By Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — A bittersweet irony it is that the freedom festival of Passover arrives just prior to the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and one day before the rebirth of hope for our Christian neighbors—Easter Sunday, We all come to our April festivals this […]
Passover 2018, Easter, and MLK’s murder Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
By Stanley Tiger SAN DIEGO — There are two main sources of Jewish information – the Torah and Chinese fortune cookies (which were invented, as the legend goes, by a Jewish baker working his way across China. The crisp shell of the cookie was a reminder of matzo while at the same time he had lottery
Moses, Messages and Matzo Read More »
Jewish Religion, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — The first Orthodox Jewish member of the U.S, Senate, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who ran for U.S. Vice President in 2000, has just published a book of philosophical essays related to counting the Omer. The book, With Liberty and Justice: The Fifty Day From Egypt to Sinai, (Maggid/OU Press),
As VP, he would have been on call 24/6? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joel H. Cohen, USA
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — What’s it like to be in Israel where, according to a 2017 Jewish People Policy Institute survey, 97% of Israeli Jews host or participate in a Passover Seder? If you’ve never heard an Arab calling out “alter zachen” (‘old things’) in Yiddish, then you’ve never experienced pre-Passover preparations
Israel gets ready for Passover Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Mark D Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — In RASHI, RAMBAM and HAGGADAH-LAMADINGDONG: A Quiz Haggadah of Jewish Trivia Facts & Fun, there is a question about unusual Haggadot that have been published in recent years, including Ina Gada Haggadah, Haggadah for Jews & Buddhists, and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Haggadah. Since the publication of that question,
Jewish trivia quiz: New Haggadot Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of stories researched during Don and Nancy Harrison’s 50th Wedding Anniversary cruise from Sydney, Australia, to San Diego. Previous installments of the series, which runs every Thursday, may be found by tapping the number of the installment: 1, 2. By Donald H. Harrison SYDNEY,
Australian rabbi grew up in secular Los Angeles home Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USAEternally Yours, God’s Greatest Gift to Mankind: Exodus by Rabbi Reuven Mann, Observant Artists Community Circle, Inc. Hewlett, New York, © 2017, ISBN 978-0692991329, p. 197, plus glossary, $12.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – From the perspective of Rabbi Reuven Mann, long-time teacher and pulpit rabbi, and presently a teacher at the Masoret
Book of Mann offers wisdom of God Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionWith Liberty and Justice: The Fifty-Day Journey from Egypt to Sinai by Senator Joe Lieberman with Rabbi Ari D. Kahn, Maggid Books and OU Press, New Milford, CT, © 2018, ISBN 978-1-59264-501-5, p. 165, $24.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – An ancient midrash explains that just after the Israelites left Egypt, Moses told
Lieberman writes book about U.S., Jewish basic laws Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, USA
JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Thirty four Haredi Women graduated a United Hatzalah EMT course on Thursday, joining the Women’s Unit of the organization. The newly trained EMTs will be tasked with providing emergency medical care as first responders to women in the Haredi communities of Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Director of United Hatzalah’s Women’s
United Hatzalah certifies 34 women to serve Haredim Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Educationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KKSf-1YCrQ&feature=youtu.be By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — I suppose it’s not unusual for a cantor to be able to sing show tunes and operatic arias in addition to Hebrew prayer melodies. But when the cantor still can hit the high notes at age 93, that’s truly remarkable. Cantor Sheldon Merel, the cantor emeritus of
Cantor Merel’s life story now on video Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The prayer space within the Tifereth Israel Synagogue sanctuary that the late Rabbi Dr. Aaron Gold helped to design and where he spent much of his life leading prayer services, now has two new names. One is Ohel Aharon, or the Tent of Aaron; the other is “The
Tifereth Israel prayer space named for Aaron Gold Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyMichael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Here’s a wonderful poem I recently came across by David Leonhardt, a writer who writes about friendship. Choose friends wisely, the portrait they paint Is who you are and who you ain’t. Friendship is life’s great support When friends are of the right sort. For all your dreams do
Who’s your best friend? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Travel and FoodBy Beth Sarafraz BROOKLYN, New York — On a Sunday morning, June 22, 1941, the Nazis invaded Lithuania. The gentile population was ecstatic to hear the news and, after church services that day, celebrated Hitler’s troops goose-stepping over the border into their country. Each town and village greeted the Nazis with bouquets of flowers as
Rabbi makes a deal with God, survives the Holocaust Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Humor columnist Mark D. Zimmerman, who authors the Jewish Trivia Quiz that normally appears weekly on San Diego Jewish World, is offering a free, humorous Haggadah supplement for readers to download on their electronic devices, and then print out if desired. Titled Rashi, Rambam and Haggadah-Lamadingdong, this Hagaddah
Free Pesach trivia questions enhance seders Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman