Jewish History

Pottery indicates some Israelites worshiped multiple deities

Moses, ‘following G-d’s orders,’ carves a second pair of tablets following which he receives additional orders regarding entrance to the promised land: Ch. 34: vv. 12-13 “Beware of making a covenant with the inhabitants…No, you must tear down their altars, smash their pillars, and cut down their sacred asherim).” [Irv Jacobs, MD]

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Two S.D. Jewish community builders lauded

I had the honor on Wednesday night to be the speaker at the Beth Israel Men’s Club. My topic was the historic contributions of two Jewish San Diegans who had been members of Congregation Beth Israel: Marcus Schiller and Jacob Weinberger.  Both men were immigrants to this country from Europe, both had been active in the political life of San Diego, and both helped to form institutions that are prominent in our local Jewish community.

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

New Mexico’s Crypto-Jews subject of informative tour

When Jordi was just ten years old, his grandfather said, “This is how we butcher a chicken,” as he demonstrated the kosher slaughtering method. Jordi’s grandfather thereby revealed that the family was Jewish, a startling surprise for a young boy in the 1990s living in Spain, whose family was ostensibly Roman Catholic like everybody else. This revelation, that they were Crypto-Jews (secret Jews), had a profound effect on Jordi, who eventually became the first rabbi in 500 years to be ordained in Spain.

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food, USA

A Very Personal Trip to Prague

From the moment we entered the city, I felt the presence of the Jews who are no longer there. I wondered about every Czech person we met (and they were all lovely).  Where were their parents or grandparents during the Shoah? Did they help or hide any Jews, or did they stand along the sidewalks and cheer the Germans as they entered the city?  I loved the magnificent architecture, taking my photo next to a statue of Franz Kafka, walking the picturesque streets, but my soul couldn’t escape the past. (To read more, please click on the headline.)

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Toby Klein Greenwald, Travel and Food

Our Shtetl San Diego County: October 10, 2019

Items in today’s column include:
*Google service places inappropriate ads on our website
*Lineup for “Tapestry” on Nov. 17 announced
*Nikki Haley featured in L’Chaim Magazine
*Political bytes
*Twelfth Night at the Old Globe
*Coming Our Way
(To read more, please click on the headline.)

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Two rabbinic leaders disputed Torah in ancient times

Two Talmudic sages lived around 130 CE and disagreed on how to interpret the Bible. Rabbi Akiva won out, and Rashi, Nachmanides, and most ancient Bible commentators as well as most Midrashim follow his view. Others, such as Rashi’s grandson Rashbam, Abraham ibn Ezra, and Maimonides interpret the Torah as Rabbi Ishmael did. (To read more, please click on the headline.)

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Jews excluded from British Holocaust commemoration

In a chilling message about the future of Britain, the University College Union in Britain sent out an email to all their groups informing them of the Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 commemorations next year. What is chilling is the fact that they listed trade unions, Roma gypsies, gays and lesbians, black people, Jehovah’s Witnesses, as the named victims of the Holocaust.

But thaey “forgot” to mention Jews!! (To read more, please click on headline.)

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Barry Shaw, International, Jewish History

Sefer Devarim and Jewish Sovereignty  

Sefer Devarim, the last “book” of Torah, is also called Deuteronomy because it contains many laws (1) that were not presented earlier and are especially relevant to the conquering and settlement of Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel). Commanded to conquer and “take possession” of Canaan, the Jewish people were apparently having doubts about whether this was possible, what it would cost in lives, if they would be successful, and what they should do with the Canaanites.  
Contemporary Israelis ask similar questions. Although the words of Torah guide our lives, some have a political meaning today, and may be, for some, controversial.  (To read more, please click on headline.)

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Mystery of Kol Nidre unfolded

Kol Nidre meaning all vows is an 8th century Talmudic legal document written to seek annulment of broken personal religious vows to God. It is in Aramaic, as is the Kaddish, and as a legal document there is no mention of God. Vows were taken very seriously, and supplicants appeared before three wise men (rabbinic court) and recited the Kol Nidre words three times to void their vows This ritual was practiced for centuries and eventually was added to the prayer book. Since it is not a prayer, it was placed before the actual beginning of Yom Kippur evening service. (To read more, please click headline.)

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Holocaust survivors remember childhood traumas

Survivors of the Holocaust: True Stories of Six Extraordinary Children, edited by Keith Shackleton, illustrated by Zane Whittingham; Sourcebooks, © 2019; ISBN pending, 96 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –This set of six memoirs, illustrated cartoon style, is intended to make the Holocaust accessible to children ages 10 and up. Today living in

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History

Holocaust answers in de Wind memoir

Not all members of today’s de Wind family, although all descendants of the Patriarch Issachar, are Jewish.

After a “mini-diaspora” from “Holland” in the late 1800s and early 1900s to places as close as Belgium and Spain and as far as Asia and the Americas, the Levys-de Winds married into other nationalities, ethnicities and religions.

But most have never forgotten their Jewish roots.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorian de Wind, International, Jewish History

Tuskegee Civil Rights Trail is dedicated

Friday, September 20, 2019, in the Tuskegee City Municipal Center, the 13-marker Tuskegee Civil Rights and Historic Trail was dedicated.  The Trail was the ten-year dream of Tuskegee University History professor and Archivist Dana Chandler.  The Trail will be included in the U.S. Park Service’s Civil Rights trails. The Trail came to be because of a biracial, multi-religious partnership in Tuskegee, Alabama.

It had been a long-frustrated dream because Dr. Chandler was unable to find funding to create the system.  Grant monies did not come through. State and local funding did not happen. Private funding seemed impossible, until, with indomitable persistence he spoke with the President of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, Jerry Klinger, about his idea. (To read more, please click on headline.)

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Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 23, 2019

Items in today’s column: *Climate warming emergency drives Micah Perlin’s Assembly candidacy *Personal wealth vs. political endorsements in 53rd C.D. race *Some of the honorable traits animals share with humans *A play about immigration has premiered at the Old Globe Theatre *Mazel tov! Mazel tov! *Passages By Donald H. Harrison Climate warming emergency drives Micah

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Witnesses heard in Poway Chabad shooting

Chabad of Poway takes pride in welcoming all Jews. Indeed, on the last day of Passover, one of its front doors was propped open by a pottery planter.

But when a gunman raced up the steps to the synagogue that April morning, he began shooting through that open door. Rounds from his recently purchased Smith & Wesson AR-15 entered the lobby before he did.

Surveillance video screened in court Thursday showed Lori Gilbert Kaye, 60, being killed — and an Army combat veteran chasing the shooter out of the synagogue, perhaps saving dozens of lives.

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Jewish History, Ken Stone, San Diego County