I have chosen four passage types from the parasha, for comparison with ancient non-Israelite practices, from what I could find in internet sources. They concern such subjects as rebellion, salt, incense, and miracles. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Ancient practices: Rebellion, salt, incense, miracles Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
A charming video of Jewish music was shared on Facebook by Cantor Orly Campbell Saturday evening that originated in Los Angeles and included cantors from San Diego, Florida, and Arkansas. [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]
A birthday cantorial concert during lockdown Read More »
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA
(D)uring the journey through the wilderness, we come upon Korach with his self-aggrandizing, self-focused self-interest, and his lack of a relationship with Hashem. Korach’s style of leadership was doomed to fail. To Korach, material wealth and personal power far outweighed the benefit of being spiritually anchored. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Leaders and pretenders to leadership Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
The Internet is being used for good, bad, and terrible as attested to by the messages, news releases, and articles that reach our in-box at San Diego Jewish World. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Internet: the good, bad, and appalling Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Leave them up? Or tear them down? As the recent decision by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City attests, to remove a statue of Theodore Roosevelt in the company of a Native American and an African American, we have entered a time of monumental decision making. [Op-Ed by Donald H. Harrison]
The making of monumental decisions Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
In the early-1940’s, B’nai Emunah, a synagogue that was a hybrid of Orthodox and Conservative practice, built a new building, only to learn that many women protested and refused to sit upstairs in the women’s balcony. How did the synagogue resolve that dispute? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: Tulsa, Oklahoma Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USASunday being Father’s Day, I couldn’t help but think about a conversation held approximately 111 years ago between a son and his father. The father’s first name was Velvel, the name he had been given in Lithuania well before he immigrated to the United States during the 1880s when American ports were open to all who were healthy and wished to work hard. The first name of the son was Meyer. He was born in the United States, was a talented draftsman, a good student, and in 1909, earned a university degree as a professional architect. [Donald H. Harrison]
Reflection, introspection on Father’s Day Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, USAIt is six days shy of a full month between the killing of George Floyd on May 25 by a Minneapolis police officer and today’s ‘Juneteenth’ celebration. It has been a time of daily marches and national protests for racial justice, and a time for deep reflection throughout America. Many communities, including our fellow Jews, have been reflecting on such questions as “in what ways can we help to bridge gaps and create understanding and unity in our country?” “How can Jewish tradition and values guide us in our search for societal harmony?” and “In what manner do we best start?” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Juneteenth and Jewish community reflection, action Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAI have chosen three passages from this week’s parsha, for comparison with ancient non-Israelite practices, from what I could find in internet sources. (Irv Jacobs, MD)
Ancient views of military scouts, cowardice, and divine retribution Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East
Thomas Sowell is one of the greatest intellectuals in the world today. Back in 1999, he wrote a remarkable book, The Quest for Cosmic Justice. He relates in his book about the time in 1919 when The Bolsheviks created the secret police known as the Cheka. The similarities between the rhetoric of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Cheka are astounding. Sowell cited records from that era, which ought to sound familiar to us—a century later: (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel)
Thomas Sowell, Bolsheviks, and BLM rhetoric Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
The spies realized that once they entered the Promised Land they would have to work the earth and earn a living. They would not have the same amount of time or energy to serve G-d in the way that they had become accustomed. They therefore came up with a plan. ‘Let’s convince the people to stay in the desert, in the cradle of G-d, rather than enter a land that would demand hard work.’ There was one problem with this approach; it was not what G-d wanted! [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Work is Godly Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Here are streaming Jewish lectures and forums that you may access via the internet. All times local Pacific Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Lectures and Forums Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Retired California theater producer and drama professor George Kovach is the stepson the late Cecelia ”Cilka” Klein who was the subject of a recent Holocaust sex and romance novel by an Australian novelist named Heather Morris, who wrote an earlier sex and romance novel set during the Holocaust titled The Tattooist of Auschwitz. In Morris’ sequel to her bestselling first novel, titled Cilka’s Journey, she focused on Cecelia Klein, and Kovach found the portrayal of his Jewish stepmother highly objectionable. [Dan Bloom]
Redeeming a Holocaust Survivor’s reputation Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History
The plague of 2020 still hangs heavily in the air, shuttering our theatres and concert halls. But thanks to the miracle of YouTube, the 27th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival goes on. Highlighting the lives and contributions of hard-working women, two of this year’s Women of Valor are Heidi Gantwerk, Board Chair of San Diego Jewish Academy, and Sharleen Wollach of the Jewish Community Foundation. [Eric George Tauber]
Two Women of Valor building trust and community Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Judaism, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast