Fearful that the Emmy Award Show would detract from coverage of his Iowa Caucus victory, Donald Trump created his own TV awards show to compete with it based on fictitious programs with the same titles as Emmy winners so viewers would not realize they weren’t watching the real Emmies ceremony. [Satire by Laurie Baron]
Satire: The Donnies Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Can we consider ourselves a moral society if we do not help needy people? The Greek philosopher Aristotle writes that man is a social being. Is it our nature that requires us to help others or something else? Author Ayn Rand took a different approach. She insisted that people should look out for themselves intelligently and be enlightened. Who is right? Is there a middle path? Should stronger nations help poorer nations? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
This Week’s Torah Reading: Bo Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The invisible power of fear, the dread of solitude, finds its only remedy in the recognition that we are never truly alone. The profound message from parashat Bo resonates: “Come with Me.” Embrace the divine companionship that dispels the illusion of isolation. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Parasha Bo: Fear Results from a Sense of Aloneness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In 1960, Podhoretz began a 35-year career as editor-in-chief of Commentary magazine, when initially he was a political liberal. Disillusioned with the left, he became a neoconservative, and during Ronald Reagan’s administration, Podhoretz served as an advisor to the U.S. Information Agency. George W. Bush awarded him the presidential medal of freedom. [SDJA staff report]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Norman Podhoretz Read More »
Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
“Growing, learning, sharing kindness, and acceptance of others” are the watchwords of Sesame Place. The Sesame Street theme park’s employees say they practice these values whether in day-to-day activities or at special events like last December’s Chanukah celebration that featured playing dreidel with Elmo. [Donald H. Harrison]
Elmo’s Not Good at Dreidel and Other Tidbits from Sesame Place Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
One and a half million priceless Jewish children were murdered. What was their sin? The answer I give myself and others is that mankind caused the Holocaust, not God. It is the only answer I can live with. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
OpEd: Can a Holocaust Happen Again? Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Despite this, the US purports to be Israel’s best friend. It certainly is Israel’s biggest arms supplier, but beyond that, the current administration attempts to restrain Israel from defeating Hamas, which is supported by Iran. It also wants Israel to negotiate, not fight, with Hezbollah in Lebanon, yet another untrustworthy, terrorist army pressing Israel on its northern border. Eventually, it expects Israel to “live side by side in peace with a State of Palestine.” A Palestinian Arab “state” is definitely not acceptable to Israel, given the historical enmity between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs. [Steve Kramer]
OpEd: Israel’s Position in the World Read More »
International, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, USA
Ludwig Börne (Yehuda-Leib Baruch), German publicist, was born in 1786 and grew up in the ghetto of Frankfurt. He was in early opposition to the German rulers and was one of the fighters for freedom from German despotism. Börne attributed his desire for freedom to the double oppression he experienced as a Jew and as a German: “Because I was born a slave, I love freedom more than you. Because I was born a slave, I understand freedom better than you.” [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Ludwig Börne, Bolshevik from the Frankfurt Ghetto Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
fter the Soviet Union detonated an A-bomb in 1949, President Harry Truman ordered the development of a hydrogen bomb, which Teller and Stanislaw Ulam are credited with designing, although each denigrated the contribution of the other. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Edward Teller Read More »
International, Israel, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Faulconer, now running for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors, commented, “It is a privilege today to ride with 100 others in strong solidarity with Israel and our Jewish community in San Diego.” Zimmerman said, “Today is the 100th day since the brutal Hamas attack and for the hostages still in captivity. They must be all be safely returned now. We pedal in solidarity with our sister city Sha’ar Hanegev and all of Israel.” Essakow pointed out that the riders were of all faiths, who pray for the safe return of approximately 130 hostages.[SDJW staff report]
A songwriter who couldn’t read music, Carlebach composed the popular “Am Yisrael Chai” (The People of Israel Live), which is now a Jewish standard, and thousands of other songs. He gained fame as “the singing rabbi” and he founded the Carlebach Shul in New York City’s Upper West Side. [SDJW staff report]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Shlomo Carlebach Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
I always laugh when people say Orthodox relegate women to secondary roles. Not in Chabad, baby! It is just not the truth. The rebbetzin is the soul of the place and that is not unique to our house. The children are part of it too. They grow up in shul running around, and now, for us, our grandchildren do. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort Found His Home in Chasidism Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Actors will move the suitcases and trunks around the stage “rather than having anything coming from off-stage, so we are keeping the wings basically free and open, so the actors have space to enter and exit from,” Schein explained. With a chuckle, Schein said “I’m almost calling the production ‘Fiddler on the Luggage.’ [Donald H. Harrison]
A Creative Set for Upcoming ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Production Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Among his friends in Paris was Amedeo Modigliani, who became another famous Jewish artist. They painted portraits of each other. After art dealer Albert Barnes purchased 60 of Soutine’s paintings in 1923, Soutine celebrated by hiring a taxi to drive him from Paris to nice, more than 400 miles away. [SDJA staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Chaim Soutine Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday