The third year at camp, since I was the oldest and most experienced scout, by default became the leader of our troop. In a secret ballot we voted to elect anyone we thought worthy to become a member of the Order of the Arrow. This is a coveted honor service society that recently had its 100-year anniversary. Its lore is based on an enchanting heroic Indian story. [Ira Spector]
An induction into the Order of the Arrow Read More »
Lifestyles, USA
Sarah Golembsky and her family hoped to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah with a trip to Israel, but like many other B’nai Mitzvah, the pandemic made it impossible for her celebration to go as planned. She had to get creative. Sara and her family didn’t want to miss out on the Israel experience, so they did the next best thing: a live tour to Jerusalem and the Kotel through StandWithUs Discover. Virtual tours of Israel are one of the many educational opportunities offered to B’nai Mitzvah as part of a new StandWithUs B’nai Mitzvah Project initiative. [StandWithUs]
For Bat Mitzvah, she traveled to Israel virtually Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
Every year around Halloween, many Americans watch various monster movies about creatures who are often “undead.” Let’s be honest; nothing is appealing about zombies. They lack the sexiness of vampires; they lack the glamor and good manners. At least vampires know how to blend in society. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Some underlying reasons for zombies’ popularity Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Theatre, Film & BroadcastHe was only known as Klimo. No other name. I employed him occasionally, and I once fired him twice in one day. I paid him in cash, the small employer’s magic fairy dust that eliminates the need to pay taxes for employer and employee alike. [Ira Spector]
Klimo, an unforgettable part-time artist Read More »
Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
Israel, the land that was meant to host the ingathering of the exiles and reunite the Jewish people, is tearing at the seams. There has never been real unity in Israeli society, but we always knew how to rise above our partisan interests in the moment of truth. We cannot do this anymore; hatred and division have taken over. It seems as though we are going to split into myriad groups and clans, and many will seek asylum elsewhere, and I am not sure they will be welcome anywhere. [Michael Laitman, PhD]
From Ingathering Exiles to Escaping Clans Read More »
Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East
In the third and final part of our Jewish Halloween series, seen above, Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Congregation Ohr Shalom shares with us how you can have a meaningful Halloween in a Jewish way. Some of his suggestions involve kosher candy, keeping Shabbat, and tzedakah. [Sandi Masori]
Jewish connections to Halloween, Part III Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, USAIn Part II of our Jewish Halloween series (seen above) , I interview Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Congregation Ohr Shalom, and he shares with us some of the parallels between our Jewish observances and Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos. [Sandi Masori]
Jewish Connections to Halloween, Part II Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Sandi Masori
I wouldn’t say I’m a shopaholic, but I was brought up at a time and place where shopping was a regular feature of life. As a child in London I would be sent round the corner to the grocery store in Willesden Lane (which was no lane at all) to buy the loaf of rye bread my mother loved. On the way home I would gnaw the crust, and once I had handed the loaf over my mother would cut off the crust, spread it with butter and give it to me to eat like a civilized person, which made it rather less attractive. But I ate it anyway. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Shopping in Coronavirus times Read More »
Business & Finance, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Lifestyles, Middle East
After nearly two thirds of the year silent, San Diego’s flagship musical organizations are finding innovative ways to bring back their musicians in live performances. [Eileen Wingard]
Shows go on by San Diego’s musical organizations Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyWhat if we fight hate with satire like comedians try to do? Could that be an effective way to tackle conspiracy theories against Jews? I think, “Yes.” Regardless of whether it is done in a straightforward fashion or from the flip side, what matters most is to awaken the question of why the endless Jew-hatred exists, as an important step to solving the problem for good. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]
Can Antisemitism be laughed off? Read More »
Lifestyles, Theatre, Film & BroadcastForty-seven years ago, I met a beautiful, twenty-year old flight attendant on an American Airlines airplane. I was a methods engineer for the airline. We hit it off and I invited the cute blonde lass home for dinner to meet my new bride. We had a lovely evening and thought we might see each other again in the future. We promised her she would not have to eat on a card table the next time. A month later, she was involved in a terrible tragedy. [Ira Spector]
A Case of Mistaken Identity Read More »
Lifestyles, Travel and FoodI think, therefore I am,” said French philosopher René Descartes, and he was right. We are living in the world of thoughts. In fact, our entire world is a thought, and our perception of it keeps changing and evolving. As our perception changes, so does our world. We may not realize it but we can control our thoughts, and in this way determine the kind of world we want to live in. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]
Change your thoughts, change reality Read More »
Lifestyles
Not only humans gathered around computer screens, but animals too, for Internet Shabbat services Friday night conducted by Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss of the San Diego Outreach Synagogue. This Shabbat, Jews around the world read Parshat Noach — the story of Noah’s Ark — and the rabbi figured it would be the perfect occasion to recite a “Blessing of the Animals” composed by Rabbi Jonathan Aaron of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, California. [Donald H. Harrison]
Blessings and Pats on Their Heads Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA
I wanted to use my newly minted social work skills and found a job teaching the principles of case work, which had never been taught in the local school of social work. It was a professional school not affiliated with the university. Students stood up whenever I entered the classroom, and they were to be called by their last names preceded by mademoiselle or monsieur. I translated all my class notes from Columbia into French. Case work is the presentation of a problem which students need to find the best way to help the client to resolve. It was challenging to teach this method, which included starting where the client is and including him or her in finding a solution. Swiss students were raised in a more authoritarian culture [Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D, ACSW]
My New Life in Switzerland, 1965 Read More »
International, Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, Science, Medicine, & Education