Lifestyles

Healthy Thinking During the COVID-19 Outbreak

People are infected by disease, not disturbed by disease. People disturb themselves by their rigid and extreme views of disease. If you are experiencing increased anxiety during this time of elevated risk of #COVID-19, aka coronavirus, here are some healthier ways of disturbing yourself less, living happier, more fulfilled, and not sweating the virus stuff. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education

Seacrest Village takes coronavirus precautions

As a resident at Seacrest Village I am impressed how well management is educating and protecting the health of residents and staff from the Coronavirus. At a recent Town Hall meeting for residents, Carl Miser, Operations Officer, explained the rules and guidelines for residents to protect themselves from the virus. A follow up letter from Pam Ferris, CEO of Seacrest Village, was then placed in every resident’s apartment. Seacrest Village also has an in-house television station that streams continuing information to every resident. Special emphasis was placed on washing one’s hands for twenty seconds often, and avoiding shaking hands with others. [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

All you can do is cultivate your garden

Reading the headlines of The New York Times wreaked havoc with my immune system, my hippocampus, my cardiovascular system, or possibly all of the above. Did I need to know that Venezuela’s hospitals are lacking medicines or that there is no food on the shelves of grocery stores? That there is a terrible drought in Australia while fires are ravishing the country and cattle are dying from lack of water? That bad floods are inundating city streets in India? [By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County

Coronavirus curtailing normal life in Israel

The Coronavirus, also known as COVID 19, is spreading steadily throughout the world. At first it seemed to be confined to one region of China, then to other places in the Far East, but now it’s getting closer every day, appearing first in Italy and then in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and now even Israel. The unfortunate Israelis who happened to be on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, commonly known in Israel as the coronaship, were first confined to their cabins for a fortnight, then isolated in Japan, and when finally allowed to return to Israel (not all of them though, as a few were found to be carriers before being able to board the plane bringing them to Israel, so had to remain behind), only to be subjected to another two weeks of isolation in a hospital in Israel. One sad result of this was that one couple had to be separated, the wife returning to Israel and the husband remaining in isolation in Japan. Those two happen to live quite near to me in Mevasseret, though I do not know them personally, I’ve read about them in the local paper, and my sympathies certainly go out to them. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Sidewalk Talk Project helps end people’s isolation

Five years ago in San Francisco, an experienced psychotherapist, Traci Rubles, was inspired to help people increase their connections to one another.  Noting the importance of personal connections to good mental health, she decided to go out on the sidewalk and invite people to sit and talk while she provided heartfelt listening.  Since that time, Sidewalk Talk has flourished and is now in 92 cities around the world. [Bobbi Cohen]

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Lifestyles, San Diego County

Tired brains make default decisions

We are bombarded with constant decision-making, and our brains get tired. This explains why ordinarily sensible people buy junk food, splurge on unnecessary items, or procrastinate. Our brains begin to look for short cuts either by acting impulsively, not thinking through consequences, or by saving energy by doing nothing—avoiding making any decision—which could also lead to unintended consequences. Becoming aware that our brains are beginning to function by default, we can postpone whatever decision we were about to make. If your need is to decide now, give your brain some glucose and you’re good for another hour or so. [Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and Food

‘Legacy of Light and Love’ to provide care for needy elderly

Seacrest Foundation is hosting the 2020 Women’s Auxiliary Gala, “Legacy of Light and Love,” to benefit the increasing numbers of community members in the greatest need.  The event will take place on Saturday, February 22nd, from 6-11 pm, and all proceeds raised will support Seacrest Village Retirement Community’s Resident Assistance Fund. I was informed that this year alone, Seacrest will provide nearly $2.5 million in charitable care. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Orlanskys spend their 71st Valentine’s Day together

Danny and Arlene (Addleson) Orlansky, who celebrated their 71st Valentine’s Day as a married couple on Friday, say the man who was their Cupid was the late Rabbi Morton Cohn of Congregation Beth Israel. Two years after the end of World War II, on a Sunday when Arlene was being installed as president of the Temple Youth League, Rabbi Cohn suggested that because the teens of the only three synagogues in the county (Beth Israel, Tifereth Israel, and Beth Jacob) didn’t know each other, they should have the occasion double as a dance in his Reform congregation’s social hall. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA

Human responses to seeing violence, destruction

Humans enjoy seeing violence. To wit: boxing. In Roman times, Christians thrown to the lions was entertainment seen by over 50,000 people in the Colosseum. Gladiators fighting to the death in the same arena had audiences cheering. In the Middle Ages, public hangings drew crowds. Centuries later, it was beheadings by guillotine and the burning of witches that drew onlookers. What was considered entertainment in the past would be seen as horrendous today. [Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County

Chula Vista rabbi offers ‘Gentle Judaic Wisdom’

Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel of Congregation Beth Shalom in Chula Vista is one of the most erudite pulpit rabbis in San Diego County, having written numerous books on the Jewish religion and on such Torah commentators at Philo and Maimonides. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Joe Gandelman, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County

Planning for San Carlos neighborhood eruv

Young Israel of San Diego, located in a small shopping center at 7291 Navajo Road, is exploring the possibility of erecting an eruv, which under halacha, Jewish law, extends the area of people’s homes, enabling Shabbat-observant Jews to carry packages or push baby carriages with the eruv’s boundaries. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Can robots help elderly, lonely people?

We have a problem. A silver tsunami is coming our way. It is the baby boomer generation, that high curve on population charts, which has reached retirement age. Not only is our elderly population increasing—the largest growth is people age 85 and older and by 2050 the global population of 65+ year olds will have doubled—but the number of working-age people and fertility rates are shrinking. So, we will have more people needing care and assistance and fewer people available to provide these services. [Natasha Josefowitz, PhD]

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Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz

No one is listening!

Last July, I wrote an article, “Wanted: listeners, not interrupters” for this publication.  I received several revealing responses from friends and others, each with the same opening sentence,” I am guilty of being a poor listener.”   Frankly, their confessions were not surprising, as poor listening is endemic.  Even after I met with the same friends later there was little change in their behavior.   No one is listening! [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Lifestyles