Jewish History

Family, clergy, extol Cantor Merel on his 95th birthday

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Family members and three fellow clergy saluted Cantor Emeritus Shelly Foster Merel of Congregation Beth Israel  on his 95th birthday  during a dinner gathering Saturday night, May 18, at the Bay Club Hotel and Marina on Shelter Island.  There were so many speakers that the presentations went on

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Anti- Semitic imagery at San Diego State University

By Peter C. Herman Times of San Diego SAN DIEGO — On May 8, the Women’s Resource Center at San Diego State University sent out a newsletter featuring announcements for lectures, courses from the Women’s Studies Department, and other items of interest. But at the bottom of the email, a student inserted a poster-like image

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International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Israel’s Tourism Triumph, Part IV

To read previous installments, please click on the number desired:1,2,3  The Religious Lure © Edwin Black JERUSALEM — When the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement [BDS] mounted a campaign against Israel, it targeted more than Israel’s economy, including tourism—which has nonetheless flourished beyond any expectation. The “D” in BDS really stands for delegitimize. So the

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Edwin Black, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

No reason to trust what Rep. Rashida Tlaib says

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Some of the most embarrassing mistakes that occur in human communication happen when people experience an unfortunate “slip of the tongue.” The words come out differently than what we consciously intend for them to mean. Sigmund Freud was a remarkable man whose interests spanned across the

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International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

The Myth of Lag B’Omer

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The following is from my book Mysteries of Judaism without the footnotes. The semi-holiday Lag B’omer is based on an unsubstantiated and unlikely tradition. Lag B’omer means the thirty-third day since bringing the barley harvest (omer) to the tabernacle and later temples to thank God for the barley harvest.

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

Beer and Torah? To this, they say ‘L’chaim!’

  By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California  — “What’ll it be, sir?” “I’ll have a beer and where’s that Torah discussion group?” “Over there, sir.  And here’s our beer menu.” Once a month, members of Tifereth Israel Synagogue sample the selections at one of San Diego County’s burgeoning microbrewery industry’s locations, where they socialize,

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Physicians in ancient times warned against over- eating

A Mother’s Day Tip  By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The Greek Hippocrates (about 460–about 377 BCE) is the most famous of all physicians and is considered the father of medicine. Many people of his age, as well as for a long time after his death, considered medicine a part of religion,

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education

Historic marker ceremony honors Lucy F. Covington

  By Jerry Klinger CHENEY, Washington — The Great Drum was rhythmically beaten by ten Native American Salish Singers seated about it. Their Song drifted over the Palouse Prairie as it had before for untold years. Hundreds gathered on the high ridge above Eastern Washington University, below the white colored water tower with the school’s

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Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Travel and Food, USA

Food, song, reflections mark TIS Yom Ha’ atzma’ ut

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Tifereth Israel Synagogue celebrated Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israeli independence day, on Thursday night, May 9, with songs, four American perspectives on Israel, and the kind of dairy dinner you might be served in Tel Aviv. Oscar and Olga Worm own Bekker’s Catering, which typically serves non-kosher food.  But the

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

U.S. State Dept. sends birthday greetings to Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued the following statement on the occasion of Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israel’s Independence Day: “On behalf of the American people, I offer best wishes and congratulations to all Israelis as you mark the 71st anniversary of Israel’s independence. “On this day, the friendship between the United States

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Jewish History, Middle East, USA