San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, conceding she had lost the mayor’s race to Assemblyman Todd Gloria, told a news conference on Zoom Monday that she plans to organize a new political organization to give neighborhoods and residents a stronger voice at City Hall. [Donald H. Harrison]
Bry concedes mayoral race; plans neighborhood political organization Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County
Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy since 1984, died this week after an 18-month battle against pancreatic cancer. The winner of seven Emmy Awards, Trebek was also known as an activist and philanthropist, supporting causes including World Vision Canada and the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue at the University of Ottawa. One of the fun aspects of the Jeopardy program is that on many occasions, the categories are given clever names, often with puns. Which of the following is a real Jeopardy category that contained an answer and question of Jewish content? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Alex Trebek, RIP Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire
I read some books and essays recently focusing on the “truths” that people of different religions have that differ with the “truths” held by people of other religions. The object of the books and essays is to find how we can improve interfaith relations when the lives of different people are based on ideas that they find hard to give up despite others refusing or unable to accept what they believe. Examples include the “truth” held by many Christians that there is a trinity of three gods, that of many Jewish mystics that God was composed of ten parts that came apart, and that of Muslims who “know” that Mohamed received the Koran from God. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A Radical View about ‘Truth’ Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
NETANYA, Israel — In the 8th Nov 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
Israel begins human trials of Israeli Covid-19 vaccine.
A new Israeli breath test detects Covid-19 carriers even without symptoms.
An Israeli groundbreaking way to produce X-rays.
An Israeli app prevents drivers from texting while driving.
Twice-daily low-cost flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai.
Israeli maritime technology is protecting most of the world’s ships.
A new museum of Jewish history is being built in Jerusalem. [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (Nov. 8, 2020) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the much respected former chief rabbi of the UK, has died aged 72.Sacks was highly esteemed around the Jewish world for his erudition, his wisdom, and his prolific authorship of works on Jewish thought.Sacks announced in the middle of October that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment, but
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, former chief rabbi of Great Britain has died Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials
Washington (AFP) – When Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman and first Black US vice president, her husband Doug Emhoff will break his own new ground: as the original “second husband.”Harris and Emhoff, who married in 2014 — she for the first time, he for the second — will also be the first
Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff to be first ‘second gentleman’ Read More »
Jewish History, USA
In this week’s portion the Torah continues the narrative of our righteous Patriarch, Avraham. When we study his devotion to G-d we are truly awestruck by his profound connection and his willingness to do ‘whatever it took’ to fulfill the desires of the Master of the Universe. Avraham became known to all subsequent generations because of the enormous tests that he successfully navigated. Put into modern American terms, “Avraham batted 1,000.” [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Effective Prayer 101 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Va-Yera shows Abraham’s hospitality toward strangers, who turn out to be messengers of God. The messengers’ report that Sarah will have a child in a year. It also includesGod’s plan to destroy Sodom and Gemorrah; Abraham’s plea to save those cities if a small number of righteous persons lived there; the encounter of Lot with Sodomites while he hosted two visitors; the destruction of those cities and Lot’s escape with two virginal daughters; incest between the daughters and Lot; Abraham’s further travels and encounters with King Abimelech of Gerar; Sarah giving birth to Isaac; the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael from the family; the Akedah of Isaac; and lastly more genealogy of Abraham’s kin. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Comparing Torah (Va-Yera) with Ancient Practices Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East
This week’s Torah portion (Va-Yera) begins with three men stopping to visit Abraham and Sarah. They might have been messengers of God or even God’s angels, coming to tell Abraham that Sarah would give birth to a son within one year. Because they are old, Sarah laughs at this idea, but the messengers assure them both it will happen. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah For Children: Choose the right path Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
Following are scholarly and popular programs on Jewish-interest subjects that may be accessed between Sunday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Nov.13, via the Internet. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 8-13) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
Marcia Tatz Wollner, the Western Regional Director of March of the Living, urges people to participate in the worldwide “Let There Be Light” project on the evening of Monday, Nov 9, through the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 10. The project commemorates the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, when the Nazi government ordered the destruction of synagogues and Jewish businesses throughout Germany and Austria. [VIDEO story by Sandi Masori]
Speaking out against hate during global Kristallnacht remembrance Nov. 9 Read More »
International, Jewish History, Marcia Tatz Wollner, San Diego County, Sandi Masori
Shmuel Cohen was the musical composer of the Hatikvah. Purists argue that he was not the composer. They argue that Cohen was simply the adapter, the borrower, of music such as Smetena’s “The Moldau” that had originated in his pre-Aliyah home in Romania. [Jerry Klinger]
Grave restored of Hatikvah composer Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA
We learn in Vayikra Rabba, “Bar Kappara said: Great is peace, for the Scriptures reported in the Torah a prevarication which was used in order to maintain peace between Abraham and Sarah. This is proved by what is written, And Sarah laughed within herself, saying…and my master is old; but [when He repeated this] to Abraham, He said: [Sarah said]: And I am old.” Further, “Rabbi Ishmael taught: Great is peace, for even of the Great Name, written though it be in sanctity, did the Holy One, blessed be He, say that it may be blotted out in water, for the purpose of making peace between husband and wife.” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Torah teaches peace-keeping is divine Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The Florida principal who made controversial remarks about the Holocaust has been fired for a second time.The Palm Beach County School Board voted unanimously to rescind an Oct. 7 vote to rehire William Latson, former principal at Spanish River High in Boca Raton.The earlier 4-3 vote was based on the ruling of an administrative law judge that Latson was improperly fired in 2019, but Chairman Frank Barbieri called for a new vote, saying School Board members may not have realized the judge’s decision was a recommendation. [South Florida Sun Sentinel]
Florida principal fired for second time over Holocaust remarks Read More »
International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA