Judaism

Rosenwald’s and Washington’s Partnership for Good

The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, www.JASHP.org, has funded and completed another marker it its series honoring and recognizing the Partnership for Good of Jewish philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and Black educator Booker T. Washington. Rosenwald was key to the construction of over 5,400 schools, in the 13 States of “South” for Black school children. Millions of Black Americans were significantly benefited by Rosenwald’s generosity. [Jerry Klinger]

Rosenwald’s and Washington’s Partnership for Good Read More »

Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 29-Dec. 4, 2020)

Following are programs of scholarly and popular Jewish interest that can be accessed via the Internet from Nov. 29 through Dec. 4, 2020.  All times are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 29-Dec. 4, 2020) Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Comparing Torah (Va-Yetsa) with Ancient Practices

The parasha covers; Jacob’s escape to Haran; his stop at Beth El, where he had a dream of a stairway to heaven with angels on it; his  conditional vow to subject himself to God if he received certain survival measures; his arrival at Haran where he meets and falls in love with Rachel; his stay with his uncle Laban and a work deal for her hand in marriage; Laban’s deception, ending in a twice-long work period for both his daughters; the birth of eleven children over time between Leah and Rachel and their maids; a mandrake (aphrodisiac) dispute between the sisters; Jacob’s outfoxing Laban to accumulate herds; Jacob’s escape from Laban with a final peace agreement between them.  I have chosen three passages, for comparison, via the internet, with writings attributed to ancient Israel’s neighbors. [Irv Jacobs, MD]

Comparing Torah (Va-Yetsa) with Ancient Practices Read More »

Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion

Imagining the next White House seder!

One can imagine a crowded seder at the White Housed during Passover week next year, with President-elect Joe Biden and his First Lady Jill Biden observing and perhaps taking a turn reading the Haggadah as guests of honor.  Biden’s son by his first marriage, Hunter, is married to South African filmmaker Melissa Cohen, while Ashley, daughter of the President-elect and the First Lady-designate, is married to plastic surgeon, Dr. Howard Krein. There might be plenty of other Jews there, starting with the Second Gentleman (as perhaps he will be called) Doug Emhoff, the attorney who is husband to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. [Donald H. Harrison]

Imagining the next White House seder! Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA

Feeling the Tug of God

I’m reminded of the little boy who was out flying his kite on a windy day. The wind was terrific that day and the kite was soaring high into the clouds. A man walked by and asked the boy what he was doing. “I’m flying my kite,” said the boy. The man looked, couldn’t see any kite and said, “I don’t see any kite. How do you know you’re flying a kite?” The boy answered, “Mr., because I can feel the tug.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

Feeling the Tug of God Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Dershowitz on Jonathan Pollard, U.S.-Israel Relations, U.S. Election

Famed trial attorney Alan Dershowitz said Monday in an interview with San Diego Jewish World that he hoped Secretary of State-designate Anthony Blinken would ignore any advice about Iran from former Secretary of State John Kerry “who signed the original agreement and the original agreement was a disaster for Israel.” Kerry, meanwhile, was designated by President-elect Joe Biden to lead U.S. efforts to combat climate change. [Donald H. Harrison]

Dershowitz on Jonathan Pollard, U.S.-Israel Relations, U.S. Election Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Jewish Clergy Lobby Congress to Combat Hunger

Some families are preparing for Thanksgiving meals from which relatives and close friends will be absent because of the coronavirus pandemic.  At the same time, other families aren’t even even sure they will have enough to eat on Thanksgiving or any other day as a result of the growing hunger and food insecurity around the country, according to officials of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish Clergy Lobby Congress to Combat Hunger Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Pakistan minister retracts Macron ‘Nazi’ jibe after French demands

A Pakistani minister withdrew comments comparing French President Emmanuel Macron’s treatment of Muslims to the Nazis’ persecution of Jews, after the remarks triggered outrage from Paris.France’s foreign minister demanded the remarks tweeted by Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari be withdrawn over the weekend.”Macron is doing to Muslims what the Nazis did to the

Pakistan minister retracts Macron ‘Nazi’ jibe after French demands Read More »

International, Jewish History

SANDAG Reopens Bids for Historic Salomon Property

The future of Rancho Lilac, Valley Center’s historic and culturally-significant ranch, has been up in the air since 2011 when it was purchased by Caltrans in what is known as an environmental mitigation land exchange program.  There had been concern that the site could be permanently closed to public access. That apprehension appears to have been abated, at least for the present due to governmental action taken last week. [Robert Lerner]

SANDAG Reopens Bids for Historic Salomon Property Read More »

International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Biden to name longtime aide Blinken as US top diplomat: reports

Washington (AFP) – President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate seasoned diplomat Antony Blinken as his secretary of state, a decision likely to signal a return to multilateralism after Donald Trump’s shunning of traditional allies, US media reported Sunday.A mild-mannered policy wonk who is fluent in French and plays guitar on the side, the 58-year-old Blinken

Biden to name longtime aide Blinken as US top diplomat: reports Read More »

International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Was Chaucer an Anti-Semite?

One of the tales that is told in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is the controversial story told by a prioress called “The Prioress’s Tale.” A prioress is a woman who is head of a house of nuns. She is next in rank below an abbess. She is seemingly a religious person with religious ideas. Chaucer describes his prioress in his book in two ways. She is introduced in his Prologue as an aristocratic, genteel, pious nun, but the story she tells shows her demeaning Jews and stating that Jews drink Christian blood in a Jewish ritual. She describes how Jews were rounded up, treated brutally, and then murdered by the Christian community. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Was Chaucer an Anti-Semite? Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History

Torah for Children: Does the End Justify the Means?

Parshah Toldot, which was read this weekend in synagogues, tells the story of Isaac’s two sons, Jacob and Esau. Jacob is the third of our three forefathers—our line of ancestors who came before—the first three generations who formed the foundation of Judaism. Abraham and Sarah had Isaac. Isaac married Rebecca in last week’s story. This week, Rebecca gives birth to twin sons. The second one born (the “younger” son), Jacob, was born holding the heel of his brother, Esau. [Marcia Berneger]

Torah for Children: Does the End Justify the Means? Read More »

Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger

Anti-Semitism Then and Now

News relating to the Holocaust of 1938 to 1945 and to anti-Semitic, anti-Israel dangers of today are the focus of today’s news briefing.

Above, is a recent video interview conducted by Sandy Scheller of the South Bay Historical Society with Holocaust Survivor Rose Schindler of San Diego at the Chula Vista Public Library, which currently is hosting an exhibit on Holocaust survivors who moved to the South Bay region of San Diego County.  The video incorporates clips from previous video interviews with Schindler’s late husband, Max.  The stories of both Schindlers were told in their joint memoir, Two Who Survived. [Donald H. Harrison]

Anti-Semitism Then and Now Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Stephen D. Bryen, USA

A Word of Torah: Like Father Like Son

This week’s Torah portion is titled ‘Toldot’, which means generations. The portion begins, “And these are the generations of Yitzchak the son of Avraham, Avraham gave birth to Yitzchak.” Not only does this wording seem redundant, but it is repeating itself. If Yitzchak is the son of Avraham, obviously Avraham gave birth to Yitzchak. What is the Torah trying to tell us here in addition to Yitzchak’s lineage? [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

A Word of Torah: Like Father Like Son Read More »

Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi