A charming video of Jewish music was shared on Facebook by Cantor Orly Campbell Saturday evening that originated in Los Angeles and included cantors from San Diego, Florida, and Arkansas. [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]
A birthday cantorial concert during lockdown Read More »
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA
The Internet is being used for good, bad, and terrible as attested to by the messages, news releases, and articles that reach our in-box at San Diego Jewish World. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Internet: the good, bad, and appalling Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations against systemic racism and police brutality, San Diego Repertory Theatre decided to ask itself a hard question. How can we do better? Theatre folk are generally progressive, but we all have cultural blind spots. And there’s always room for improvement. [Eric George Tauber]
Listening to uncomfortable theatre conversations Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Israel’s Coronavirus cases seem to be growing. It comes in response to increased testing, as well as crowds without masks at several points: outside stadiums (where they are not allowed to cheer inside), in bars and social clubs, some prominent bar mitzvahs, and on streets and the beach. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Coronavirus cases in Israel resurging Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Judging by the names San Diegans for Justice lists as supporters of its call for an Independent Commission on Police Practices, tomorrow’s hearing before the San Diego City Council “to end meet-and-confer with the police union and to pass a resolution of intent to move forward with our proposal” ought to be a slam dunk. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
S.D. City Council considers Commission on Police Practices Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Leave them up? Or tear them down? As the recent decision by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City attests, to remove a statue of Theodore Roosevelt in the company of a Native American and an African American, we have entered a time of monumental decision making. [Op-Ed by Donald H. Harrison]
The making of monumental decisions Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
In the early-1940’s, B’nai Emunah, a synagogue that was a hybrid of Orthodox and Conservative practice, built a new building, only to learn that many women protested and refused to sit upstairs in the women’s balcony. How did the synagogue resolve that dispute? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: Tulsa, Oklahoma Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
I hope that this final appeal will awaken you to the reality that you can no longer ignore. Time has just about run out and your immediate decision to agree or refuse to enter into new peace negotiations with Israel will determine the future of your people for generations to come. They will either live in peace and harmony with Israel, growing and prospering, or remain a shattered nation despairing for a ray of hope that has eluded them for seven decades – with you sealing their fate. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
An Open Letter to Mahmoud Abbas Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA
Michael Hopkins, the chief executive officer of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, has issued a call for volunteers who can deliver meals to seniors who are required to shelter-in-place because of the Coronavirus pandemic. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
JFS issues call for food delivery drivers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USASo much time, so much passion, and so much heat is wasted arguing about labels, while what is needed is to understand the urgent feelings and dreams behind the labels.
Let’s start with the obvious: “Black Lives Matter.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Examining the slogans for the thoughts behind them Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
I read Orlando by Virginia Woolf originally many years ago, when I first ‘discovered’ Virginia Woolf and the fascinating world of the Bloomsbury Group – the coterie of artists, writers and intellectuals who coalesced around her and her husband, Leonard Woolf (who was Jewish). I eagerly swallowed every word she had ever written, as well as her diaries, collected letters and the many works about her and the other members of the group. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Who’s reconsidering Virginia Woolf? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International
While protests and demonstrations supporting the Black Lives Matter movement are taking place across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing – limiting sources of support to worthy organizations. However, if you are so inclined and financially able, charitable giving is a great way to support this growing movement and effect real change in our community. Below is a list of organizations you might consider. [Sheryl Rowling]
Supporting racial justice during the pandemic Read More »
Business & Finance, Sheryl Rowling, USA
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson covers the challenges Winston Churchill faced during the first two years of the war, from May 1940 to the end of 1941. Churchill grappled with the Nazi blitzkrieg toppling France and other Allies and the rescue of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and other locations. Then came the Battle of Britain as Spitfires and Hurricanes, radar and Bletchley Park intelligence interfered with Hermann Göring’s Luftwaffe. The Nazis blitzed London and other English cities for eight months and five days. Blessedly Hitler’s anticipated land invasion never occurred. [Oliver B. Pollak, Ph.D]
When England was going it alone, there was Churchill Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Oliver Pollak
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Jamaal Bowman, a candidate in a New York Democratic primary election for Congress, on Friday disqualified himself in the eyes of many pro-Israel voters, when he revealed disingenuous views about Israel in an opinion piece published by The Riverdale Press, a Pulitzer-Prize winning neighborhood weekly. Bowman, 44, is trying
Bowman v. Engel: Progressive Democrats’ seek takeover Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA