Judaism

The Melody of Zionism

Like my father, I was presented as a traitor to the homeland and an enemy of the USSR. Although my immigration to Israel was legal, I was honored with the title of “traitor to the homeland.” My father was labeled a “traitor to the homeland” in 1949, although he loved the USSR and socialism. I was labeled a “traitor to the fatherland” 30 years later. In that country, any Jew could be a traitor – one who loved the homeland, as my father did, and one who did not love it, as I did. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Jewish History

Science, Art, Religion Mix at Temple Emanu-El’s Artisans Festival

It was coincidence that two artisans who exhibited their work at Temple Emanu-El’s artisans festival on Sunday, Nov. 5, both had scientific backgrounds. Jonathan Rosenberg had worked prior to retirement as an immunologist at PharmaGen and at Becton, Dickinson (BD) during 16 years of his career. Anita Hettena was a biology professor, specializing in the teaching of anatomy, at San Diego City College. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Rabbi Alexis Berk: ‘Sacredness Is Everywhere’

Editor’s Note: This is the 7th chapter in Volume 3 of Editor Emeritus Donald H. Harrison’s 2022 trilogy, “Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5.”  All three books as well as others written by Harrison may be purchased from Amazon.com. Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5, Volume 3, Exit 38 (Manchester Avenue): Temple Solel

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Okfuskee County, Rosenwald Schools, and Boley

By Jerry Klinger Boley, Oklahoma, Creek Nation, Indian Territory, was established as an all-Black town on the land of Creek Indian “Freedwoman” Abigail Barnett in 1903. When the Five Tribes, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminoles, were forcibly removed from their homelands in the 1830s–40s, people enslaved by the tribes also made the long

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Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, USA

Jews in San Diego and Worldwide Come Together to Observe Shabbat in Solidarity with Israel

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Press Release) – The Shabbat Project, an international movement that brings together Jews from around the world to keep one Shabbat, is gearing up for its most important year yet. In the wake of the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks, this year’s message is “Keeping it Together for Israel.” From sundown on November

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International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

A Tribute to a Fallen IDF Hero

Sahar followed in the footsteps of her dear older brother Dvir, whom she so highly looked upon, and drafted into the Iron Dome unit. She signed an extra two years in the army in order to be in a combat unit and become a commanding officer. After many challenges and roadblocks along the way, Sahar finally did it. She became a first (and later on second) lieutenant in the Israeli Defense Force. She was a mother to her soldiers, caring for their every last need, educating them with true values and morals, and training them to perform and succeed. [Tova Winick]

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Israel, Obituaries & memorials

History Department Chairman Robert Bond Traces Turkiye’s Relationships with Jews over the Centuries and with Israel

A former Fulbright scholar who did his research in Istanbul, Prof. Robert Bond of Mira Costa College has a nuanced view about the relationship between Turkiye and Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food

Parashat Lech Lecha: The Value of Discomfort

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In this, the third Torah reading of this remarkably eventful new year, we learn in Lech Lecha of the spiritual trajectory of our lives. Hashem tells Avraham, “Lech Lecha,” go for yourself, “me’artzecha,” from your homeland, “mimoladitecha,” from your birthplace, “u’mi’beit avicha,” and from your father’s house

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Parashat Noach: Being a Mensch in a World Flooded With Strife

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Look at the world Noach lived in. Greed, oppression, corruption, sexual excess, and worse. Wait. What’s changed? Look at our world. How do we cope without an ark to escape into? Floods, figuratively at least, surround us. Our response, our Jewish response, is to continue to be resilient,

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell