By Ira Sharkansky BERLIN –While Israel has turned to the politics of election, we have been digging around in the dark roots of Varda’s history. They are deep in Germany. Her father, Erich, was a patriot until his death. He was proud of his father’s service in the German army during World War I (stationed on the […]
Israelis share painful memories in Berlin Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Travel and Food
By Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, TAIWAN — Just to show you how some Jews in Britain use humor in a different way than Jews in the United States and Canada, there is a new humor book of Jewish jokes out now titled Michael Winner’s Hymie Joke Book. Yes, the author’s name is part of the
‘Hymie’ joke book is insulting, tasteless Read More »
Travel and Food
If I’m Not Mistaken, That’s Bacon: Kosher guidance for confused Jews by Michelle Slade, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, North Charleston, SC.; ISBN 978-1-4776-2373-2 ©2012, $14, p. 47, including references By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California —Kashrut, the ensemble of Jewish dietary laws, has its basis in the Torah, the Five Books of Moses. Within the
Lightly written book explains basics of kashrut Read More »
Travel and FoodBy David Amos SAN DIEGO –In my enthusiasm and involvement in serious classical music, it really all starts with the work of the composer. One of the Twentieth Century’s most important composers of symphonic music, Paul Creston, very correctly said that for music to take place, three elements must take place in this sequence: The
Working styles of modern-day composers Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — It’s always interesting to see how other see us. As you know, I’m not a Bible scholar, far from it, although like most American Jews, I am a bit more familiar with the Old Testament than I am with the New Testament. When I recently heard that a
U.N. seen by Christian writer as fulfilling End-World prophecy Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Paul Foer/JNS.org The 30-something businessman was just finishing lunch when a text message came to his fancy device in his suit pocket. “Dear Mark, I am sorry but I’m just not ready for a relationship right now. I hope you find everything you are looking for. —Nancy” Ouch. Mark slapped his forehead and
E-dating: utility or futility? Read More »
Travel and Food
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –When Israel’s leading theatrical company, Habima, was invited to perform Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice in Hebrew at the Globe Theatre in London last summer a flurry of opposing voices erupted. The usual vociferous pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel suspects trotted out their tried and tested arguments denigrating Israel’s government. It seemed
Why anti-Semites picketed ‘Merchant of Venice’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — On Simchas Torah one year, Reb Naftoli from Ropshitz saw a man whose mouth did not stop singing and legs would not stop dancing. He was totally immersed in the joy of the celebration of completing the Torah. What Reb Naftoli thought was unusual was that this individual
Wisdom for Sukkot and Simcha Torah Read More »
Travel and FoodMany thought Jewish jazz pianist Fred Hersch would not survive an HIV-related coma, but the experience now gives him a new strength and vigor he brings to each note. Offstage, he supports others with HIV. By Matt Robinson/JNS.org The world of jazz is a broad and often complicated one that is difficult to define. From
Acclaimed pianist, HIV survivor still going and giving Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Robert Gluck/JNS.org For Major League Baseball (MLB) fans, October is a time to focus on the playoffs (starting Oct. 5 this year) and the World Series, events that thrust Jewish Hall-of-Fame players such as Sandy Koufax and Hank Greenberg into the national spotlight. To the average fan, the names Lipman Pike, Moe Berg, and
Forgotten Jewish baseball players Read More »
Travel and Food
By Natasha Josefowitz, PhD LA JOLLA, California — Learning the ropes, paying your dues, passing muster, earning your stripes—all terms we use to refer to the rites of passage from outsider to insider. Practical jokes, intentionally meaningless or humiliating tasks, and unnecessary assignments are all forms of hazing, and newcomers are hazed to test them
Hazing can have a positive result Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and Food
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — With the Judgment pending (perceived as a moral threshold by most Jews, a time for cleansing souls), Yom Kippur is really one of the rare times of the year when our spiritual community actual ponders evil straight on. Most of the year, we’re thinking about good works.
On Yom Kippur we face the evil within ourselves Read More »
Travel and Food
By David Amos SAN DIEGO — My musical travels have given to me very special moments, and every one of them is a story, worthy of mentioning in an imaginary future book. Here are some of them: *Watching the Israel Philharmonic, with Itzhak Perlman and Zubin Mehta, rehearsing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, only hours after
A musical or Jewish story everywhere Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, TAIWAN — When the British novel titled The German English Girl was published in London in 2011, the deeply-felt ”kindertransport”-themed book received high praise and good reviews in England. It was never released in America and was never reviewed in the New York Times or other prestigious national newspapers. Even the
‘Kindertransport’ novel deserves American readers, too Read More »
Travel and Food