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
It is a just cause, poisoned by anti-Semitism. The drive to end racism merits all our participation, and we should all stand against the anti-Semitic acts and attitudes that have attached themselves to this unexpected movement. We can do both, especially with the brazen hypocrisy displayed in the pogrom in the predominantly Jewish Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles. [Bruce S. Ticker]
BLM and the poison of anti-Semitism Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International, Jewish History, USA
Rabbi Yael Ridberg, spiritual leader of Congregation Dor Hadash, has added her name to two campaigns now building within the Jewish community. One, which has attracted leaders of more than 500 synagogues and Jewish organizations, voices solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The other, launched by the National Council of Jewish Women, pledges support for education about women’s rights to autonomy over their own bodies. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Yael Ridberg speaks out for social justice Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
In the time of pandemic lack of COVID-19 vaccine makes us all vulnerable. We have to rely on medical advice to stay home, keep social distance and not gather in houses or outside. It is tough, frustrating, bad for economy but necessary – thus we obliged. Then mass protests and riots started in support of BLM movement. Twelve hudnred medical professionals stated that mass gathering is good for public health because it promotes social justice reforms. The major medicine’s principle “do not harm” and basic public safety recommendations got ignored. [Alex Glikin]
Coronavirus and political medicine Read More »
International, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
SAN DIEGO — We Jews have a love for debate. Argument, in its purest sense, helps us to clarify issues, to determine right and wrong, and sometimes to set us upon specific courses of action. It’s for that reason that I welcome, even relish, articles and letters to the editor with diverse, even opposing, points of view. Yet, sometimes, as the editor and co-publisher of this publication, I feel obligated not to run an article, or simply to delete a letter to the editor. [Donald H. Harrison]
On letters, columns, and civility Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA
Bill Nichols served as a volunteer consultant to the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) through the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (F2F) for two weeks in January 2020. Originally from New Mexico, now residing in Boston, Nichols collaborated as an F2F volunteer with four of HAF’s tree nursery cooperatives in southern Morocco. He was tasked with improving their productivity. One immediate benefit of his visits with Moroccan farmers at these sites is that he was able to share not only his technical and business skills but also to find ways for the four individual cooperatives within the same province to share their own specialized skills with one another. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Farmer-to-Farmer program helps developing nations Read More »
International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA, Yossef Ben-Meir
Ten internationally known speakers on Sunday addressed the opening night of a “virtual summit” sponsored by Christians United for Israel (CUFI) in which they lauded the U.S.-Israel alliance and opposed anti-Semitism in its many forms. [Donald H. Harrison]
Israeli leaders warn of Iran at CUFI virtual summit Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, USA
My dues went up for my synagogue. Do we really need as big a building that can sit 500 with three rabbis, a cantor, ten office staff, security, and more? My grandson’s bar mitzvah was canceled. I don’t count a 23-car caravan circling the house as his Aliyah is called by Zoom from the front porch as quite the right experience. [Satire by Jerry Klinger]
Satire: Kvetching in Boynton Beach, Florida Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Barry Jagoda, a retired communications director for UC San Diego, has had a storied media career. He was a producer at various times for CBS and NBC, coordinating coverage for such historic events as Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon; and the unfolding Watergate crisis and resignation of Richard M. Nixon. With his media savvy, he went on to become a special assistant to Jimmy Carter, initially on the campaign trail and later in the White House. Many of the stars of his era in television media — Walter Cronkite, Ed Bradley, Dan Rather, for example — were on first-name basis with him. As you might imagine, Jagoda has a lot of stories to tell. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Barry Jagoda recalls life at the Carter White House Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
As a retired history professor, I wonder how and what I’d be teaching in the age of Trump. Although I rank him below Andrew Johnson on the worst presidents list, I discern the implications of what he says and does for my pedagogy if I ever resumed my career. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Lessons from a leader Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Science, Medicine, & Education, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USAAs everywhere, people are worried in Australia about coronavirus. The number of cases and deaths in Australia is much lower compared with the USA. Partly it is because of our geography, party because of measures implemented by the Government, in particular, border closure. Because of it Chinese officials call us racists. They cancelled several trade deals and told their youths to abandon Australian universities where large numbers of Chinese students studied prior to the pandemic. [Alex Glikin]
Australia also feels the impact of coronavirus, BLM movement Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA
Back in the day, when my children were young, I would sometimes join them when they watched certain programs on Children’s TV. One of these was Zehu-Zeh (That’s It), which tried to amuse, entertain and educate by means of little skits, songs and quizzes. Let’s face it, most of the programs on Children’s TV were noisy, gaudy American imports, with little or no educational content, though of course Sesame Street was the exception that proved the rule. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
‘Zehu-Zeh’ revival brings much needed humor to Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA