Judaism

Fraud, Betrayal and Spy Gear: Inside the Messy Battle for Chabad of Poway

A seven-hour mediation. A secret recording device. Accusations of extortion. These are the latest twists in the ongoing, ugly saga over control of the Southern California synagogue that survived a 2019 mass shooting only to face a federal fraud conviction of its founding rabbi. [Louis Keene, the Forward]

Fraud, Betrayal and Spy Gear: Inside the Messy Battle for Chabad of Poway Read More »

California, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Sefaria Launches First-Ever ‘Global Community Torah’ Digital Writing Project

(Press Release) Sefaria unveiled a groundbreaking digital collaboration, the “Global Community Torah,” that is a unique opportunity for anyone to have a small part in “writing” a Torah—all 304,805 letters. The ambitious project launched at a virtual 10th anniversary celebration for Sefaria, the non-profit organization that digitizes and freely shares Jewish texts in Hebrew and

Sefaria Launches First-Ever ‘Global Community Torah’ Digital Writing Project Read More »

Jewish Religion, USA

Lost and Found

Parshat Ki Teitzei 5783 By Rabbi Daniel Reich LA JOLLA, California — Our tradition tells us that there are 613 Mitzvot contained in the Torah, spread out among its 54 Parshas. So one might have assumed that these 613 statues are evenly distributed throughout the Torah, coming to approximately 11 or 12 Mitzvot per Parsha.

Lost and Found Read More »

Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion

Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss Combines Love of Judaism and Music

“Sometimes, I will do a creative service,” she continued. “I will have a theme and I will have some of the basic prayers, but I also ask people to bring poems or stories or something unique that speaks to the theme that I provided. Those were really received well because people could feel that they were participating. I am much more interested in participation than I am in performance.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss Combines Love of Judaism and Music Read More »

Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Gala to Honor and Learn from Israeli Survivors of Terror

The rocket explosion killed Ella and wounded Tamir, who still has some shrapnel in his head. Today, Tamir is a married adult. He has been asked to talk about “how he survived and how is his life now,” commented Carine Chitayat, the Swiss-born executive director of the Foundation. [Donald H. Harrison]

Gala to Honor and Learn from Israeli Survivors of Terror Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

The British Belsen War Crimes Trials and Leo Genn

By Jerry Klinger “The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.” — All’s Well That Ends Well, Act 4, Scene 3 A few weeks ago, the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation’s U.K. branch placed a historical marker at Leopold John Genn’s birthplace. The marker text: Jewish Prosecutor –

The British Belsen War Crimes Trials and Leo Genn Read More »

Holocaust, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion

Parashat Shoftim: Profound Concern for Our Surroundings

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha presents an intriguing perspective for those with an inclination towards environmentalism. It articulates, “When besieging a city for an extended period, preparing for war to conquer it, refrain from felling its trees with axes. These trees are for sustenance, and you must not cut them

Parashat Shoftim: Profound Concern for Our Surroundings Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Speaker Tells of Life Among the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda

McKinney and Rabbi Marko renewed their friendship over the August 11-13 weekend, when McKinney served as Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s scholar-in-residence. She outlined what Jewish life is like in the Abayudaya villages, covering Jewish holiday and life cycle observances, and told of the efforts the foundation she heads is making to help impoverished families and children with disabilities. (Donald H. Harrison)

Speaker Tells of Life Among the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Shoshana McKinney, Travel and Food, USA

‘Yidishe Gauchos’ To Ride Again Sept. 9

If you haven’t seen something before, it is new to you, no matter how old it is. That’s the thinking behind Yiddishland scheduling a Sept. 9 showing and discussion by Mark Freeman of his 1989 half-hour-long documentary, The Yidishe Gauchos, at a private residence on Mt. Soledad. [Donald H. Harrison]

‘Yidishe Gauchos’ To Ride Again Sept. 9 Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Former U.S. Attorney Grossman Reflects on His Career

Former U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman, who left office on August 4, recalls a High Holy Day service he attended that was held outside during the COVID pandemic. “I looked up to the roof and I could see armed guards,” he said during an interview on Thursday, Aug. 10. “It was just stunning to me how that could be happening at a time when you really want to be engaged in prayer and anything other than security.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Former U.S. Attorney Grossman Reflects on His Career Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

A Talk about Jewish San Diego at Yiddishland

If you are a regular reader of San Diego Jewish World, you may have noticed our slogan that appears on its masthead.  “There is a Jewish story everywhere,” it says.  I don’t mean that as hyperbole; rather it is a reflection of the fact that Jewish influence on the world has been so pervasive that if you look long enough, you’ll find a Jewish story anywhere that you go. [Donald H. Harrison]

A Talk about Jewish San Diego at Yiddishland Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County