The Jewish Historical Society of San Diego, which maintains archives of our community’s history at San Diego State University, has acquired several more collections that will help researchers understand how our local Jewish community developed. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Historical Society obtains new collections Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Our area may wish to consider an idea raised by Oakland Mayor Rebecca Kaplan that cruise ships may provide appropriate lodging for our homeless population. Older cruise ships are being sold all the time, and with some ingenuity, they can be outfitted to serve not only as dormitories and mess halls but also as places where necessary social services and medical treatment can be easily provided. [Donald H. Harrison]
On homelessness, impeachment, immigration Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA
Many people are mistakenly convinced that the Jewish holiday of Chanukah celebrates the victory of the Jewish religion over Hellenism and that the enemy was Greece. Neither supposed fact is true. The Jews in Judea, Egypt and other countries of the diaspora had a longstanding favorable relationship with the Greeks and Hellenism well before and long after the incidents that prompted the rebellion of Judah Maccabee, his father and brothers in 168 BCE. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Chanukah story does not criticize Greeks Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion
The slain San Francisco County Supervisor Harvey Milk (1930-1978) is celebrated as the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. Besides being gay, he also was Jewish. Both communities can take pride in the United States Navy deciding to name after him a new fleet oiler that is being built at General Dynamics NASSCO here in San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]
Work begins on USNS Harvey Milk Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Ken Stone, San Diego County
I was given the high honor of being invited to this year’s Chanukah party at the White House. When a dear friend asked if I wanted to go I jumped at the chance. Why? It was not to see the holiday decorations (which made me feel as though I was in a winter wonderland), sample the lavish strictly kosher buffet (all I had was a couple of glasses of water), hear the Marine Corps band play Klezmer music (now THAT was otherworldly), see the historic displays of chinaware, meet the members of various branches of the armed services in their full dress regalia, or even to get the chance to meet the President, First Lady, Vice President, or other elected officials or dignitaries. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A ‘Chanukah’ Party at the White House Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
I realize not everyone may like President Trump. I get that. But regardless how you might feel about him, you have to give him credit for signing an Executive Order on Wednesday providing new and stronger protections for Jewish students on college campuses against anti-Semitic attacks and harassment. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Trump deserves credit for this executive order Read More »
Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
A benevolent calendar coincidence, occurring every few years, will bring us on Dec. 24 to the shared lighting of solstice calendars by both Christians and Jews. The solar and lunar calendar cycles have intertwined, and so this Christmas Eve will coincide with the third night of Hanukkah, 5780. The circumstances should work to everyone’s advantage on Earth and must be pleasing to the heavens. [Rabbi Ben Kamin]
On the approaching night of shared candles Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA
By Steve Kramer AMSTERDAM, Holland — It wasn’t quite winter, but it felt like it, when my wife Michal and I visited Amsterdam at the end of November. Having been to Amsterdam about 25 years ago with our young sons, it wasn’t at the top of our wish list, especially since it’s overcrowded with
Amsterdam: the good and the ugly Read More »
International, Jewish History, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
Sephardic Jews who were expelled in the late 15th century from Portugal and Spain learned about cocoa and the production of chocolate from the indigenous peoples of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Keeping up contacts with non-Jewish acquaintances who had remained on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, they helped to popularize chocolate and develop it as a product in international trade. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews and chocolate: 500 years of sweetness Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
On one side of the seating area on Sunday, Dec. 8, was a documented German cattle car used to transport Jews from Warsaw to their death in Treblinka. On the opposite side was a full-sized WWII era American Sherman tank, the kind of war machine needed and used to end the Holocaust. It was a dramatic setting for a crowd of hundreds to view the opening of Israel Then and Now, a traveling exhibit combining historical images, milestone moments, interactive media, and film. [Jerry Klinger]
Traveling Israel exhibit opens in Florida Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA
Binyamin Netanyahu is the most powerful politician in Israel. Yet he often describes himself as a victim – of the media, of the police, of the judiciary, now even of an alleged cabal within his own party led by his rival Gideon Sa’ar. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Netanyahu has a persecution complex Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
Other items in this column include: *Numbers add up for Butterfly Project *Political bytes *Mazal tov! Mazal tov! By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — In furtherance of the goals of the newly created San Diego Holocaust Survivor Coalition, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County has published a prototype book, sketching the lives of
Book charts lives, legacies of Holocaust survivors Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA
Elana Levens-Craig, granddaughter of the late Rabbi Monroe Levens of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, is seeking election to a third term on the Santee School District Board. In 2016, she ran unopposed, and, so far, it looks as if she will again have no opposition. The Santee School District has nine K-8 schools, serving approximately 7,000 students.[Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi’s granddaughter seeks 3rd school board term Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
True to its roots, when it was founded in 1936 to help European Jews who were being persecuted by the Nazi regime in Germany, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County on Tuesday, Dec. 3, launched a community-wide coalition to come to the aid and honor an estimated 500 Holocaust survivors who live in the county today. [Donald H. Harrison]
Community coalition to aid Holocaust Survivors Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA