For more than a year I have not left my apartment except for a couple of medical appointments; also, no one has come to visit. Newspapers recount more frequent instances of depression, anxiety and suicide due to the pandemic’s mandates to shelter at home. [Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D]
Personal Changes After a Year of Isolation Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County
Elsewhere in today’s report on San Diego Jewish World is a story from the Anti-Defamation League reporting that nearly two-thirds of American Jews, based on a survey, have experienced or heard some form of antisemitism in the last five years. On our television screens, meanwhile, is the ongoing trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd – a case study in White violence against Black people. And, in the San Diego Union-Tribune this morning was a story from New York City about an unprovoked attack on an Asian-American woman which other people witnessed without intervening. [Donald H. Harrison]
Addressing hate and division in our society Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Asian-Americans experienced the largest single rise in severe online hate and harassment year-over-year in comparison to other groups, with 17 percent having experienced sexual harassment, stalking, physical threats, swatting, doxing or sustained harassment this year compared to 11 percent last year, according to a new survey released today by ADL (the Anti-Defamation League). Fully half (50 percent) of Asian-American respondents who were harassed reported that the harassment was because of their race or ethnicity. [Anti-Defamation League news release]
ADL, Citing Hate Statistics, Urges Reform of Social Media Companies Read More »
Lifestyles, USAI often read the obituaries of people I have never met, and often find myself regretting that life hadn’t afforded me the opportunity to sit down with them and benefit from hearing their stories and life experiences. In today’s San Diego Union-Tribune there were 4 ½ pages of paid obituaries, and many of them had an endearing fact or two about the deceased family member. Below I pull brief quotes from 22 of them so you can see what I mean. If you’re like me, I bet you also would have enjoyed meeting each one of these remarkable people. [Donald H. Harrison]
Obituaries provide much to learn and ponder Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Travel and Food
With a growing international footprint and new intensive trainings, resources, and consulting services, the Jewish Teen Funders Network, which includes the teen philanthropy program of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, has rebranded as Honeycomb (honeycomb.org). [News release from honeycomb]
Jewish Teen Funders Network Rebrands as Honeycomb Read More »
Business & Finance, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA
So many of the Holocaust survivors who I grew up with have passed away. They were all so important to me and they conveyed a special feeling that no others could. To the second and third generation I seek to offer this comfort: [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg]
From One 2nd Generation Survivor to Others Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
Two months into our “cruise” (sans spas and umbrella drinks), it’s January 1985, when we start planning for a battlegroup-wide Passover seder for thirty when we discovered the ship’s supply system was ill-equipped for the task. [Jeff Goldfinger]
The Case of the Missing Matzoh Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, USA
Initially, the event on Sunday, March 14, was advertised by the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club as a lox and bagel brunch, during which members could gather by Zoom and discuss how the coronavirus pandemic affected them, and what they look most forward to when it is over. Members were invited to drive to the synagogue’s parking lot, where a boxed lox n’ bagel meal would be waiting for them. As my wife Nancy had some errands to run in the neighborhood of the synagogue, she volunteered to pick up the boxed brunch. Inside of the box were two individual fruit pies — one apple, another cherry — in addition to the advertised lox, bagels and cream cheese. How come? “It’s pi day,” explained Bram Rubinstein, a Men’s Club member. [Donald H. Harrison]
In San Diego, it was lox, bagel and ‘pi’ day Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USAI attended the bar mitzvah of a young man who recoils from compliments or recognition. So I can’t say who he is, but I can tell you that his friends and relatives are shaking their heads in wonder. The young man turned 14 just two days ago, on March 11. But today it was if he were 13 again. Or so it seemed, because today he finally had his bar mitzvah, which normally occurs when a boy turns 13. [Donald H. Harrison]
A most unusual bar mitzvah Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego CountyAs my book Paths to Power: A Woman’s Guide from First Job to Top Executive was translated into several languages, I started getting requests to speak and lead seminars in foreign countries. Some of the issues women spoke about were similar to women’s concerns in the U.S., but there were some surprising differences. In Portugal, the weekend seminar being held at the lovely Estoril Hotel was an event designed for women who were administrative assistants to heads of organizations. They were sent there as continuing education, but mostly as a reward for their work, a perk. [Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D, ACSW]
Contentment vs. Restlessness in the Work Place Read More »
Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and Food
There’s been quite a bit of buzz about “Cancel Culture.” For some, this may be just a ploy to avoid weightier topics like economic disparity, unemployment, healthcare, and looming evictions. But it can also open up a serious discussion about who we are as a society, where we have been and where we want to go. In some ways, I can see both sides. So, like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, I’d like to do a little “on one hand this, on the other hand that” exploration of who and what is being “cancelled.” [Eric George Tauber]
Op Ed: Cancel Shmancel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
University of San Diego Prof. Aaron S. Gross, a former president of the Society of Jewish Ethics, on Tuesday cited four reasons why industrialized farming of animals – especially chickens — is likely to be the cause of a future pandemic. [Donald H. Harrison]
USD Professor: Food factories May Be Next Source of Pandemic Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
What’s worse?
1) The decision of the Israeli Supreme Court, authorizing the conversions to Judaism by Conservative and Reform Rabbis in Israel? 2) The onset of investigations against Israel for war crimes by the International Criminal Court? 3) The opening of Israeli schools in all grades, as well as shopping centers, restaurants, coffee houses, bars, theaters, and halls for weddings and Bar Mitvot, as well as the opening of Israel’s borders to 4,000 per day of returning Israelis and the weakening of what had been screening by a government committee of applicants and allowing the return of some 600 per day? [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
Three major controversies ahead of Israel’s election Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East
By Selwyn Isakow and Lita Kleger SAN DIEGO — The Kindness team is pursuing an ambitious mission – to alleviate poverty in the San Diego Jewish Community. Yes, ambitious, but achievable if taken one person, one household at a time through collaborations with local service providers, volunteers and supporters who believe the time is
Kindness Initiative Aids Impoverished Jews in San Diego Read More »
Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA