By Michael Freund PALERMO, Italy — Something extraordinary is happening in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. More than five centuries after the forced conversion to Catholicism of large numbers of Sicilian Jews, followed by the expulsion of the rest, a nascent rebirth is well underway, as growing numbers of Sicily’s Bnei Anousim (whom historians refer […]
Jewish life reborn in Sicily Read More »
International, Jewish History
NEW DELHI (AJC)–Indian soldier and statesman Lt. Gen. (ret.) J.F.R. Jacob, 92, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, in New Delhi. He was for decades the most prominent member of his country’s Jewish community, whose remarkable life included service in World War II in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and command of India’s Eastern Army during
J.F.R. Jacob, India’s soldier – statesman Read More »
International, Obituaries & memorials
By Rabbi Jeffrey Lipschultz ROCK ISLAND, Illinois — One of the tough rituals I have done for the last twelve years is to go to Phoenix to visit my brother’s grave every January 3rd, the day he died in his tragic accident. This year, right before heading to the airport on January 3rd, I stopped by again
Speaking for your brother Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
Karen Levine, Hana’s Suitcase: The Quest to Solve a Holocaust Mystery; © 20r Te02, 2012; Random House Children’s Books; ISBN 978-1-101-93349-7; 135 pages, $9.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Perhaps because I’m in the process of researching a local biography, I’m all the more impressed by the resourcefulness and stick-to-it-iveness of Fumiko Ishioka,
Biographers can be inspired by Fumiko Ishioka Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — When Moses did approach Pharaoh he was not alone. His brother, Aaron, accompanied him. The Torah tells us that Moses had a speech impediment and did not believe himself sufficiently articulate to convince Pharaoh without some assistance. Several excellent questions were raised by the disciples of Rabbi Shmuel Mohliver:
When the two messiahs come! Read More »
Jewish ReligionVaerah – Obstacle or Opportunity? You Decide! By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — When Moshe originally spoke to the Jewish people about G-d’s plan to redeem them, Moshe performed the signs G-d had given him, people, upon witnessing the signs, were convinced that G-d had, indeed, sent Moshe to redeem them. They enthusiastically bowed
Weekly Torah portion: Vaerah Read More »
Jewish Religion
-38th in a series– Exit 11, 70th Street, San Diego ~ Former Congregation Beth Tefilah By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Today the structure at 69th and Mohawk Streets houses the Skyline Fellowship Korean Church but when it was constructed in 1971 it was the home of Congregation Beth Tefilah (House of Prayer), a Conservative
I-8 Jewish Travel: The synagogue that once was Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and FoodI Don’t Know What to Believe: Making Spiritual Peace With Your Religion by Rabbi Ben Kamin; Central Recovery Press, © 2016; ISBN 878-1-942094-04-3; 224 pages; $16.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Rabbi Kamin’s columns appear regularly on San Diego Jewish World. In fairness to those reading this review, it should be noted that we
Take from Bible what’s best, leave the rest Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionLA JOLLA, California (SDJW) — The Holocaust Living History Workshop at UCSD has scheduled 5 p.m. presentations by survivor Max Garcia and refugee Moselio Schaechter in the Seuss Room of the Geisel Library respectively on January 13 and Feb. 10. Susanne Hillman, project manager, provided these sketches of the upcoming presentations: Think Only of Today:
Workshops on Holocaust set at UCSD Read More »
International, Jewish History, San Diego CalendarBy Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — The Yom Kippur war of 1973 was an Israeli military success to the extent that when the cease fire came into effect the Syrian invading army had been pushed back behind the 1967 armistice line and though Egyptian forces had established a beachhead on the Israeli held side of
Ashraf Marwan: Master spy for Israel or Egypt? Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastSpiritual needs should take precedence over physical needs By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — Moshe is one of the most selfless leaders to ever guide a nation. As a young man being raised in the palace of Pharaoh surrounded by luxury and the choicest material pleasures the world had to offer, Moshe would daily
Weekly Torah portion: Shemot Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The video of religious Jews dancing in ecstasy over the killing of Arabs provokes another note about religion, and Jews’ contribution to the complexity. Some would say the beauty of faith in ideas beyond us. Others would say the mess. What follows might be arcane for some, and not appear
Bible did not define Jewish land borders Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastOCEANSIDE, California — This world could have lived without 2015. It would be so much easier to cope with things if God simply intervened and cleaned up all the messes. No more global warming. The extinction of racial intolerance. No more human trafficking. The elimination of jihadist terror. A world of kind intentions. As one of
Miracles? They’re what we do to make world better Read More »
Jewish Religion
The Jewish Farming Settlement of Clarion, Utah: The Possible, Impossible dream (Editor’s Note: The following historical article is reprinted with permission from the Winter 2016 edition of Western States Jewish Quarterly.) By Jerry Klinger CLARION, Utah — European anti-Semitism had not improved by the latter half of the 19th century. If anything it became more vicious. “What
‘There’s a Jewish story every where’: Clarion, Utah Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Travel and Food, USA