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
At last! After a year of living in a cultural desert, the ban on public performances in Israel has finally been lifted. And last night when we were able at last to attend a real live concert. The requirements were clear: anyone who had bought tickets had to provide proof of having been vaccinated twice, as well as a certificate of identity. The seating arrangements were equally stringent, with an empty seat between anyone not from the same household (very handy as a place to put one’s coat). [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Public performances again allowed in Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
One of the venues publishers like to send their authors to are book stores where the author gives a talk and sells books. Our local bookstore, Warwick’s, regularly sends out a newsletter advertising an author and his/her book, such as Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, and Julie Andrews. I lectured there about half a dozen times on my various books. Warwick’s does a great job organizing space to hold 140 chairs. What I like about the Warwick’s talks is that there a lot of familiar faces in the audience. [Natasha Josefowirtz, Ph.D., ACSW]
Hits and Misses on the Book Store Circuit Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County
I’m Not the Boss, I Just Work Here,” was written by the founder and chairman of the multibillion dollar publicly traded telecommunications corporation IDT, and Genie Energy Ltd, Howard Jonas. Reading his personal short and succinctly portrayed story will leave you feeling that you too can overcome barriers of clinical depression and emerge with faith and profound success. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Jonas tells of bouncing back from hardship Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
By L. Craig Williams SCARSDALE, New York — Are we forever in Egypt? Can we never reach the Promised Land But only yearn for it Longing to cross over, to arrive, To celebrate the dignity and worth Of every tribe and every man and every woman To be one and to grant Us-ness To all?
Must We Remain Forever in Eqypt? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, USA
By Sam Glaser LOS ANGELES — My wife, Shira, shops for the smallest packages of food in order to conserve space in our three-shelf pantry. When I find one of those ten-ounce boxes of Cheerios, I cringe and dream of buying supersize at Costco. I prefer a plethora of cereal options to mix and match
Shefa: The Jewish ‘Secret’ Read More »
Lifestyles, Sam Glaser
There are figs in Israel, of course. But alligators? Perhaps in a zoo. The title is explained in Chapter 3 of this memoir. In Hebrew, figs are te’enim and alligators are taninim. It’s easy for an American just learning Hebrew to get the two confused. Imagine going into a market and asking the vendor for a kilogram of alligators. {Donald H. Harrison]
American remembers a life in Israel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, USA
I came home last Tuesday following brain surgery and nearly six weeks of physical rehabilitation with surprising mixed feelings. It was the eve of Nancy’s and my 53rd wedding anniversary, so of course I was excited, especially since because of the Covid pandemic, we had not been able to get near each other, much less share a kiss. But, on the other hand, I felt like a kid at the end of his summer camp session; going home meant leaving behind new friends as well as interesting and enjoyable activities. [Donald H. Harrison]
Home from Rehab, Editor Tells Experiences Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & EducationOne day, a boy found a fuzzy caterpillar and put it in a cage as a new pet. Soon, he observed the fascinating metamorphosis as the caterpillar disappeared within a cocoon. He checked the crusty shell daily and eventually noticed a small opening. As he’d hoped, a butterfly was trying to emerge. The boy waited impatiently and feared it was stuck. He took a scissors and gently opened the hole so the creature could escape. Sure enough, the butterfly inched out with a large swollen body and small, misshapen wings. Sadly, those wings never grew properly and the malformed insect spent its last days haplessly crawling around the cage. The boy learned that wings only develop when butterflies mount a tenacious struggle to escape their cocoons. His misguided act of kindness led to the creature’s doom. [Sam Glaser]
The Science of Struggle Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Sam Glaser
2020 was a strange, difficult, and even transformative year for so many. In my case, the pandemic made me feel very mortal and I decided to start checking things off my “Bucket List.” First up was going back to horseback riding after 20 years of not riding or being in the horse world. [Mimi Pollack]
How the Pandemic Led to Horses and Second Acts Read More »
Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County
Following are streaming Jewish programs of academic and lay interest that may be accessed via the Internet. All times Are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Programs (January 10-16, 2021) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
The mid-life journey that led me back to college began in the mikvah. I had been observing the laws of Niddah (aka “Family Purity” or Taharat haMishpacha) for about six years when this immersion initiated a series of changes that brings me to where I am today. The night of this immersion (momentous only in retrospect), I had been struggling with post-partum hip pain for about a year and a half that no amount of physical therapy or chiropractic treatments was fixing. This night, the pain was unusually bad as I limped sideways down the mikvah steps. The attendant asked with clear concern in her voice, “Do you need help?” I said, “No, it only hurts”. But stairs had never hurt that bad. [Isobel-Marie Johnston]
Out of the Mikvah and onto a Ph.D Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Seacrest Foundation is excited to announce that longtime supporters of Seacrest, Sharon and David Wax, have committed a beautiful matching gift of $500,000 to the Hearts of Gold gala. Sharon and David shared, “We are delighted to give this gift in honor and recognition of our dear friends and gala leadership, Cindy and Larry Bloch, Jean and Franklin Gaylis, Mary and Jon Epsten, and Esther Fischer, for their support and dedication to Seacrest.” The Waxes, who generously support many Jewish organizations and the San Diego community at large, are especially eager to help motivate the community to double their impact to support Seacrest during this time of crisis. They continued by saying “Seacrest Village residents are among the most vulnerable in our population, and it’s imperative that we provide as much support as possible to ensure their care and safety.” [Press Release]
David & Sharon Wax Contribute $500,000 in Matching Funds to Seacrest Village Read More »
Lifestyles, San Diego County
It was June of 1969. I was an 11 ½ year old visually impaired girl leaving home for the first time to attend Jewish overnight camp. I boarded the train to Wisconsin consumed with mixed emotions: already a little homesick and anxious, but also excited. I was excited about the friends coming from my Jewish Day school, and the new friends I hope to meet. At that moment, I was just like them—leaving home to spend three fun-filled weeks at summer camp.
It was a disaster. [Michelle Friedman]
Inclusion at Camp Chi Read More »
Judaism, Lifestyles, USA