Imagine that a Rabbi with many years of experience was asked to deliver a message to a rabbinical graduation class. What would he or she say? Perhaps the following message might be appropriate [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
A Rabbi’s Advice for New Rabbis Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
As spring turned to summer, more Jewish activities began to emerge. It was almost as if the collective Hebrew community was dipping its toe in the water of social gatherings. Outdoors and with everyone at least six feet apart, I attended shul for the first time in months. In the midst of the swaying and chanting that so often accompanied davening, I felt some sense of normalcy return. While there was no kiddush after services, some people lingered around to chit chat. [Teresa Konopka]
“It is not primarily our physical selves that limit us but rather our mindset about our physical limits.” — Ellen Langer, Ph.D. in Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibilities. “What? But my world is upside down! I mean, I’m financially stretched way too thin, my waist is getting way too large, my relationship at home is disintegrating, and she’s saying it’s all in my mind?!” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Your Mindset is Your Compass Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Should we cancel people and their ideas if we do not agree with them? This has become the dilemma of our era. The so-called “cancel culture” which consists in removing support for public figures for their opinions or actions is already a trend invading the Internet. At times when the lives of all revolve around the same struggles and challenges, what we need to cancel are our divisions. Instead, we need to embrace our differences and create an environment of acceptance. Our common destiny is at stake. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]
Cancel Culture or Learning to Accept One Another? Read More »
LifestylesEntire neighborhoods are engulfed in fire; thousands have been evacuated from their homes in California. A historic and unusual summer thunderstorm and rare massive lightning strikes combined with record-breaking heat ignited devastating fires across the Golden State. Death Valley reported temperatures of 130°F in what is believed to be the highest temperature ever measured on Earth, and this is attributed to climate change. Other natural disasters around the globe endanger our very existence. What is nature trying to tell us? Its message is clear. We are unwanted guests on this planet unless we humans change. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]
The raging fires also are within us Read More »
Lifestyles, San Diego County, The World We Share, USA
When I visited a jail, it was a lonely ride, made lonelier by the barren landscape of empty hills and valleys. My V-8 powered, beige pickup truck, which easily climbed and descended the steep grades was the same color as the landscape. My final destination was a desolate outpost that could double as a frontier fort if Mexico decided to attack the United States in a refrain of the Alamo. The border is just over the next hill or two. [Ira Spector]
It Ain’t Like John Wayne Read More »
Lifestyles, San Diego CountyWhen we talk about egoism being the bane of our generation, we need to understand what it means. After all, where would we be without it? We wouldn’t have industry, modern medicine, or communication. We wouldn’t be able to travel, explore, or lead a pleasant and easy life compared to our forefathers. Moreover, the ego is not man’s creation; it is inherent in our nature. So when we praise nature, how can we condemn the ego, nature’s own creation? The problem isn’t with the ego; it is with how, how much, and when we use it. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]
Nothing Wrong with Egoism (If Used Right) Read More »
Lifestyles
Adam looked at the kitchen clock and realized he would not make it to the morning minyan, even if he sprinted. He would daven shachris from home, in his new apartment. He began the morning blessings, thanking Hashem for causing him to wake from sleep, for being born a male, for being sure-footed. These primary blessings were intended to set the tone of praise, gratitude, and mindfulness for the prayers to follow. [Short story by Eva Trieger]
Fiction: “It’s a Good Start” Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Jewish Fiction, Lifestyles
I climbed the cheap metal steps to one of the many cheap “temporary” classroom buildings that sprouted like weeds between my Spring 1965 campus visit to SUNY Buffalo [UB] and the August start of freshman year. The classic Gothic campus on Main Street had turned into a muddy mobile home park, but I was happy to be there. Not quite 17, I celebrated as my parents drove off in tears, leaving me 400 miles from home. They had told me to choose a state school, and the map told me Buffalo was as far as I could get from Brooklyn. A bonus was UB’s academic reputation, good enough for the elitists in my high school to express surprise that I had been accepted. [Michael Ginsberg]
A mind is a fine thing to grow Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Michael Ginsberg, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Our editor has opened SDJW pages to contributors of fiction. What follows is true, but has the hallmarks of incredulity. We are wending our Pandemic way from August in Wyoming with the lowest Covid rate in the nation, to Richmond with a detour staying with my sister and brother in law in Laguna Woods. It is 2 pm and 104 degrees outside, and today, Sunday, is predicted to be 108 with “Very Unhealthy Air Quality.” [Oliver B. Pollak]
Food, pandemics, and heat waves Read More »
Lifestyles, Oliver Pollak, Travel and Food, USAgrew up in the fifties, through the fits and starts of adolescence, the revealing mysteries of puberty and the inculcation of ambition all Jewish boys are indoctrinated with before leaving home. Growing up I never thought of my father as handsome or ugly. He was just “Pop.” He was good to me as a kid, but was afflicted with a terrible depression that permeated his personality and behavior and prevented a close relationship between us. His perpetual sadness limited his sharing of his life’s experiences and wisdom gained that might have guided me from making some of the mistakes I made later in life. [Ira Spector]
A portrait of my pop Read More »
Lifestyles, USAAs a Jewish young professional new to town, I have the chance to reinvent myself. New cities bring new beginnings. Like many women, I have a love-hate relationship with my closet. Stuffed to the brim with tops, bottoms, dresses, and more, I am often faced with a host of options juxtaposing the infamous “I have nothing to wear” syndrome. With so many pieces to coordinate for outfits—combined with being in a new place—I began to wonder what type of image I wanted to project. [Teresa Konopka]
Fashion: What your clothing says about you Read More »
Lifestyles, Teresa_Konopka
Laurie Baron, Ph.D, rounds up streaming programs of Jewish interest for scholars and lay people, from Sunday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Sept. 11
Streaming Jewish Programs (Sept. 6-11) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA
Cindy Bloch and Jean Gaylis will co-chair a Feb. 21 virtual “Hearts of Gold” gala honoring the front line workers “who are ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the residents of Seacrest Village, while providing love and compassion during these challenging times,” according to Anna L. Johnston, events manager of the Seacrest Foundation. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]
‘Hearts of Gold’ gala to honor Seacrest’s workers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA