Lifestyles

Who is more meritorious? An angel in heaven or a human struggling with conscience?

This Midrash beautifully underscores the Jewish preference for the wrestler over the effortless saint. Angels may be flawless, but they cannot truly fulfill mitzvot that demand overcoming desire. Only flesh-and-blood people, locked in Sartre’s No Exit with their own cravings, can achieve the profound moral heroism the Torah celebrates. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

Who is more meritorious? An angel in heaven or a human struggling with conscience? Read More »

Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Multiple celebrations in San Diego County of Israel’s Independence Day

Yom Ha’Atzmaut is Israel’s Independence Day, which began in 1948, when Israel was declared a state. On the Hebrew calendar, it lands on the 5th of Iyar, which this year begins at sundown on Tuesday, April 21, and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, April 22. [Cailin Acosta]

Multiple celebrations in San Diego County of Israel’s Independence Day Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Tove came late to the party, but still found a seat on the dais

We are often impressed when we read of a child prodigy or a wunderkind who achieves notoriety at a young age. Perhaps the same could be said when we meet someone who achieves his dream after keeping it on the backburner for the bulk of his life.  Meet writer-producer Mike Tove. [Eva Trieger]

Tove came late to the party, but still found a seat on the dais Read More »

Eva Trieger, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

‘The Lehman Trilogy’ turns financial history into riveting stage drama

As audiences take their seats at Cygnet Theatre, they’re immediately pulled into a world already in motion: stock prices flicker across the walls, the year 2008 looms, and the collapse that impacted global finance is foreshadowed before a single line is spoken. [Sherrie Rose]

‘The Lehman Trilogy’ turns financial history into riveting stage drama Read More »

Business & Finance, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Spain must ban its celebratory medieval toast ‘kill Jews’

It is a phrase uttered with a smile, a wink, and the clinking of glasses. Yet, to dismiss this as harmless folklore is to ignore the blood-soaked soil from which such language grew and the moral rot it continues to nourish in the modern era. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

Spain must ban its celebratory medieval toast ‘kill Jews’ Read More »

International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Anti-Israel protester stickered matzah box at grocery store

A small square sticker had been placed in the center of the box: “ZIONISM IS FACISM.”

My mind started to spin, my arms moved in slow motion as I tapped my card and walked out of the store. After sitting outside for a few minutes, I went back in, still holding the box, now damp from my tears. I found the manager, a young woman wearing a large gold cross around her neck. I didn’t know exactly what to say, so I just showed her. She gasped and was immediately apologetic …” [Karen Klein]

Anti-Israel protester stickered matzah box at grocery store Read More »

Antisemitism, California, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Childhood of Judy Blume reimagined in poetry

Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume by Selina Alko; New York: Christy Ottaviano Books, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company; © 2026; ISBN 9780316-570633; 42 pages; $18.99. By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego Children’s author Judy Blume (née Sussman) was born in 1938 and through her 7th

Childhood of Judy Blume reimagined in poetry Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Shiite Islam practices taqiyya (deception) when dealing with non-believers

“Let not the believers take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Whoever does so will have no relationship with Allah – unless you take precautions against them”. (Quran 3:28; 2:173; 2:185; 4:29; 22:78; 40:28.) [Alex Gordon]

Shiite Islam practices taqiyya (deception) when dealing with non-believers Read More »

Alex Gordon, Israel, Lifestyles, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A suburban tale during the 49 days of counting the Omer

This is not a religious tract, although kabalistic suggestions for counting the omer are thrown in.  I must confess I didn’t find the nexus between what is essentially a story of suburban life and those suggestions for meditations on each day of the 49 between the second day of Passover and the arrival of Shavuot.  [Donald H. Harrison]

A suburban tale during the 49 days of counting the Omer Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors