Judaism

How Zionists Helped Defeat Segregation in Baltimore

By Rafael Medoff WASHINGTON, D.C. — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year will be commemorated just before the 75th anniversary of a remarkable but little-known campaign by American Zionists and African-Americans that helped defeat racial segregation in Baltimore. This story began in the autumn of 1946, when the Zionist activists known as the Bergson

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Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Parashat Bo: Summoning the Effort to Pursue Your Goals

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In each weekly Torah reading, we find insightful and profound lessons for our emotional evolution. This week’s parasha is certainly teeming with weighty psychological education. Often in life we become complacent in our personal station. It may not be particularly beneficial, it may not be what we ideally long

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Blue Plaque of Sir Arnold Wesker Underscores Jewish Contributions to British Life

By Jerry Klinger LONDON — The simple blue and white rectangular historical plaque for Sir Arnold Wesker located at a Hackney (London) school evokes a familiar identity in London. The plaque, though different in design, is easily associated with the famous (and mostly circular) Blue and White Plaque program run by English Heritage found throughout

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History

Rethinking Cain’s Famed Remark, ‘Am I My Brother’s Keeper?’

The Trial of Cain: A Jewish Courtroom Drama by Rabbi Dr. Dan Ornstein; Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society; © 2021; ISBN: 0827614675; 232 pages; $20.93. By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Rabbi Dan Ornstein’s excellent book, The Trial of Cain: A Jewish Courtroom Drama, reminded me of something I once did with

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Schlepping and Schmoozing along the Interstate 5: Tijuana in the Rear View Mirror

Before we embark on this American journey, let us not forget that there is Jewish life in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, that is well worth remembering. In brief, we can find it at the Centro Social Israelita, the Congregaçion Hebraica de Baja California, and in the Jewish-owned department stores and shops along Avenida de la Revoluçion. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Who’s Responsible for the Evil in the World?

One of the interesting points that Maimonides and Philo of Alexandria agree on in this week’s Torah portion is the role of human freedom and responsibility.  Philo routinely pointed out that God is never the source of moral evil in the world—human beings are, and they alone must be responsible for the moral condition of society—whether it be good or bad, harmonious or chaotic. This idea is also one of ancient Stoicism’s greatest moral teachings. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

‘East West Street:’ Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

Over the course of six years the author toiled to trace the movements, ideas and political currents underlying two seminal terms in modern international law: ‘genocide’ and ‘crimes against humanity.’ In this undertaking he has interwoven the history and fate of his own family in Galicia (Poland and Ukraine), as well as that of a number of incidental characters, who were involved directly or indirectly in the rescue of some of his family members and the failure to save others. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History

Captain Simmon Latutin Marker in UK: The Latest Pinprick for Antisemites

By Jerry Klinger Bigotry, hate, antisemitism, and ignorance are not owned by any one group, nor by any one culture or nationality. There is a universality to it. Antisemites repeat, with vicious relish, the false canard that Galut Jews are disloyal, cowards. They never volunteer as soldiers, fight for their country, and if called to

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History

Torah Portion for January 1, 2022

How do you manage the pressure of hail in your life? No, not the hail that might fall once every few years in our generally warm San Diego rainy seasons. The hail I’m referring to is that which comes as adversity and misfortune, the type that Pharaoh experienced in this week’s Torah reading. Pharaoh told Moshe after the plague of hail, “I’ve sinned this time and God is righteous and me and my people are wicked.” But as soon as the hail cleared, Pharaoh stepped back from his admission. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell