By Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — Long before Teddy Kollek became mayor of Jerusalem, he was a gunrunner for the Yishuv, the Jewish community of pre-State Israel. When it became clear that the British would withdraw from Palestine and a war between the Jews and Arabs over Israel’s independence was inevitable, the Jews would need
Frank Sinatra: Friend of Israel, foe of anti- Semites Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USAA Blind Hero: The Love of Otto Weidt; directed by Kai Christiansen; Germany; 2014; 90 minutes in German with English Subtitles; Drama; to be shown three times during the San Diego Jewish Film Festival, at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Carlsbad Village Theatre, 2822 State St., Carlsbad and at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb.
Film Festival Preview: ‘A Blind Hero’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — What lesson have we not learned from one of the most basic principles in Judaism, “Love your fellow Jew as yourself”? It’s preached on pulpit after pulpit, regardless of the sex of the rabbi, the color of the rabbi’s talit, whether the rabbi wears a kippah or
‘Love fellow Jew as yourself’ — Do we observe this? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — While researching this week’s D’var Torah I came across a commentary that I found somewhat disturbing. After Moses left Egypt his father-in-law, Yitro (Jethro), came to see him: Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses’ sons and wife to him in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain
A troubling analysis of passage in Yitro Read More »
Jewish ReligionIf I Am Not for Myself, Then You Are Nothing! By Rabbi Yaakov Marks SAN DIEGO — After the Jews had settled peacefully into their wilderness encampment, Yitro, Moshe’s father in law, brought Zipporah, Moshe’s wife and two sons from Midyan, to be reunited with their husband and father. Moshe and all the leaders hosted
Weekly Torah portion: Yitro Read More »
Jewish ReligionDaniel Klein (editor and trans.) and Samuel David Luzzato, Shadal on Exodus: Samuel David Luzzatto’s Interpretation of the Book of Shemot; Kodesh Press, 2015; ISBN-13: 978-0692522066. Price: $29.95. Rating ***** By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most remarkable modern day exegetes of the 19th century was the Italian biblical commentator,
A new translation of Shadal’s comments on Exodus Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
JERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday released several documents, including a handwritten request for clemency from Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann sent to then President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. Eichmann, one of the masterminds of the Holocaust, was captured by the Mossad in Argentina and sentenced to death by an Israeli court in 1961. At a ceremony in Jerusalem to mark
Rivlin releases Adolf Eichmann’s clemency request Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) strongly urges Knesset passage of a proposed bill permitting egalitarian non-Orthodox prayer services (tefillot) at the southern side of the Kotel (Western Wall). The measure is slated for a vote on Sunday. For decades the Conservative and Reform movements have demanded equal rights at the
AJC backs non- Orthodox services at Southern Wall Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A few days ago I received an unusual email. It came from someone I had never met, but whom I knew was the person who was looking after an old friend from long ago. In the mail I was informed that Inge was bedridden, near to death, unable to
Bikur Cholim — The importance of a visit or a phone call Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Obituaries & memorials, USA
By Gene Klein THE VILLAGES, Near Orlando, Florida –The journey of a refugee is never forgotten. The sense of danger just behind, of hope just ahead, and of uncertainty ever present is indelible. I vividly remember many things about my Holocaust experience: being forced from my home, my three-day journey in a closed cattle car, and
Holocaust survivor appeals for Syrian refugees Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
PARIS, France (WJC)– World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer on Tuesday praised UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova for issuing a clear condemnation the third edition of a Holocaust cartoon contest held in Iran which features many entries that openly deny the Shoah. Singer had met with Bokova in Paris on Monday. Robert Singer declared: “I thank Director
UNESCO chief hits Iran’s Holocaust cartoon contest Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — Imagine a resort for evangelicals. Imagine a theme park like setting encompassing 18 acres a Jewish World Outreach Pavilion, attractions named Wings over Israel, March of Prophecy, and Walk Through the Bible, along with “the Wailing Wall and Plaza” and a training center for evangelist outreach to Jews. This is
Cerullo’s ‘theme park’ will target Jews for conversion Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– Valencia and Meyer Etz were enthusiastically adopted by the children of the Abraham and Anne Ratner Torah School at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Sunday, Jan. 24, the day of Erev Tu B’Shevat. Tending to the needs of the Etzes, the children brought them food and water and even
Tu B’Shevat, Torah School style Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The chief executive officer of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism once almost gave up on God and religion after his stepmother died and he became estranged from his rabbi father. However, Rabbi Steven Wernick added in an interview that through its outreach, the caring Jewish
Anachnu: Rabbi Steven Wernick Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, USA