Blumenthal worked in all three branches of the U.S. government before winning elective office himself. He was an aide to U.S. Sen. Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut, an assistant to Daniel Moynihan during his time in the Nixon White House, and a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Richard Blumenthal Read More »
Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Many readers will be surprised by the 82 pages of facts that Dr. Sperber reveals from both Jewish and non-Jewish sources about vegetarianism, how animals are treated, often in unhealthy ways for the animals and those who eat them, and how animals suffer. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Daniel Sperber’s Superb New Book: ‘Vegetarianism, Ecology, and Business Ethics’ Read More »
Business & Finance, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA
Making a sanctuary is understood to be the requirement for Hashem to dwell within us. We cannot be passive and expect Hashem to dwell within us. We are required to take the first step. He doesn’t live in a building, isn’t restricted to one place, but rather lives within us, within our hearts, and within our minds. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Parasha Terumah: A Sanctuary for God in Our Hearts Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Lee wants an immediate, permanent ceasefire which would leave Hamas in power, and negotiations toward a two-state solution. Porter and Schiff also favor a two-state solution but not while Hamas is in power. Garvey says a two-state solution is naïve, because a Palestinian state would remain in favor of Israel’s destruction. [Donald H. Harrison]
This book for children teaches children aged 4 through 8 two important lessons: some of the rituals of Passover and how the spirits of loved ones remain with us even after their deaths. [Donald H. Harrison]
Passover Book Helps Children to Deal with Death Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors
We must unequivocally condemn these acts of terrorism and stand with Israel in its right to defend itself against such barbaric aggression. The Israeli government has a duty to protect its citizens and ensure their safety in the face of such heinous acts. [Kevin Faulconer]
Seated in the office, they read a letter to their representative, read, poetry, chanted and recited names of children killed in Gaza. They also held up a clothesline of baby clothes with the names of dead Palestinian infants. After three hours they marched out of the office to join nearly 50 demonstrators outside. [Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine]
Anti-Israel Demonstrators Protest at Rep. Mike Levin’s Oceanside Office Read More »
East County Magazine, Israel, Middle East, Miriam Raftery, San Diego County, USA“Sometimes I imagine what I’d write today for my dear friend Martin,” Jones begins. “I’d remind people that all hate thrives on one thing: silence. The people who will change the nation are those who speak out, who refuse to be bystanders, who raise their voices against injustice. When we stand up to silence, we stand up to all hate.” [SDJW staff]
Super Bowl Ads: Schwarzenegger #1; ‘Silence’ #18 Read More »
Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Videos
Rep. Katie Porter — who, of the three, has the shortest tenure in Congress — notes that her campaign has never received corporate PAC money, while Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee only began to reject corporate PAC money this election. The issue could come up again tonight, when the three Democrats and Republican Steve Garvey face off in the second televised U.S. Senate debate, hosted by KTLA, KRON and other Nexstar Media Group stations. [Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters]
In 1930, Sullivan, a Catholic, married Sylvia Weinstein, a Jewish woman, against the wishes of both families. What did Sylvia Weinstein do to mollify her family when she and Ed Sullivan started dating? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Ed Sullivan Read More »
International, Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Blume’s fight against the book banners, led to her becoming active in the National Coalition Against Censorship. Her treatment of menstruation, masturbation, teen sex, and birth control in different books have prompted calls for their banning. In 2000, the Library of Congress named her a “Living Legend.” [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Judy Blume Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Lassalle was a “wunderkind” of the socialist movement. At the age of 23, during the revolution of 1848, he was already a prominent figure in the radical Democratic Party in Prussia. As an employee of the radical New Rhine Gazette, whose editors were Marx and Engels, he claimed to be a follower of their ideas. Lassalle defied the authorities by “challenging them to a duel” with his vivid sociopolitical agitation. His fame was aided by the charge of high treason for this activity. He was arrested, the jury acquitted him, but the correctional police court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment. In 1858 he became known as a philosopher by publishing a work on the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. Three years later he became famous as a jurist through the publication of a major work, The System of Acquired Rights (1861). In 1863 Lassalle founded the workers’ union, from which today’s Social Democratic Party of Germany grew. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D]
Jewish Biography: The Love and Death of Ferdinand Lassalle Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Whether it was Tevye mugging during the dance off with the Russians for “To Life” or even the usually scary dream sequence about “Fruma-Sarah,” director Omri Schein really brought out the physical comedy and rubber faces of the cast. And it worked. I don’t remember hearing the audience laugh during Fiddler as much they did for this show. [Sandi Masori]
Comedic ‘Fiddler’ Uses Clever Staging Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
In 1938, Szilard moved to the United States, where he worked at Columbia University to demonstrate the concept of nuclear fission. He drafted a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which he got his more famous mentor, Albert Einstein, to sign warning of Germany’s nuclear weapons project. This eventually prompted the creation of the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago. [SDJW Staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Leo Szilard Read More »
Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA