Travel and Food

JPlate: SHIVA

Here is a Jewish-interest license plate that puzzled Harry Jacobson-Beyer of Louisville, Kentucky, and frankly puzzles us too.  A shiva is the seven-day mourning period following the burial of a loved one.  If that is what “shiva” on this license plate refers to, then we offer the owner of the car bearing this license plate our condolences. We are used to license plates being more celebratory in nature, but people grieve in their own ways.  If on the other hand, the car owner sought to convey some other message, well, he or she is likely to notice now and then some confused Jewish drivers in the rear-view mirror.

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Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Program Builds Connections Between Israeli Academics and Local Universities

MGSDII operates parallel programs, with different professors, at San Diego State University, Cal State University San Marcos, and the University of San Diego. One year, an Israeli professor taught at Cal Western Law School.  Cumulatively, the universities in San Diego County host the largest ongoing Israel Studies program in the United States, having attracted through the 2022-2023 academic year 43 visiting professors from Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

The Jewish Foods of India in Five Distinct Sub-Cultures

Author Esther David tells of the history and cuisines of five Jewish communities in India –the Bene Israel, centered in Mumbai; the Cochin Jews on India’s southwestern coast around Kochi;  the Baghdadi Jews on India’s northeastern coast around Kolkata (close to Bangladesh); the Bene Ephraim of Andhra Pradesh on India’s central eastern coast around Machilpatnam; and the Beni Menashe of Manipur and Mizoram on the northeastern arm of India bordering Myanmar (Burma). [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food

Tabu Shabu in Carlsbad Triggers Reviewer’s Memories of Japan

When you sit at the bar, they will direct you to choose a broth, and then to choose your protein, noodles and rice.  They have six different types of beef ranging from Prime to Wagyu.  I usually get the prime reserve as I prefer a leaner cut of meat to a more marbled one.  The more marbled ones are considered better by most people though.  A pot that is shaped somewhat like a bunt cake pan is put in front of you and left to boil while they go fetch the veggies and meats.  You’ll get a bowl of rice, a huge plate of veggies, some variety of noodle (I choose udon usually) and a plate of thinly sliced meat.  [Sandi Masori]

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Travel and Food

The Jewish Eye: Debt Limit Deadline; Cardin Retiring; Genesis Award for Streisand

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told congressional leaders on Monday that unless the debt ceiling is raised, the United States could be left with insufficient funds to pay its debts as soon as June 1.  In a letter she wrote: “After reviewing recent federal tax receipts, our best estimate is that we will be unable to satisfy all of the government’s obligations by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit before that time.”  President Joe Biden has invited congressional leaders to come to the White House on May 9 to see if an agreement can be reached. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

The Jewish Eye: Outdoor Menorah; Banning Books; Gun Safety

Barry Soper, who has contributed to many political campaigns, now has political figures donating money to build a new, less destructible outdoor menorah at Chabad of San Diego State University, which is led by Rabbi Chalom Boudjnah.  Among contributors are the current and previous two San Diego County Assessors/ Clerks/ Recorders respectively Jordan Marks, Ernie Dronenburg, and Greg Smith.  The menorah, which symbolizes the Jewish hope to bring light into the world, has been vandalized on several occasions over the years.  Overseeing construction of a new one is Joshua Soper, son of Barry Soper. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Patrick Henry HS ‘Jerome the Giraffe’ Wins Imagery Award at World Competition

The judges at the FIRST World Robotics Competition held April 19-22 in Houston, Texas, were mighty impressed with the looks of “Jerome the Giraffe,” a San Diego robot manufactured at Patrick Henry High School. The usual nickname for Patrick Henry teams is the “Patriots” but the robotics club made a slight change in the name. Their team is the “Patribots.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Technology, Travel and Food, USA

‘Breakfast Cereal: A Global History’ — The Book I Did Not Write

By Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California – I like porridge, cream of wheat, and semolina. It’s a nice starter for cold weather. I remember the advertising ditty, “Its cream of wheat weather, we repeat, so guard your family with hot cream of wheat.” In 2005 we were in San Francisco for a wedding. We breakfasted

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, Travel and Food

Polish Jewish Yiddishist Seeks Revival of Eastern European Jewish Culture

Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh in late 2021 acted upon an idea that had been incubating almost since she arrived here. She rented a 600-squae-foot storefront at 1128 Wall Street in La Jolla and named her enterprise “Yiddishland.”  She intends it to be an incubator for the baby that she hopes will grow into a “mini-shtetl,” hopefully in La Jolla, with a small hotel, museum, classes, and possibly costumed docents who will introduce visitors to the resurging Yiddish world of Europe that was almost snuffed out by the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Israel’s First Shake Shack Planned for 2024; Kosher Status Unclear

(JNS) Earlier this year, 7-Eleven opened its first store in Israel. Next year, the land of flowing Slurpees is poised to have its first Shake Shack fast-food restaurant. The popular U.S. burger chain announced on April 19 that it would open at least 15 Israeli branches in the next decade, with the first to appear

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Israel, Travel and Food, USA

Passover and the Jackson Hole Book Nook

By Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA –This was written on April 11, 2023, at 6,000 feet in the Jackson Hole Airport, 35,000 feet in flight, and 5000 feet in Denver’s new United “wing,” enroute from Jackson Hole to Richmond, California. We spend the beginning of Passover in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and return to Richmond for

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, Travel and Food

B’Shalom: Leonard da Vinci a landsman?  Goldman v. Jordan.  Lawson-Remer et al v. Nathan Fletcher

News of Jewish interest broke on Tuesday at the International, National, State and Local Levels: [Donald H.Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

From the Holocaust to Santa Barbara: Stories of ‘Thrival’

By Eva Trieger SANTA BARBARA, California — As we celebrate Passover, the Festival of Freedom, it feels appropriate to write about a Holocaust documentary to which I was recently introduced. In 2008 filmmaker, podcast host and comedian, Louise Palanker teamed up with Jennie Reinish to bring us “We Played Marbles: Remembering a Stolen Childhood.” The

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California, Eva Trieger, Holocaust, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

‘Edu-tainment’ on ‘Seal Tour’ and at San Diego Zoo Safari

So, it was off to the San Diego SEAL tour on Thursday and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Friday to engage in what Old Town Trolley Tours’ parent company, Historic Tours of America, calls “edu-tainment,” which refers to educating people while entertaining them. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA