By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–It is not easy to be the leader of a club or organization. Some people like you, others dislike you, and you need to develop a thick skin. No one knew this better than Moses. No matter how hard he tried, the Israelites criticized and judged him and at times, […]
The making and testing of leaders Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida–Why does the Israel Navy’s killing civilian protesters on the high seas remind me of the brutal actions of the British Navy in combating the ships of Aliya Bet in 1947? There is no comparison in quantity or quality between the two events but both won the battle and
IDF copies British Navy in winning and and losing Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–In this week’s parasha we find one of the most infamous disputes in Jewish history: that of Korach and his followers. Korach led an uprising agaisngt Moses and Aaron. He wanted to remove them from leadership and make himself the ruler instead. Moses challenged Korach to a “duel.” Korach and
Bible calls upon humanity to try to make peace Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–On Thursday evening I returned from attending the International Rabbinical Assembly Convention. For the first time in its history, this year’s RA Convention was held at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. JTS is the premiere academic institution of the Conservative Movement and many JTS scholars, as well
Female rabbis assume leadership of Rabbinical Assembly Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–It’s 5:00 a.m on Shavuot morning and I’m having trouble finding an empty seat at any shul in Jerusalem’s Old City. Every synagogue is already packed as I make the mistake of lingering a few minutes too long at the Kotel amongst the tens of thousands who have made
Jerusalemites crowd the Old City for Shavuot Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and FoodRelated story by Joey Seymour By Norman Greene SAN DIEGO– During his life time, Bob Breitbard, 91, who passed away in his sleep at Seacrest Village Retirement Home in Encinitas on Monday, May 17, was already a San Diego legend. As a dreamer and visionary sportsman who built a community arena, a museum to honor
Breitbard’s philanthropy and family ties emphasized at funeral service Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions
By Donald H. Harrison NATIONAL CITY, California – Observing the National City Marine Terminal from the top deck of M.V. Jean Anne, a 13,000-metric ton ship that transports automobiles and other cargo between San Diego County and the Hawaiian Islands, I could imagine four 19th Century San Diego pioneers standing there with me and nudging each
Old Louis Rose might have kvelled over National City Marine Terminal Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
Eva’s Story by Eva Schloss (with Evelyn Julia Kent), William B. Eerdman Publishing Co, 2010, 226 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—This is an updated version of the memoirs of Eva Schloss, who was the posthumous stepsister of the immortal Anne Frank. Originally published in 1988, the current edition brings readers up to date
Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, writes intriguing memoir Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Thursday evening my wife Judy and I returned from visiting our son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons. Shortly after our first grandson, Neriya, was born, his mother called and asked us to reserve Lag B’Omer of this year for his upshirin. My son, Rabbi Adam Rosenthal, and his wife, Sarah, were
3-Year-Old’s Lag b’Omer haircut indicative of a return to tradition Read More »
Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—There are many automotive museums around the world, interpreting their missions in a variety of fashions. Some collect, wanting to obtain representative automobiles of every make, nationality, or year. Others love to show the marriages of art and technology, form and function, and marketing and self-perceptions all shaping people’s
San Diego’s Historic Places: San Diego Automotive Museum Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, USABy Joellyn Zollman Jews of the Pacific Coast: Reinventing Community on America’s Edge. Ellen Eisenberg, Ava F. Kahn, and William Toll. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2009, 309pp. SAN DIEGO–The New York Jewish experience has long served as the template for understanding American Jewish history. In Jews of the Pacific Coast, historians Ellen Eisenberg, Ava
Another paradigm for historians: Jewish life on the West Coast Read More »
Jewish History
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Probably no event has seared into the consciousness of the Japanese-American community more painfully than their forced relocation from their homes on the West Coast of the United States to internment camps in the interior of the country during World War II. This is the central portion of
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Terms such as the “chain of Jewish tradition” and “Jewish continuity” have been so overused that they are in danger of becoming trite. However, once in a while something happens that makes me pause and reflect on how our tradition is truly ancient and unbroken. One such moment occurred for
Judaism’s chain of tradition impacts on a daily basis Read More »
Jewish History, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—The intersection which Jewish settler Louis Rose called 1st and Main Streets back in 1869 as of Thursday, April 29, bears a plaque recognizing it as the place where the community of Roseville began. Today Roseville is a section of Point Loma, a neighborhood in the City of San Diego.
Roseville has its La Playa Trail marker again Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, USA