SAN DIEGO (Family Remembrance) — After a long, busy, and varied life, Aviva Shapira of San Diego passed away on May 19, 2021, succumbing to complications from a fall at home, and from many years of various health problems, including autoimmune disease. She died peacefully, surrounded by her family, sons, and little granddaughters. She was 78. [Family Remembrance]
In Memoriam: Aviva Salomon, 78 Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County
Highlights of Good News from Israel for the May 30, 2011 edition include:
–Israeli wound treatment uses patients’ own blood to save their lives.
–Israeli-invented pill camera to be given to 11,000 UK patients.
–Media reports of Israel’s civil war are fake news.
–Israeli technology is out of this world.
–20 Israeli companies have partnered to make Israel’s roads safer.
–Almost every week there’s a new Israeli billion-dollar company.
–Israelis smash swimming and singing records at Euro events.
–Birthright has resumed free Israel tours for American Jews.
[Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (May 30, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
For many years, performing any of Richard Wagner’s orchestral works was verboten in Israel. Wagner was a virulent antisemite and Hitler’s favorite composer. In a country that had taken in so many victims of the Holocaust, performing any of Wagner’s works would have been like pouring burning oil onto an open flesh wound. [Donald H. Harrison]
Goodbye Columbus, Schweitzer, and Lindbergh Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
What Jewish beliefs do Jews of all stripes agree on? I would assume that monotheism and Tikkun Olam are two safe guesses. [Rabbi Tuvia Teldon]
Recognizing Small Daily Acts of Tikkun Olam Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA
Published by DPA Dubai’s Crossroads of Civilizations Museum has opened what curators say is the Arabian Peninsula’s first-ever exhibition on the Holocaust, set to become a permanent fixture of the museum, focussing on the history of regional cultures. “It is very important to us that we focus on educating people about the tragedies of the
Dubai opens first Holocaust exhibition on Arabian Peninsula Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
This week’s reading is Parshat Bi’ha’loh’ticha, which begins with the Mitzvah of lighting the Menorah. This special and symbolic Mitzvah was given to Aharon HaCohen and his children. When thinking about this portion it occurred to me that there are some powerful messages that can be applied to marriage, as this week I celebrate my 33rd wedding anniversary. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
The Menorah Provides Lessons for Happy Marriages Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
As part of our JWB Jewish Chaplains Council® National Jewish Community Observance of Memorial Day, on Thursday, we were honored to visit the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal, while the ship was in port in New York City. The USCGC Nathan Bruckenthal is named for the first Jewish Coast Guardsman killed in combat since the Vietnam War. Petty Officer Bruckenthal, described to us by the ship’s captain as “a nice Jewish kid from Long Island,” served his country as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was killed during a successful attempt to thwart a seaborne IED (improvised explosive device) attack on a major installation in the Arabian Gulf. He sacrificed himself to protect others [Rabbi Irving A. Elson and Doron Krakow]
A Memorial Day Weekend Tale of Two Jewish American Military Heroes Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, USA
Human rights icon and former Soviet refusenik Natan Sharansky, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, Malcolm Hoenlein and Prof. Susannah Heschel, daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, were among the leading figures who participated in a special online symposium marking Jewish American Heritage Month. Speakers emphasized that the Free Soviet Jewry campaign’s successful blending of grassroots activism and political advocacy can be a model in today’s fight against the dangerous growth of antisemitism. [Combat Antisemitism Movement]
Fight Against Antisemitism On Numerous Fronts Read More »
Jewish History, USA
This poetic prose extract from Zechariah, a minor prophet (one of 12 in the Tanakh) was composed circa 520-510 BCE in Judea. His total writings consist of only 14 chapters. He lived in Judea, following the release of the Judean exiles by the Persian Emperor Cyrus, who had conquered the Babylon Empire (539 BCE). The then ruling emperor of Persia was Darius I (522-486 BCE). [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah Reading for May 29, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Parasha Behaalotecha By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s Torah reading, Behaalotecha, appears to be the basis of one of my mother’s oft-repeated sayings, “Keep complaining and I’ll really give you something to complain about.” Seems the Israelites grew tired of their monotonous diet of manna, pining for the fish and other
Appreciating the Non-Material Treasures Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
On Saturday, May 22, 2021, an interpretive supplemental footstone was added to the Admiral Max Horton memorial at the Rhosneigr seaside community in Anglesey, Wales. The successful placement grew from the unique friendship between Martin Sugarman, a Brit, and myself. Together we are pushing back, at least a little, the dark clouds of forgetfulness and antisemitism. [Jerry Klinger]
A Jewish Honor for Admiral Max Horton Read More »
International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History
Why do you want to become Jewish? How is Judaism, with its many rules and rituals, a more appropriate religion, than your former religion or lifestyle? How do you identify with the Jewish people in relation to Israel, world Jewry, the local Jewish community, and your local synagogue? These are just some types of questions that people are asked by a Bet Din, a rabbinical court, before their official conversion into Judaism. [Heather Z. Rothstain]
‘Choosing Judaism’ Provides Cheerful and Painful Accounts Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin’s latest book in his trailblazing series entitled Mysteries of Judaism IV; Over 100 Mistaken Ideas about God and the Bible offers the reader a glimpse into this seasoned scholar’s views on many of Judaism’s most sacred beliefs concerning subjects as diverse as the importance of the creation narrative in the early chapters of Genesis, as well as many of the thorny problems emerging out of the creation narrative. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Author Dissects Popular Myths About the Bible Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
The Bible says nothing about life after death. It does not mention heaven or hell as an abode after death. The Torah’s entire focus is on behavior that results in the betterment of life, human and non-human, on earth. The only rewards offered to those who need the carrot of physical rewards and the threatening stick of punishments are consequences that occur during a person’s life on earth. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Jewish Views of the Afterlife Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion