By Doron Krakow Spring is a time of renewal. Longer, warmer days. Blooming trees and gardens. It is a season of beginnings—of new life. A season of weddings and graduations, major milestones in the lives of individuals and families. A season in which we come together, in settings both large and small, to mark these
To Everything There is a Season Read More »
Doron Krakow, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, USA
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha is read on the Shabbat before the celebration of Shavuot (this year beginning on Saturday evening, June 4, and concluding on Monday evening June 6). Both the parasha and the holiday involve counting. In the parasha, we learn of the importance of counting each
Parashat Bamidbar and Shavuot: The Multifaceted Importance of Counting Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Jerry Klinger “The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as
On Memorial Day, Remember Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion
A large crowd gathered on December 1, 1995, to rename the Quad at San Diego City College as Schwartz Square. The gathering was in honor of history professor and American Federation of Teachers #1931 President Larry Schwartz. He had died at age 62 of a brain tumor ten months prior to the ceremony. The dedication plaque there reads: “In memory of Larry Schwartz. He inspired students, challenged colleagues, and shared the passion and action of his time.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Larry Schwartz: Organizer of AFT Local 1931 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Michael Rabin — beloved son, brother, friend, and community member — passed away on May 14 at home in La Jolla. He was 42. Born in Seattle on October 18, 1979, Michael was arguably best known for his vibrant, inimitable, unforgettable smile — a smile that made countless
In Memoriam: Michael Rabin, 42 Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. With a network of 35 regions, including the Pacific Western Region across North America and 60 countries around the world, BBYO reaches 70,000 teens annually. BBYO is proud to partner with the
Jewish Teen Org BBYO Partners With San Diego’s Congregation Beth Israel Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Many people are under the impression that the brothers Cain and Abel built an altar with Cain burning fruit of the ground, and Abel offering the firstlings of his flock and that God only accepted Abel’s offering. Actually, there is no mention of an altar or
An Unusual But Sensible Interpretation of the Cain and Abel Tale Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha is the 33rd weekly Torah reading we’ve been learning from this year. With this parasha, we complete the reading of Sefer Vayikra, the book of Leviticus. It reads with a direct — or so it seems — promise that if we follow Hashem’s commandments, we will
Parashat Bechukotai: Learning Continuously From Every Experience Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — “Kleptomania” in Greek is a morbid craving for theft, “kleptocracy” is the power of thieves, “kleptopatria” is the theft of the homeland, the taking away of the country from people born and raised in it, whose ancestors have lived in it for generations, people brought up on its culture,
Burden of High Expectations, or Kleptopatria: That Was in Kiev Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History
The San Diego Zoo is known as one of the world’s premier institutions for the conservation of endangered wildlife species. Along with its sister San Diego Safari Park, located in the San Pasqual Valley, the San Diego Zoo is considered one of the best, if not the very best, zoos in the world. Of particular Jewish interest is the fact that the San Diego Zoo has served as a big brother to the Tisch Family Zoo in Jerusalem, which also is known as the Jerusalem Zoo. Many of the exhibits in Jerusalem are modeled on those in San Diego and both zoos have received generous financial contributions from San Diegans. {Donald H. Harrison]
A Jewish Tour of Balboa Park Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha, Behar, instructs us not to wrong another with ona’at mamon, “wronging one another with respect to monetary matters,” and with ona’at devarim, “wronging one another with words.” “And you shall not wrong, one man his fellow Jew, and you shall fear your God, for
Parashat Behar: Words Can Hurt Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Some will call Stan Andrews a hero because he fought and gave his life for Israel during that country’s War of Independence. Others will call him a fool because he lusted after combat with the same recklessness that he pursued and casually bedded women. The truth lies somewhere in between the two assessments. Through meticulous research, the authors pieced together a complex portrait of a young man who was an accomplished writer, portraitist, and pilot. [Donald H. Harrison]
Stan Andrews: A Foolish Hero? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
Since the team’s induction into Major League Baseball in 1969 until 2021, the Padres counted 11 players and two coaches on its rosters who had at least one Jewish parent. In 2022, Bob Melvin became the team’s first manager with a Jewish parent. [Donald H. Harrison]
Before Melvin, Padres had 11 players, 2 coaches with at least one Jewish parent Read More »
AAA-Writers and photographers, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Travel and Food, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Yoatzot Halacha, an organization that is Advisors of the Law, has published this 376-page book Nishmat Ha-Bayit (The Soul of the Home), by Maggid Books, Nishmat, and OU Press. It contains a collection of 63 common questions that Yoatzot Halacha have been asked. The goal
Advice for Religious Jewish Women Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion