Judaism

When the Haredim met Humpty Dumpty

Although Haredim, also known as ultra-Orthodox, make up only 12 percent of Israel’s population, the Haredim account for 40 to 60 percent of the coronavirus patients at four major hospitals, hospital officials told Israeli news media. The true dimensions of the epidemic among the Haredim can only be estimated because testing is rare. All of this has occurred under Rabbi Litzman’s watch. And to make the situation even worse, he himself contracted the virus. All of this could have been avoided, had he committed to the same rules of social-distancing he was supposed to have recommended to his communities.[1] [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

When the Haredim met Humpty Dumpty Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East

Jewish community raises $2 million for Covid-19 emergencies; more needed

Approximately $2 million has been raised for the San Diego Jewish Community Emergency Fund, created by the Jewish Community Foundation, the Leichtag Foundation, and the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, professionals of those three organizations noted Monday in a Zoom conference. However, more will be needed, according to Beth Sirull, the president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation. “The pandemic has the makings of a real humanitarian nightmare,” she said, noting that as people are thrown out of work, they are struggling to meet such basic needs as purchasing foods and medicines. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish community raises $2 million for Covid-19 emergencies; more needed Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Judaism, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Thinking of skipping your seder this year?

This year many will be sitting down to a seder table alone, or perhaps with another person with whom they share a home. People who have never conducted a seder themselves may find that they now need to. Even for those who are comfortable with utilizing technological devices on a holiday and open to the idea of a virtual seder via FaceTime or Zoom, the usual schmoozing, singing, learning, and eating among family and friends may be replaced by sitting alone at a table with a seder plate, a haggadah and a laptop computer. [Rabbi Ralph Dalin]

Thinking of skipping your seder this year? Read More »

Jewish Religion, Lifestyles

Surveying the passing scene

Let me start off with a kind offer from Sandy Scheller of Chula Vista who volunteers to sew cloth face masks at no charge like the one she is wearing at the right for people who contact her via her email. When she lived in Las Vegas, Sandy had a business called “Kosher Couture.” Those who take her up on her kind offer will have to arrange to pick up the masks.  Scheller also is the organizer of the year-long Project RUTH — Remember Us The Holocaust exhibit which is now shuttered, along with everything else, at the main branch of the Chula Vista Public Library.  So, sewing masks gives her desire to serve the community another beneficial outlet. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Surveying the passing scene Read More »

Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Three poems of Passovers past

Editor’s Note: Shirley Confino-Rehder is a certified interior designer who lectures on universal design and the Americans for Disabilities Act.  She resides in Norfolk, Virginia. Why This Night IS Different Than Any Other Night – 2010 As we start our Passover Seder, we wonder Why this Night is different than any other night… Once again we

Three poems of Passovers past Read More »

Jewish Religion

Havdalah moves west with San Diego connections

Those with Internet connections could watch the Havdalah ceremonies with San Diego connections move west on Saturday from Israel to New Jersey en route to San Diego.

In Israel, Cantor Hanan Leberman, who serves for specified holidays as a cantor at Tifeeth Israel Synagogue in San Diego, provided songs and traditional chants in the ceremony marking the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of the regular week.  As is customary, he drank wine, smelled spices, and watched the flames of the havdalah candle flicker shadows from his fingers to the palm of his hand. Hours later, in Vorhees, New Jersey, Cantor Alisa Pomerantz-Boro of that township’s Congregation Beth El, was accompanied by her daughter Rebecca as she marked the end of the Sabbath.  [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Havdalah moves west with San Diego connections Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Humans — and countries — always responsible for actions

The Mishnah discusses an interesting case concerning an individual assuming personal liability for damages that one inadvertently causes to another. The text reads: “A human being is always considered ‘forewarned’ and is responsible in all situations where he inadvertently or purposely caused damage to another—whether he was awake, or even if he was asleep. If someone blinded another person’s eye, or broke his vessels, he must pay full damages. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

Humans — and countries — always responsible for actions Read More »

International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

A Word of Torah: Parashat Tzav

This is a very special Shabbos. It is so special, in fact, that it is designated Shabbat HaGadol – The Great Shabbos. This Shabbos is intrinsically connected with the holiday of Passover, which is in many ways considered the greatest of all the holidays. The story behind Shabbat HaGadol stretches back over 3,300 years ago. The Jews were still enslaved in Egypt despite the fact that the Egyptians had suffered through nine horrific plagues. Still, however, they obstinately held captive the Jewish people. The long-awaited redemption had begun, the suffering had decreased, yet the Jews were still not free. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

A Word of Torah: Parashat Tzav Read More »

Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

The pioneering American Jewish women directors

I should have compiled this list during March for Women’s History Month, but better late than never. I’ve been doing research for the past 2 years on American Jewish women directors and wanted to share some of the films by the pioneers that you can stream at home.  Although a considerable number of women directed films during the silent era, those numbers dwindled to two, Dorothy Arzner and Ida Lupino, between 1930 and 1960.  The decline of the studio system and the political and social movements of the 60s opened up opportunities for more women directors in the next decade.  Jewish women were disproportionately represented in their ranks. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

The pioneering American Jewish women directors Read More »

Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA