International

George Floyd, Israel’s annexation plans, and coronavirus

The length and weight of protests by Whites as well as Blacks may spur yet another step toward equality in treatment, along with the lowering of Confederate statues. We’ll see. And likewise the quarrels here about the promise or threat of extending Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank where there are settlements, Israeli law, flags, and loyalties, but a lack of the recognized extension of formal Israeli boundaries. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

George Floyd, Israel’s annexation plans, and coronavirus Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

‘Intentional Jewish communities’ incubator wins award

“Intentional Jewish communities” are groups of Jews who not only want to worship and learn together, but who also want to live in close proximity to each other, fostering a sense of shared destiny similar to that found on the kibbutzim of Israel.  There is at least one such group in San Diego known as the Urban Kibbutz. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

‘Intentional Jewish communities’ incubator wins award Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Satire: If Trump threw himself a birthday party

Let’s pretend President Trump decided to throw a surprise birthday party — for himself. A very plausible thought, as he prepared to celebrate his 74th yesterday, Sunday, June 14. Because he wanted to make the celebration extra-special, we can speculate that the planning that went into it was extra-special, too. [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]

Satire: If Trump threw himself a birthday party Read More »

Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Jewish trivia quiz: West Point Jewish Chapel Choir

There is a long Jewish history at West Point. The 2019 graduating class included the 1000th Jewish graduate of the Academy since its founding in 1802. And in fact, half of the graduates in the very first class in 1802 were Jewish (though there were only two students in the class). The Jewish student, Simeon Magruder Levy, graduated at the bottom of his two-person class, but went on to distinguish himself at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, marking the end of the Northwest Indian War. For more than 60 years the West Point Jewish Chapel Choir has been a part of student life. The Choir sang at what presidential event? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

Jewish trivia quiz: West Point Jewish Chapel Choir Read More »

Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Amulets, Coronavirus, & Election Day in Israel

Whenever Election Day comes to Israel, you can always count upon the Haredi political parties to boost voter turnout in their cities. The religious politicians will often offer amulets and blessings to ensure their people will be blessed. This year, in particular, some of the Shas and United Torah Judaism political parties handed out amulets with prayers and excerpts from the Jewish liturgy, promising that their reelection would guarantee that the coronavirus would not affect the voters’ families. {Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]

Amulets, Coronavirus, & Election Day in Israel Read More »

Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East

Sounding Alarms Through the Centuries

Most of us have been glued to our television sets watching protesters marching on our streets and around the world. They are  responding to the murder of George Floyd.  In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Riots are the language of the unheard.” [Vocal and story by Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]

Sounding Alarms Through the Centuries Read More »

Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Zoom! Zoom! You’re the Sisterhood President

The installing officer was at home in Florida.  The incoming president was in Oregon.  And the other members of the outgoing and incoming boards of the Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood were right here in San Diego.  Welcome to what the Sisterhood members called their very first “Zoomstallation.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Zoom! Zoom! You’re the Sisterhood President Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Judaism, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

My mother’s and Frank Sinatra’s address books

She did it her way By Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — The June/July 2020 issue of The Wall Street Journal Magazine contains a fascinating story by Will Friedwald with photography by Henry Leutwyler — “Sinatra’s Little Brown Book.” The article heralds Leutwyler’s just published Hi There!, a collection of 69 photographs of the address

My mother’s and Frank Sinatra’s address books Read More »

International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

European Jewish Civil War volunteers flocked to the North’s cause

Born in Hungary;  living in Portsmouth, United Kingdom; spending many hours of research at the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati, Ohio; and even boasting a cousin (Judit Sipos-Szabo) here in San Diego, Peter Kovacs Rosenbluth understands  links between European Jewish history and American Jewish history about which most of us, including yours truly, have been unaware. [By Donald H. Harrison]

European Jewish Civil War volunteers flocked to the North’s cause Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Oy vey, Columbus

Here is a 2018 story that appeared in The Times of Israel speculating that Christopher Columbus might have been a hidden Jew, forced to conceal his true identity because the year that he set sail on the voyage in which he would discover America–1492–was the same year that Jews were given a brutal choice by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain: Either convert to Christianity or be expelled from the country. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Oy vey, Columbus Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, USA

The 60’s Civil Rights Movement and today’s Black Lives Matter

‘Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.’ Martin Luther King Jr. included this cogent declaration within his Nobel-acclaimed ‘Letter from the Birmingham Jail’ in April 1963.  The preacher was confined on that occasion because he led “illegal” protests in the city against the continuing and murderous oppression and voter-suppression of Black people in that community (and throughout the Old Confederacy).  Aspects of King’s heartache and moral outrage have been validated and liberated at this moment via the inspirational ‘Black Lives Matter’ uprisings. [Rabbi Ben Kamin]

The 60’s Civil Rights Movement and today’s Black Lives Matter Read More »

USA