi and co-writers Leah Salovey, Sarah Price Keating and Becca Myers, Associate Producer of JFest, as they bring us the 11th annual “Women of Valor.” This virtual show is a tribute to our local women, some unsung and others, banner-waving, who have created a more humane, compassionate, and impactful Jewish San Diego. [Eva Trieger]
Six valorous Jewish women of San Diego Read More »
Eva Trieger, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
When we talk about the Declaration of Independence and the freedom it envisioned for the people of the United States, our conversations are likely to turn to the two great issues facing our country today: the coronavirus pandemic and the racial justice movement. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
American independence, coronavirus, and racial justice Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USAThough I live in Jerusalem within walking distance to the Western Wall (the Kotel), I never go to pray there – for religious reasons. Abraham Joshua Heschel, the great 20th century Jewish thinker, has taught that Judaism doesn’t have holy places, only holy events. We celebrate time, not space. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Jewish unity at risk Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastLaurie Baron, Ph.D. has compiled a list of streaming Jewish lectures or July 5-10
Streaming Jewish lectures, July 5-10 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
I have chosen four passages from these two parshot, for comparison with ancient non-Israelite practices regarding purification, sacrifices, water-bearing rocks, snake bites, and spells. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Recently our music reviewer Eileen Wingard was able to report on the successful gala concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring the actress Helen Mirren along with a host of well-known musicians performing from private venues. However, not everyone was able to witness the concert live because anti-Israel hackers took it upon themselves to disrupt the program which some 13,000 people from around the world had signed up to watch. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Cyber-attackers can’t silence the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAAs I focus on the debate among Jews about the relationship our community ought to have with the Black Lives Matter movement, I realize that discussion is driven by how traumatized our entire Jewish people have been by the Holocaust and its aftershocks. In my view, both the Jewish Right and the Jewish Left have patterned their behavior on what they have learned — and suffered — as a result of the Nazis’ slaughter of our Six Million ancestors, relatives, and friends. [Donald H. Harrison]
Dueling Holocaust imperatives: Never again vs. Never ever Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
During his nearly 20 years in power, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has violated human rights in his own country of Turkey and destabilized and exploited others in order to promote his nationalist agenda abroad. Western powers, especially his allies in NATO, have ignored his transgressions as the price they are willing to pay to keep what they view as an indispensible ally. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
NATO’s Erdogan problem Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA
I sat down with Rabbi Michael Danziger of the Plum Street Temple (aka B’nai Yeshurun and the Isaac M Wise Temple). The cornerstone was laid in 1865. With only two hundred families at the time, they built a house of prayer that can seat 1,100 directly across from City Hall. [Eric George Tauber]
Jews in the Heart of Porkopolis Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USA
Whenever I’ve been to Israel, whether on a mission or an independent tour, I’ve been impressed by that country’s fresh vegetables, especially its tomatoes. Maybe it is because the country is so small that tomatoes can be shipped from farm to market to the salad plate in a relatively short time, compared to how long the same process takes in the United States. Israeli tomatoes taste juicier, fresher, and sweeter than American tomatoes. They are among the special taste treats of Israeli cuisine. [Our Shetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Telling Israel’s positive story with tomato plants Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Although there are clearly some policemen who are racist and mean, there is racism throughout the judicial system. We get to see racism in policemen because they are the “muscle” that enforces the laws. It is really all of the components of the judicial system; the legislators, the lawyers, the judges, the laws, the prison system, and the police that have racist elements. We can’t weed out all of the racists but we can identify and change laws. [Mark Spitzer]
Racism and the Judicial System Read More »
San Diego County, USA