By Michael Mantell, Ph.D SAN DIEGO — What lesson have we not learned from one of the most basic principles in Judaism, “Love your fellow Jew as yourself”? It’s preached on pulpit after pulpit, regardless of the sex of the rabbi, the color of the rabbi’s tallit, whether the rabbi wears a kippah or not, […]
‘Derech Eretz’: The way Jews can come together Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Travel and FoodElizabeth Rosner, Survivor Café, The Legacy of Trauma [and the] Labyrinth of Memory (Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2017) 270 pages, $26 © Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — Elizabeth Rosner comes to trauma study under unique personal circumstances. Her father, Carl Rosner originally of Hamburg, was freed from Buchenwald concentration camp at the age of 15 in 1945
When trauma is transmitted parent to child Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Oliver PollakBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The tenth anniversary of Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices was ushered in with an impressive line-up of featured poets. The January 23 program in the Astor Judaica Library at the Lawrence Family JCC opened with Chris Baron, Professor of English at San Diego City College. His book of poems, Under
Jewish poets read their works at Lawrence Family JCC Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
The Rabbinate in Stormy Days by Shaul Mayzlish; Gefen Publishing House By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — As a Masorti (Conservative) Jew living in Israel, there’s a lot to be learned from this history of the modern State of Israel’s first chief rabbi, Yitzhak Isaac HaLevi Herzog, who of course was deeply religious. The Chief
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — “Who among you knows the names of your great-grandparents?” the speaker asked. Only a few of us put our hands up. “Who of you has a family tree?” he continued. Even fewer of our group of English-speakers living in Israel responded positively. Our speaker, Neville Lamdan, proceeded to explain
Recording our Jewish roots Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish HistoryMoadim Perspectives: Chanukah – Purim, by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Rabbi Dr. Solomon Breuer, and Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer, Feldheim Publishers, New York, © 2018, ISBN 978-1-68025-072-5, p. 241, $22.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Moadim Perspectives: Chanukah – Purim is the third in a series of books on Jewish holidays by the Rabbi
A scholarly family writes of Chanukah, Purim Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionNo Resting Place: Holocaust Poland by Rick Halperin and Denise Gee; photographs by Sherry Aikman SMU Embrey Human Rights Program/Terrace Partners (October 2017). Hardcover (11.75” x 11”); 168 pages; 206 color images; $39.95. ISBN 978-0-692-85960-5 By Edwin Black No Resting Place/Holocaust Poland achieves searing power to illuminate the dark burning reality of Nazi concentration camps
‘No Resting Place’ sears and stuns Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Edwin Black, Jewish History
Through My Father’s Eyes by Barry Fischer; Fischer Family Press; © 2014; ISBN 9780991-073313; 211 pages; $19.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –This memoir is a good introduction to the Holocaust for middle school students and older. It is written in a clear, conversational style, the author remembering how his father, Mayer Fischer, described
Son relates his father’s Holocaust survival Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish HistoryEFRAT, Israel — Two years ago, Rabbi Gideon Osher Shmueli donated a kidney to a stranger, saving that individual’s life. These days, he works at Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn, N.Y., teaching Hebrew and bringing with that teaching the culture and values of Judaism and eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel. To him, teaching about Judaism
Orthodox network sends emissaries to San Diego Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Chaim Hollander, spiritual leader of Young Israel of San Diego, proclaims, “We can never be satisfied with our accomplishments and rest on our laurels. We must constantly strive to move forward.” When in 1988 three families in the Del Cerro – San Carlos neighborhoods of San
‘Super Tuesday’ raises $30,000 for Young Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County
Holocaust Postal History by Justin Gordon; Six Point Watermark;© 2016; ISBN 9780997-840100; 138 pages plus glossaries, bibliography and index. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The author of this richly illustrated book deserved compliments for his persistence as a collector, his clarity as a writer, and his ability as a researcher. No matter how
The Holocaust seen through its postal history Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History
(c) Oliver Pollak PORTLAND, Oregon — In the Summer of 2017 we took a 5,500-mile road trip. Richmond, California to Vancouver. The California and Oregon coasts were beautiful. Fish and chips galore. Right turn to the Trans-Canada Highway to a wedding in Winnipeg. Right turn to Omaha, Nebraska. Right turn and back to California. We
Holocaust museum completes memorable Portland trip Read More »
Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Alfred Jacobs was an unassuming man, yet his graveside service at the Home of Peace Cemetery on Friday was packed with more than 100 friends, fellow congregants, and the rabbis of two neighboring congregations – the Conservative Tifereth Israel Synagogue and the Chabad of East County. Jacobs, 93,
Al Jacobs, tailor and musician, 1924-2017 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego CountyBy Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — I am helping in the preparation of an exhibit at the Richmond Museum of History — “Pioneer Jews to the Present: Jews of Richmond and Contra Costa County.” I am reaching out to San Diego Jewish World readers who may have memories, photographs, artifacts or stories about Richmond and
Contra Costa County Jewish history exhibit seeks help Read More »
Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USA