According to Joshua Greene in his book Moral Tribes, humans have innate tribalistic tendencies. Once we are a tribe member, we favor in-group members over outside-of-group members, which can lead to strife. Ethnocentrism is a universal human tendency: my tribe is better than your tribe. [Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D]
The ‘tribes’ we belong to Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz
Exercise is health. It’s that simple. In today’s COVID19 focused world, health and wellbeing are on the top of our minds more than ever. Perhaps that’s the silver lining of this pandemic, the renewed focus on health and wellbeing. We want to feel good and live a long, happy, strong and healthy life. And exercise, that no-cost, do anywhere at any time, side-effect free activity, has become established by medical science as an essential step on the clear pathway to get us there. (Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D)
Exercise is health! Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
I am presenting this missive during the thickly arduous days of mid-summer, 2020. Our nation is gripped by immersed disease, painful racial reckonings, and a suffocating lack of thoughtful leadership. (Ben Kamin)
I still believe in the American spirit Read More »
International, Lifestyles, USA
Large circles, at least six feet apart, were drawn on the upper parking lot of Temple Isaiah, each reserved for a family grouping who wanted to dance, play games, and congregate, yet maintain the proper social distance from other families during this time of Covid19. (Donald H. Harrison)
Temple Isaiah families dance in socially distant circles Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Judaism, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Travel and Food, USA
Unlike many organizations that settle for “gala” banquet dinners with speakers, Seacrest Village Retirement Communities in Encinitas has tended to favor outdoor fundraising activities such as golf, tennis, and pickleball along with a spa day for donors. This year, however, Covid-19 was too great a handicap for golf, and it aced out the tennis tournament. However, planners for Seacrest Village, which is the upscale successor of the San Diego Hebrew Home for the Aged, were not deterred. They came up with five methods by which donors could nevertheless help the home raise money to defray the costs for seniors who are financially at risk. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Seacrest innovates a fundraiser during Covid-19 Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
With grief comes loss and with loss comes change. We have all experienced some form of loss: the death of a friend or loved one; divorce; illness of self or others; or an endless list of personal setbacks. Loss is a very real part of life for everyone at one time or another. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
A rabbinical guide to the stages of grief Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, LifestylesCan you think of anything more valued in our daily lives than health promoting and stress reducing compassion? Not long ago I, along with my trusted colleague Lance Breger, MS, led a three-day intensive program on “Physician Wellness” for the members of the American Society of Hematology. One of our central topics was “compassion in healthcare.” Compassion is an essential, powerful element in our lives, in healthcare, in society. It elevates all of us and is without limit. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Compassion is health Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
San Diego Outreach Synagogue (SDOS) held its first J.E.D. Talk last Sunday. J.E.D stands for Jewish Experiences Discussed. “Everyone has a story to tell and an experience to share,” states Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss, spiritual leader of SDOS. The talks are planned for the second Sundays of the month and will feature SDOS members sharing how their own experiences and/or expertise connect to their Judaism. [Marcia Berneger]
Synagogue offers ‘J.E.D. Talks’ on second Sundays each moth Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Marcia Berneger, San Diego CountyWhat a wonderful opportunity the pandemic has given us—the gift of free time to sort through old files and letters that we have been procrastinating about for years. The time has come to unearth them from the bottom drawers and old boxes stuffed in garages and store rooms. We hang on to these memorabilia to connect us to a past event or time in our lives, and, when we touch them again, they trigger a flood of memories unavailable to us without that little piece of paper, that letter, that card, that document. [Natasha Josefowitz]
Excavating the memorabilia of a lifetime Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz
When we speak of this community, we often stop at the Ts or just abbreviate LGBT+. But the A in LGBTQIA stands for Asexual or “Acers.” These are people who really don’t want an intimate partner of either sex. Resisting societal and familial pressures, Acers are content to just be. I’d like to talk about one such person who played a pivotal role in my own family. [Eric George Tauber]
Aces have a place at the table Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorialsInstead of acknowledging that all of life is uncertain, accepting it and growing through it, many find themselves anxious, apprehensive, and filled with destabilizing fear when faced with uncertainty. But when are we not NOT faced with ambiguous, unpredictable and” novel, uncertainty? There is no crystal ball of certainty. (Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D)
Here’s to whatever comes: the uncertainty of life Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell– Beth Jacob Congregation responded quickly to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order on Monday, once again closing down indoor places of worship in response to the spiking coronavirus pandemic. The governor’s order also included fitness centers, offices for “non-critical sectors,” personal care services, malls and hair salons and barbershops. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Beth Jacob issues rules for outdoor davening Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
The boy greeted every passenger who got on the bus with either, “Please make sure your mask stays on properly. I don’t want my Saba and Safta (grandfather and grandmother) to get sick,” or “Thank you for wearing a mask. Because of you, my Saba and Safta hopefully won’t get sick.” [Barry Shaw]
Boy campaigns in Israel to save lives Read More »
Barry Shaw, Lifestyles, Middle East
A short while ago, I visited a third world country. Visas were no longer necessary, but that may change after the next election. The country’s name is South-Eastern Florida. I was there to reunite with long lost Jewish friends of fifty years ago from the New York City area. We had scattered to all corners of the United States seeking fortune, fame, and families. I found some of my comrades via the Internet. I also sought out several cousins who had relocated to this sun-drenched nation. [Ira Spector]
Humor: NY retiree to California examines Florida brethren Read More »
Lifestyles, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA