San Diego County

Modern ‘Prometheus Bound’ a Delight to Read

Howard Rubenstein’s play Prometheus Bound” is based on the play of the same name attributed to the famed Greek playwright Aeschylus (c. 525 BCE – c. 456 BCE), called the father of tragedy, from which it was freely adapted, and based on the epic poem “Origin of the Gods” by the Greek didactic poet Hesiod (c. 750 BCE – c. 650 BCE). The late Dr. Rubenstein of San Diego, California, wrote his version in ordinary English which made the play accessible, meaningful, comprehensible, thoughtful, and entertaining. It is very good. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Barbara Bry’s Councilmanic Farewell

My tenure on the San Diego City Council concludes on December 10 but my love for our city will never end.  Four years ago, I was a first-time elected official.  I had never run for anything—except maybe the bus. I came to City Hall with the goal of serving District One’s constituents in an open and transparent way and to keep San Diego safe, clean, and prosperous.  [Barbara Bry]

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San Diego County

Drive-in Chanukah Concert Dec. 14 at Del Mar Fairgrounds

In their efforts to bring meaningful and uplifting Chanukah events to the Jewish community the 25+ Chabad Centers throughout San Diego County have joined together to host the first ever Drive-In Chanukah Concert at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The featured entertainer is Israeli superstar Gad Elbaz, who is known for his high energy and powerful voice! The opening act will feature Rabbi Yossi Rodal, himself a local Chabad rabbi and Director of Chabad of Carlsbad-North. [Press Release]

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Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Technion Celebrates Viterbi and Ziv

HAIFA, Israel  (Press Release) –A brilliant engineer who left his mark on cellular phone technology, satellite imagery, and DNA analysis. A talented entrepreneur who launched a multinational corporation. A devoted professor who developed one of the most important mathematical concepts of the 21st century. Any one of these accomplishments would be outstanding and laudable in

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Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Jen Campbell wins a short-term rental victory

Ahead of the December 10th meeting that will determine whether San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell or Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe will become the next City Council President, Campbell scored a victory at the City Planning Commission, winning unanimous approval for her compromise plan to cut by 50 percent the number of short-term rental units in the city and to charge a license fee for those that remain. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Mimi’s Ark: Icelandic Horses in Encinitas

Did you know there are horses in San Diego County with roots that can be traced back directly back to the Vikings?  They are Icelandic horses and their ancestors were perfect for crossing the oceans on Viking boats as the horses were short–about 12-14 hands-, calm, and sure-footed.  Icelandic horses today are not very different from their predecessors and Iceland has been careful to keep it that way. [Mimi Pollack]

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International, Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, The World We Share, USA

Jacob Showed Us the Value of Acting Now

What else can possibly be found in a parasha? Jacob meets his brother, Esau. Jacob wrestles with an angel. We read about the rape of Jacob’s daughter, Dina. Her brothers massacre the men of Shechem. Rivka passes away. Jacob is given a new name, “Yisroel.” Rachel dies after giving birth to Benjamin. Isaac dies. And on it goes. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County

Editor’s Surgery to Prompt SDJW Hiatus Dec. 15-Jan. 4

This publication will go on a hiatus that will begin Tuesday, December 15, 2020 and will continue through Monday, January 4, 2021.  Although San Diego Jewish World will remain on line, with its extensive archives,  no new stories will be filed during this period.  Advertisers will not be charged during the hiatus, even though their ads will continue to run. This three-week pause was necessitated by the fact that I will be having surgery on December 15th to remove a small meningioma from the surface of my brain – an operation that is expected to require a few days recovery period in the hospital followed by recuperation at home. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

The Rowdy Story Behind the Staid Bank Columns

I stopped by Ray the Swede’s workshop. The place was padlocked. A very official- looking notice from the State of California declared he owed back taxes, and the state had seized his business. Ray was a very talented stone maker, and had recently completed years of work on the facades of the new University of San Diego buildings. Because of the style and cost, these masterpieces of Old World detailing were rarely used to adorn buildings in the United States [Ira Spector]

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Business & Finance, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Teachers Should Have Priority for COVID Vaccine

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced that California’s plan for COVID-19 vaccine distribution will prioritize health care workers, first responders and those in congregate healthcare settings. Right after those listed should be teachers and school support staff so we can reopen our schools and get students back into the classroom for full-time, in-person instruction. [Mark Powell]

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San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Thanksgiving Blessings and Tzedakah

I’m always fascinated at Thanksgiving time to see how rabbis express what is a central tenet of Judaism: giving thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings bestowed upon us.
For example, the Forward offered a prayer from the book, Talking to God: Personal Prayers for Times of Joy, Sadness, Struggle and Celebration  by Rabbi Naomi Levy of the Neshuva congregation in Los Angeles. The poem focuses on every day things—children’s laughter, our ability to breathe, having enough food to eat, living in adequate shelters, being clothed, being healthy, the special people in our lives, and residing in a country where people are free to practice their religion without fear. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

JFS increases services many fold in pandemic’s wake

Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) remains committed to helping San Diegans of all faiths, backgrounds and ages maintain stability through this crisis and beyond. JFS released statistics on Wednesday to demonstrate the region’s increased need for assistance during the pandemic. The 102-year-old nonprofit has also announced a new, “Triple Your Impact Giving Tuesday” donation match challenge for the JFS COVID-19 Relief Fund on Dec. 1. [Jewish Family Service]

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San Diego County, USA

Janet Yellen to be 3rd consecutive Jewish Treasury Secretary

Among Jews nominated for important posts in the Biden Administration is Secretary of the Treasury-designate Janet Yellen, a former chair of the Federal Reserve.  Although she and her husband, Nobel Prize-winning economist George Akerlof, have not to date talked much publicly about their religious beliefs, it is known that as residents of Berkeley, California, decades ago, they attended services at that city’s Congregation Beth El, and that their son Robert Akerlof, who is now himself a professor of economics at the University of Warwick, was enrolled by them in the Beth El preschool. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA