By David Leyva NATIONAL CITY, California– D-A-V-I-D L-E-Y-V-A, that is how I learned to spell my name and last name. What I did not know was where these came from. I am the 7th in a long line of men in my family named David Leyva, a family fact of which I was not entirely aware […]
Descendant of Sephardic Jews returns home Read More »
International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USABy Garry Fabian MELBOURNE, Australia — Some dates on the calendar have greater significance than others, particularly if they mark a special event, or more importantly are associated with an event that denotes a major landmark in one’s life. 5th May 2015 is indeed such a day in my own life and the life of
Thoughts of a Survivor on 70th anniversary of liberation Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryWARSAW, Poland (WJC) — At a state funeral in Warsaw attended by world leaders, including European Council President Donald Tusk and German President Joachim Gauck, Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, Poland’s former foreign minister and an Auschwitz prisoner who helped save Jews from the Holocaust, was laid to rest on Monday, May 4. Bartoszewski, a historian, writer and
Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, z”l, Righteous among Nations Read More »
International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorialsBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — If one needs a reason to get on a trail – searching for chocolate is a better reason than most. In On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao, (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2013), Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz and
From the Jewish library: ‘On the Chocolate Trail’ Read More »
Jewish History, Travel and Food
With this column we introduce Joe Spier, who loves to research and write about Jewish history. Based in Calgary, he is a frequent winter vacationer in San Diego. We thank Ernie Addleson for putting us in touch with him. By Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — The story of the modern exodus of “Beta Israel” the
Alaska Airlines and the Jews of Yemen Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USA
Editor’s Note: In my quest to find Jewish stories wherever I go, I decided there is no place like home to illustrate the concept that “there is a Jewish story everywhere.” Interstate 8 roughly follows the traditional route that settlers took in their covered wagons in the mid-19th century to get to San Diego from the
I-8 Jewish Travel ~ Bahia Hotel, San Diego Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Travel and Food, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Although invocations by Rabbi Michael Berk of Congregation Beth Israel and Monsignor Richard Duncanson of Mission San Diego de Alcala came in reverse chronological order as far as San Diego history was concerned, they were in correct historical order from the standpoint of world history. Jews were first on the
Inter- religious invocations honor San Diego’s history Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego CountyBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The California state senator who heads the first-in-the-nation Jewish legislative caucus says it’s time for Jews in the U.S. Congress to form a caucus too, and adds that U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the Florida congresswoman who chairs the national Democratic party, agrees with him “100 percent.” State Sen.
California legislator: Congress needs a Jewish caucus Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A number of individuals from my home town of Fall River have traveled to Ponta Delgada in the Azores to commemorate the refurbishing of a synagogue that they had financed. They also met with the one Jew still living in the islands. The story is long and interesting, and ironic from both
The Jews and Portuguese of Fall River Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish History, USABy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO –Eve Gerstle expects to be sitting in Copley Symphony Hall on the evening of May 7, as a special guest of Conductor Murry Sidlin, watching the performance of the multi-media Concert-Drama, The Defiant Requiem. This remarkable lady, who is celebrating her 101st birthday, has a particular interest in this work.
Terezin survivor to be special guest at ‘Defiant Requiem’ Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish HistoryBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Ringo Starr was just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Everyone knows of Brian Epstein’s role in discovering and promoting the Beatles. What role did another Jew play in Ringo’s earlier life that contributed to his future success as a Beatle A. Prior to joining the
Jewish trivia: Ringo Starr Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. ZimmermanBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Jewish and Israeli history is replete with both tragic and joyful events, and in fact the life of a Jew living in Israel is something of a roller-coaster existence, taking us from the depths of sorrow one day to the sublime heights of joy the next, whether it’s
An emotional roller coaster during Israel’s holidays Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle EastBy Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — As I started out this column, my intent was to make a statement for the “ownership” of the term Holocaust. As long as I can remember, I always had a visceral reaction when this term was used by others to describe a potential disaster. To me, anything would pale in
‘Holocaust’ and ‘Shoah’ meanings and emotions Read More »
Jewish History
Deb Bowen and Cassie Brown, A Walk With Esther; Never Forget Publishing, 2015, $10. Order via http://www.abookbyme.com/Pages/default.aspx By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Many years ago, while I was serving a congregation in Rock Island, Illinois, I was privileged to work with a number of Jewish and Christian professionals in designing one of the
Children interview Survivors, write their stories Read More »
Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi