By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM –There comes a moment when words are not enough. That moment is now, just one week after the death of my 28-year-old niece, Naomi. There are no words of consolation, no words that can convey the terrible depths of sorrow this bereavement has brought to my sister and her family, as […]
In memory of Naomi Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Travel and Food
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Admit it – you’re worried about having enough money during retirement. Does this scenario describe you? You’ve been working for decades. Your kids are grown and mostly self-sufficient. You’ve been contributing to your 401(k), paying off credit cards every month, and dreaming of the day you can afford to
The Money Maven: The Retirement Dilemma Read More »
Sheryl Rowling, Travel and Food
By Rabbi Philip Graubart SHA’AR HANEGEV, Israel — The day before our Israel group visited Sha’ar Hanegev, our sister city in the Northern Negev, one-half kilometer from Gaza City, six missiles fell in the vicinity. When I arrived, I took a quick walk around a youth village with Mayor Alon Schuster and I asked
Some spiritual advice from Sha’ar Hanegev’s mayor Read More »
Travel and Food
By Eva Trieger LA JOLLA, California – Some of improv theater’s finest gathered to poke fun at San Diego locals and legends Wednesday night at the Mandell Weiss Forum Theater of La Jolla Playhouse. “The Good, the Bad and the I-5” should have been named “Roasting Bob Filner on a Spit” based on the
Mayor Filner subject of numerous barbs at La Jolla Playhouse Read More »
Travel and Food
By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — In these hard economic times, many of us have had to witness the firing of beloved colleagues. I thought it might be useful to review current employment practices, which are different from what many of us grew accustomed to over the course of our careers. Under California
Painful, but Necessary: The Termination Process Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and Food
By Navras Jaat Aafreedi GREATER NOIDA, India — 19th June, 2013 was a historic day as it saw the release of the only work of fiction by a member of the Baghdadi Jewish community of Kolkata. The Jewish community of Kolkata was the last of the Jewish communities to settle in India and the first
Baghdadi Jew from Kolkata, India, publishes first novel Read More »
Travel and Food
By Eileen Wingard LOS ANGELES — Dr. Noreen Green, the founder and conductor of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, was a student of Murry Sidlin at the Aspen Festival during the summer of 1993. The brilliant conductor and pedagogue encouraged and inspired Green to follow her dream to create an orchestra specializing in music with
Symphony in Los Angeles highlights Jewish music Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Carol Miller She was tiny, as perfectly proportioned as the doll she appeared to be, and as she walked toward me I could see she was also beautifully outfitted in a two-piece short-sleeved Thai silk dress of reserved color in a conservative Western design, with a gold-and-pearl brooch at the neck, and unobtrusive gold
What’s a Nice Jewish Girl Doing, With Ganesh in Bangkok? Read More »
Travel and Food
By David Amos SAN DIEGO — After having attended hundreds, if not thousands of concerts, and personally participated in as many as a performer, I have become somewhat choosy in the programs to which I am invited. There are many interesting approaches to my opening sentence, but here are a few insights of my own
Some concerts are musical disasters, but win applause Read More »
Travel and Food
SAN DIEGO — On July 24th, 2013, my good friend Vivian Blackstone celebrated her 85th birthday. A woman in excellent health, she is someone who has lived an unconventional life with an artistic, bohemian and spiritual bent. That artistic side still continues as she is working on a film about Edmond Szekely [aka the professor],
Octogenarian artist plans Szekely documentary Read More »
Travel and FoodSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — The Jewish Federation of San Diego County has appointed Jane Fantel as Manager of Israel Operations. This new position is designed to connect Federation’s Vision & Mission work with current and potential new partnering agencies in Israel. Living part-time in Israel, Jane will be a liaison establishing on-the-ground communication and
Jane Fantel named as Federation’s manager of Israel Operations Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California– Jonathan Biss, who had his debut recital during the 2000-2001 season at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, is the son of the celebrated Israeli violinist, Miriam Fried. His paternal grandmother was the famous cellist, Raya Garbousova, and his father, Paul Biss, is a well-known violist. It is
Biss’s all-Beethoven program pleased La Jolla audience Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Time was when going away on vacation meant that one was cut off from one’s nearest and dearest for the duration, whether it was a week or two, or even longer. Gone are the postcards we used to send to relatives, friends and neighbours, to remind them of
The trouble with keeping in touch on vacation Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Travel and Food
By Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES — A distinguished looking man rises from the audience of well-wishers and friends to claim a prestigious award. It recognizes him for his exceptional contributions to surgery and to his country. The country is Israel and the man’s name is Amin Jaafari. In his deft acceptance speech he proudly mentions
‘The Attack’ is a thoughtful depiction of Arab-Israeli conflict Read More »
Travel and Food