We might want to reflect this Tisha B’Av, which begins on Wednesday evening, July 26, on how we can help our fellow Jews who have fallen on hard times – an obvious reversal of the unkindness and factionalism that twice led to the downfall of ancient Jerusalem. [Donald H. Harrison]
Tisha B’Av: Time Not Only for Lamentations, But Also for Kindness Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County
Parshiot Matos-Maasei 5783 By Rabbi Daniel Reich The Jewish people currently find themselves in a period of mandated reflection. The three weeks between the 17th of Tamuz and the 9th of Av are dedicated to mourning the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash and our longing for the rebuilding of the holy temple in Jerusalem. Unfortunately,
The Three Weeks: A Time of Reflection, Reconnection, and Rebuilding Read More »
Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion
In this book are eight topics essayed by Philip Slayton, an attorney and writer who serves as president of the literary society PEN Canada. He first addresses the question of Jewish identity, then moves on to Jews in the World (where we live); Jews and Muslims; Jews and Christians; Jews and Zionism; Jews as Victims; Jews and the Media; Jews as Wanderers, and, beginning on page 143, he offers some conclusions. [Donald H. Harrison]
Canadian Author Divides Antisemitism into Four Categories Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
Now in its eighth year of existence, San Diego Generations of the Shoah is comprised of approximately 100 descendants of survivors of the Holocaust. Its two main missions, according to Sam Landau, who chairs the steering committee, are “remembering our parents and those relatives who were murdered in the Holocaust” and “providing funds to organizations that support Holocaust education.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Descendants of Holocaust Survivors Organized to Preserve Memories Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Ridberg had plenty of opportunities to compare the different denominations of Judaism before she committed to Reconstructing Judaism. As a child in Rockville, Maryland, she attended the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, which offers classes from kindergarten through 12th grade. Her family belonged to a Conservative synagogue. After graduating with a major in women’s studies and communication arts from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, she worked with the Reform movement in Washington D.C. In the nation’s capital, she also attended the non-denominational Farbrengen Havurah, “one of the oldest havurot that came out of the 1960s-1970s era.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Community activist Erik B. Anderson announced on Saturday that he has begun a petition campaign to remove the signage honoring Andrew Jackson from what has now been officially designated by law as the Susan A. Davis Post Office. [Donald H. Harrison]
High-ranking public officials, postal employees, and residents of the Rolando neighborhood of San Diego cheered as a plaque was unveiled officially renaming the post office branch at 6401 El Cajon Boulevard for former Congresswoman Susan Davis, D-San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]
Ceremony Renames Andrew Jackson Post Office for Susan A. Davis Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, USA
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — We Jews have always been expendable. From at least the days of the Greeks and Romans, wiping out the Jews has been a goal. The Holocaust was the most dramatic example in our lifetime, but it was hardly the first catastrophe to strike us. That was probably the
We Jews Are Expendable Read More »
Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Teresa Konopka SAN DIEGO — It is a great simcha to find love, get married, and have children. However, not everyone is so lucky. Every day, countless people all over the world break up. Some suffer divorce and separation, others a broken engagement, and many split before even getting that far. Why is this,
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — There’s a Jewish maxim, “Every generation receives the leader it deserves.” Parasha Pinchas seems to provide a foundation for this adage. The parasha distinguishes between the leadership of Moses, who in today’s language would be described as a wise, dauntless, self-aware, “we” not “me,” conscious leader, and Joshua,
Parashat Pinchas: Every Generation Receives the Leader it Deserves Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Cooking is Lebovitz’s world. The kitchen from which she has been banished, for that one night only, officially has been named “Grammy’s Kitchen” in honor of Lebovitz, 85, who is called “Grammy Sheila” by the nine children and 15 grandchildren of Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort and Rebbetzin Nehama Eilfort, as well as by other younger members of the congregation. [Donald H. Harrison]
On This Special Day, Caterer is Refused Entry to Chabad of La Costa’s Kitchen Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — One of the ways rabbis and secular scholars acquire a deeper understanding of the Bible is by comparing the events in the story with events in other biblical tales. They also compare two Bible sections that use the same word. David Curwin does both in his
Comparing Biblical Stories With Other Tales Enhances Their Meaning Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Ahh, a book on “The Torah Path to Health, Fitness and a Holy Life.” Music to my ears. It was the Rambam who wrote, “Maintaining a healthy body is among the ways of serving Hashem, since it is impossible for one who is not healthy to understand
Book Offers Compelling Integration of Torah and Contemporary Medicine Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
It took over 100 years before the JCC Association of North America chose someone from the U.S. West Coast to serve as its chairman. That person was Gary E. Jacobs of San Diego, a former president of the Lawrence Family JCC, Jacobs Family Campus in La Jolla. As his four-year term was concluding, the JCC Association turned again to a San Diegan, David Wax, a retired executive with the San Diego-based, multistate Waxie Sanitary Supply company. [Donald H. Harrison]
2 National Leaders of the JCC Movement Got Their Starts in San Diego Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA