Staff and Bylined Contributors

Thoughts of an Israeli retiree as the war with Iran intensifies

And so, we spent the day hovering between our chilly basement shelter and our comfortable sitting-room as alarms rang out from our phones, radios and TV sets, as well as outside in the public arena. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Somewhere Over the Border’ is an immigrant’s Wizard of Oz story

Delightful! Adorable! Ear-wormy! Those are the first thoughts that come to mind when I think about Cygnet’s new musical Somewhere Over the Border.  The world premiere written by Brian Quijada and directed by Carlos Mendoza is very loosely based on The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum. [Sandi Masori]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

The Purim Spiel: An explanation and an example

Beyond the surface-level parody, the Spiel functions as a sophisticated tool for the mastery of terror. By transforming a genocidal antagonist—whether the biblical Haman or his modern iterations—into a buffoonish, pitiable caricature, the community performs a collective “reclamation of power.” [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Reactions to joint Israel-U.S. bombing of Iran, killing of the ayatollah

Here, alphabetized by sender, are some of the Jewish reactions sent to San Diego Jewish World following the bombing of Iran and the killing of its top leaders by the United States and Israel: [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Tis the season for hamantaschen, megillah readings, and mishloach manot

Purim is celebrated by exchanging mishloach manot, donating to charity, eating a festive meal, and listening to the reading of the Megillah. Other traditions include wearing costumes, parades, drinking wine, and eating hamantaschen. So many fun ways to celebrate as a community that our ancestors survived. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

‘Hostage’ is a first-hand account of a hijacking

She boards the plane like anyone else, and suddenly she’s in the middle of a nightmare. Now, as a retired cultural anthropologist and professor emerita from the University of Arizona, she brings this incredible mix of lived experience and scholarly eye to the story. She doesn’t just recount what happened—she digs into how it messed with her head and heart for decades. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA