For Jews, there’s one wrinkle in the enjoyment of those long summer afternoons: just in case we are having too much fun, the spoilsport rabbis of yore gave us twenty-two days of semi-mourning smack dab in the middle of waterslide season. [Sam Glaser]
Family vacationing as Tisha B’Av approaches Read More »
Judaism, Lifestyles, Sam Glaser, USA
Israel’s Coronavirus cases seem to be growing. It comes in response to increased testing, as well as crowds without masks at several points: outside stadiums (where they are not allowed to cheer inside), in bars and social clubs, some prominent bar mitzvahs, and on streets and the beach. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Coronavirus cases in Israel resurging Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
It’s time for a fresh, humanizing perspective on RE-silience. It’s time for a real transformation that includes a stark awareness of what truly matters and of how adversity can bring a sense of meaning and wellbeing to your life. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Say goodbye to RE-silience Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Sunday being Father’s Day, I couldn’t help but think about a conversation held approximately 111 years ago between a son and his father. The father’s first name was Velvel, the name he had been given in Lithuania well before he immigrated to the United States during the 1880s when American ports were open to all who were healthy and wished to work hard. The first name of the son was Meyer. He was born in the United States, was a talented draftsman, a good student, and in 1909, earned a university degree as a professional architect. [Donald H. Harrison]
Reflection, introspection on Father’s Day Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, USAIt is six days shy of a full month between the killing of George Floyd on May 25 by a Minneapolis police officer and today’s ‘Juneteenth’ celebration. It has been a time of daily marches and national protests for racial justice, and a time for deep reflection throughout America. Many communities, including our fellow Jews, have been reflecting on such questions as “in what ways can we help to bridge gaps and create understanding and unity in our country?” “How can Jewish tradition and values guide us in our search for societal harmony?” and “In what manner do we best start?” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Juneteenth and Jewish community reflection, action Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Two former Jewish players for the San Diego Padres are helping Israel build baseball as a popular sport among that nation’s Jewish, Arab, and Bedouin youth, while also preparing Israel’s national baseball team to compete in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Former SD Padres, JNF boost Israeli baseball Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, USA
The plague of 2020 still hangs heavily in the air, shuttering our theatres and concert halls. But thanks to the miracle of YouTube, the 27th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival goes on. Highlighting the lives and contributions of hard-working women, two of this year’s Women of Valor are Heidi Gantwerk, Board Chair of San Diego Jewish Academy, and Sharleen Wollach of the Jewish Community Foundation. [Eric George Tauber]
Two Women of Valor building trust and community Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Judaism, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The world as we knew it before the pandemic has been altered. We are experiencing a different way of living; some of those changes will continue into the future. I am neither an economist nor a historian nor an epidemiologist, so my predictions are based on what I read as a lay person and my guesses are as good as yours. I may not even be around to see how far I have gone astray. [Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D]
New Normal: Some Ways Our World May Evolve Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha JosefowitzAs so many have said in one way or another, to create our lives, we’d be wise to control our minds. For me, I know I was created to create. My focus is not on my purpose, but on my creation. James Allen in his As a Man Thinketh, observed, “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” In other words, stop with the “change your outlook,” and start with your “inlook.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Inlook is the New Outlook Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
The installing officer was at home in Florida. The incoming president was in Oregon. And the other members of the outgoing and incoming boards of the Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood were right here in San Diego. Welcome to what the Sisterhood members called their very first “Zoomstallation.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Zoom! Zoom! You’re the Sisterhood President Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Judaism, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
She did it her way By Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — The June/July 2020 issue of The Wall Street Journal Magazine contains a fascinating story by Will Friedwald with photography by Henry Leutwyler — “Sinatra’s Little Brown Book.” The article heralds Leutwyler’s just published Hi There!, a collection of 69 photographs of the address
My mother’s and Frank Sinatra’s address books Read More »
International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — Growing up in the last century, it was not always easy being outside of the box. In most cultures and countries, one followed a certain path- go to school, work an 8-hour-job, get married, have kids, etc. For those of us who didn’t follow all or part of
Fern Platt Hall lives a life of good deeds Read More »
International, Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, San Diego CountyPEN America Prison and Justice Writing Programs, in conjunction with Haymarket Books, created a podcast featuring the literary and visual arts of prison inmates currently doing time. The virtual presentation included the music of Kenyatta Emmanuel, himself an ex-con, whose work has been heard from Sing Sing to Carnegie Hall. [Eric George Tauber]
Finding a stronger desire to live Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Jewish Family Service of San Diego on Tuesday sponsored an internet panel discussion posing thorny questions about the Jewish community and race relations. The panel brought together Rabbi Yael Ridberg of Congregation Dor Hadash; Micah Parzen, the executive director of the San Diego Museum of Man, and Kelly Greenberg Young, education director for the San Diego regional office of the Anti-Defamation League. The moderator was Nate Looney, an African-American Jew who is Avodah’s recruiter of Jews of Color. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Introspective JFS panel considers racism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA