Judaism

‘Jewish Bestiary’ Unpacks the Actual and Mystical Roles Animals Play in Our Lives

“A Jewish Bestiary: Fabulous Creatures from Hebraic Legend & Lore,” by Mark Podwal; The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, PA, ©2021; ISBN 9780271091730; 70 pages, plus bibliography; $14.86. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Close contact between animals and humans, according to the Hebrew Bible, happened soon after creation: God brought them before […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Children’s Literature: Pesach in 1950’s Iran

A Persian Passover by Etan Basseri (Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh); Moosic, Pennsylvania: Kalaniot Books, © 2022; ISBN 9781735-087566; 32 pages including glossary; $19.99. SAN DIEGO – The red-cheeked children on the cover of this charming little story are Ezra, who likes to run, and his little sister, Roza, who adores her big brother.  Unfortunately, Ezra

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion

Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5: Chapter 9

Even with the major portion of the old saltworks being repurposed, one still can see how salt is processed from sea water. A three-step process occurs within shallow ponds with levees around them. In the first pond, seawater evaporates to the point that it becomes brine. That is moved to a second shallow pond for further evaporation, and finally into a third pond where the salt crystallizes. From here the salt is dredged out of the pond and made into salt mounds, which quickly crust over, protecting the salt inside the mounds. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Children’s Literature: ‘Matzah Means So Many Things’

The book starts with how our senses perceive matzah. What are its ingredients?  What does it look like?  What color is it?  What is its texture? How does it sound when it is being boiled in matzoh ball soup?  How does it smell when its being baked into an apple matzah kugel?  What kind of yummy foods can you spread on it? [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History

Parashat Vayakhel/Shabbat Shekalim: The Power of Community

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This special week, on Shabbat Shekalim, we read parashat Vayakhel. This is the first of several Shabbatot leading to Passover, including Shabbat Zachor (April 12, 9 Adar II), Shabbat Parah (April 26, 23 Adar II), Shabbat HaChodesh (April 2, 1 Nissan) and Shabbat HaGadol (April 9, 8

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Disability Awareness: Going Further to Make This a Better World

Susan Lisker recently gave the following Drash (sermon) at Ohr Shalom Synagogue. This month is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). By Susan Lisker SAN DIEGO — The Parasha for this week is Tetzaveh. It means you will command (or order). The word is from the Hebrew root TZ(adik), V(av), H(ei). It’s also

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Book Provides Comprehensive Analysis of Sephardic-Ashkenazi Differences

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Haim Jachter, the rabbi of a Sephardic synagogue for more than 20 years who is of Ashkenazic descent and trained in Ashkenazic yeshivot, tells readers about more than 100 differences in the religious practices between Ashkenazim and Sephardim. Ashkenazim are Jews of eastern European descent. Sephardic

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Morris Casuto, 79, Defender of the Jewish People

Morris Casuto, the Anti-Defamation League regional director who defended San Diego County’s Jewish community against antisemites while forging good relations with other ethnic and religious groups within the county, died from leukemia Friday night, February 11, at the UCSD Jacobs Medical Center.  Graveside funeral services for Casuto, 79, will be conducted at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at El Camino Memorial Park. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County