By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — In the Middle East, the Jews defeated a superior enemy force in six days. In Europe, a Jew could only hold the head of state for six days. A 25-year-old poet, a Jew by nationality, was president of a European country for six days. The rule of philosopher kings […]
Ernst Toller: The Six-Day President Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Opinion
Susan Lapidus, director of the Murray Galinson San Diego-Israel Initiative, has announced next semester’s lineup of Israeli professors who will be teaching at two major universities in San Diego County. Coming to San Diego State University are historians Amos Nadan and Yoav Alon and poet Maya Tevet Dayan, all from Tel Aviv University; filmmaker Uri Bar-on from Reichman University; and literary scholar Dekel Shay Schory who divides her time between Hebrew University and Ben-Gurion University. Coming to UC San Diego are filmmaker Dan Geva from Beit Berl Academic College and anthropologist Dan Rabinowitz from Tel Aviv University. [Donald H. Harrison]
The Jewish Eye: S.D.-Bound Israeli Professors; U.S. Supreme Court Controversies Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — While sorting through and getting rid of books in order to accommodate a new item of furniture I came across “The Rothschilds: A Family Portrait,” which I had given to my father for his birthday in 1965. It still bears my dedication, “To Daddy, with love,” reminding me
Revisiting the the Rothschilds Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Who in the world are we to speak to anyone else in a harsh, insensitive, or disrespectful manner? This week’s Torah reading teaches us to speak with love, kindliness, and thoughtfulness. Speaking with gentleness, graciousness, and warmth is vital to our healthy future. How timely parashat Emor is
Parashat Emor: Speaking Gently and Kindly Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellThe heartbreaking loss of lives in the airplane crash resulted in Air Florida going into bankruptcy, and the stroke reduced Timoner’s earning capacity. He held on for nearly 40 years, but when congestive heart failure made him even more dependent on others, he decided that as a California resident he would take advantage of the Golden State’s “Right to Die” Law. [Donald H. Harrison]
Documentary Intimately Records Eli Timoner’s Choice to End His Life Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Barry Soper, who has contributed to many political campaigns, now has political figures donating money to build a new, less destructible outdoor menorah at Chabad of San Diego State University, which is led by Rabbi Chalom Boudjnah. Among contributors are the current and previous two San Diego County Assessors/ Clerks/ Recorders respectively Jordan Marks, Ernie Dronenburg, and Greg Smith. The menorah, which symbolizes the Jewish hope to bring light into the world, has been vandalized on several occasions over the years. Overseeing construction of a new one is Joshua Soper, son of Barry Soper. [Donald H. Harrison]
The Jewish Eye: Outdoor Menorah; Banning Books; Gun Safety Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
Stone’s first thought was to commission I.M. Pei himself to “design a building that takes in an old sanctuary from Eastern Europe that was destroyed in the Holocaust and use concrete and glass to rebuild it – an ode to the past in a modern context.” At the nearby library of UC San Diego, Ryan found illustrated books about the synagogues of Eastern Europe, whose congregants had been annihilated in the Holocaust. Synagogues Without Jews by Rifka and Ben-Zion Dorfman proved particularly helpful. [Donald H. Harrison]
Sanctuary Modeled After Those of Lost Eastern European Communities Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
Congregants of Tifereth Israel Synagogue observed Israel Independence Day on Wednesday night with singing, dancing, flag waving, and a frank discussion about the embarrassment some feel over the current course of the Israeli government. [Donald H. Harrison]
Forum Illustrates American Jewish Uneasiness over Israeli Policies Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy a margin of 8-1, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that would require landlords to provide two to three months rent money to blameless tenants whom they have evicted. Seniors would receive a greater allowance under the proposal. Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, who proposed the ordinance that will come up for a final vote May 16, commented: “San Diegans who are paying their rent and abiding by their lease should not live in fear of eviction. Sadly, too often, San Diego renters are being evicted despite the rules. These evictions cause massive financial and emotional distress to families and can lead to displacement and put people at risk of homelessness. This ordinance provides the protections that San Diego renters need and deserve.” Councilwoman Dr. Jen Campbell was the lone vote against the measure, saying she was following the wishes of many constituents to whom she had spoken in her 2nd Council District. [Donald H. Harrison]
Entertainment attorney Bryan Freedman has been separately retained by cable news hosts Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon, who on Monday were both dismissed from their respective positions at Fox News and Cable News Network. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, welcomed Carlson’s departure saying in Tweet: “It’s about time. For far too long, Tucker Carlson has used his primetime show to spew antisemitic racist, xenophobic & anti-LGBTQ hate to millions.” Meanwhile Ken Stone of Times of San Diego has reported that San Diego-based One America News’s CEO and Founder Robert Herring Sr. said, “It would be great if we could get Tucker! I might give him around $25 million. And he would be well worth that!” U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) tweeted: “Now that fox has fired Carlson, who blundered by speaking off-camera truth about lies Fox told on air, will Fox recant Trump’s Big Lie, Carlson’s ‘Patriot Purge’ Jan. 6 false-flag disinformation & the toxic Great Replacement Theory? Or was he just fired for saying he hated Trump?” [Donald H. Harrison]
The Jewish Eye: S.D. Civic Improvements; Carlson Aftermath; Reich’s ‘Treason’ Argument Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Can you imagine what life would be like if it was built, truly built, on love? Hashem comes to teach us in this week’s double Torah reading that not only can such a world exist, but that He delegates us to build that world. The teachings found
Parashat Acharei – Kedoshim: A World Built on Love Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellHolocaust Survivor Joseph Alexander, 100, will tell of his experiences at Chabad of Poway at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 27, exactly four years after a gunman murdered Lori Gilbert Kaye and wounded four other people. Reservations are required via chabadpoway.com. On May 4, Cheryl Rattner Price, executive director of The Butterfly Project, and Sandra Scheller, curator of the RUTH: Remember Us the Holocaust, will be among speakers at a 1:30 p.m. presentation on the Holocaust at Southwestern College in Chula Vista. Lee Ann Kim, former KGTV-10 reporter and founder of the Pacific Arts Movement, will emcee the event, which also will include a performance by singer Elizabeth Schwartz. [Donald H. Harrison]
San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, in a newsletter to constituents, provided this background for introducing a proposed ordinance to protect renters that will be heard next week: “Imagine being at home with your family and opening the mail to find that you’ll need to move. You’ve always paid your rent on time and there are no accusations that you’ve broken a term of your lease. Nonetheless, you are being evicted and need to find a new place to live. Imagine the stress of breaking the news to your family coupled with the stress of trying to find a home you can afford when rental prices have skyrocketed to an average of over $3,000 per month for a modest two-bedroom apartment. Would you be able to afford to continue to live in San Diego?” [Donald H. Harrison]
The Jewish Eye: Renters Relief, Legislative Caucus, Antisemitism, Yom HaZikaron Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County
The construction of Dodger Stadium at Chavez Ravine was controversial – so much so that it tore at a traditional alliance between the Mexican-American community and the Jewish community who, between the two World Wars, lived side by side the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights.. [Donald H. Harrison]