By Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, TAIWAN — Based in Taiwan, I nevertheless receive a lot of newsletters and news tips in my email inbox from around the world, and a few months ago, I got a very interesting newsletter missive from Rabbi David Wolpe at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. The rabbi was writing about various
Rabbi Wolpe floats ‘helium parenting’ idea Read More »
Travel and Food
Editor’s Note: None of these letters come from actual celebrities. By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO–Dear Money Maven, I’m an attorney. Can I deduct the cost of my business suits? Hopefully, Helen Dear Helen, Unfortunately, no. To be deductible as a business expense, clothing must be required as a condition of the job and must not
Money Maven: Can I deduct that? Read More »
Sheryl Rowling, Travel and Food
By David Amos SAN DIEGO –Just for having been involved in serious music making for practically all my life, I have encountered many well-meaning people who recognize me, and share some of their musical thoughts after concerts I have attended or conducted. Sometimes, their comments are based on mis-information, and preconceived notions about music and
What some misinformed people say about music Read More »
Travel and Food
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO –Sure. Lots of kids build things out of Legos or Lincoln logs, but how many kids replicate a set from Music Man from alphabet blocks when they’re only five years old? I’d wager not many. Jay Heiserman, a two-time Emmy winner, has been designing sets ever since he began
Junior Theatre is a homecoming for acclaimed set designer Read More »
Travel and Food
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson ZIKHRON YA’AKOV, Israel — It’s over twenty years since my own children were teenagers, and it was with some trepidation that my husband and I agreed to leave our home and spend a week in Zikhron Ya’akov attending to our three grandsons while their parents took a well-deserved break abroad. Like everywhere
Here’s Zikhron Ya’akov from grandma’s perspective Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Travel and Food
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — I am a worrier. My friends and family tease me about it. I sometimes worry about personal matters, and sometimes about professional concerns. More often, I worry about things that are going on in the community or in the world. I worry about the economy, and I worry
Obsessions are a form of idolatry Read More »
Travel and Food
By Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –This Shabbat is the 9th of Av, the saddest day of the Jewish year. Yet, Shabbat does not afford us the opportunity to grieve. For this reason, the fast is postponed to Saturday night. The time of the “Three Weeks,” leading up to Tisha’ b’ Av, are traditionally
Surfacing our inner heroes Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Travel and Food
By Gary Rotto TORONTO, Canada –It was 20:00 and I was waiting at a restaurant for a chicken shishkebab. Make that a kosher shishkebab. Clearly I was not in San Diego County because other than when I join my parents at Seacrest Village Retirement Communities for Shabbat, nowhere can I find a restaurant that serves
A 20:20 view of Toronto’s kosher treats Read More »
Travel and Food
By Lee-El Lewinsohn SAN DIEGO — In Israel, we live in a country surrounded by many unpleasant neighbors. Most not only do not love us, but would rather destroy us. So, unfortunately, we’re naturally skeptical when others not only offer to help us but openly express love for us. In 2009, I was drawn to
Israeli urges closer alliance with Christian Zionists Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Many people are interested in socially responsible investing. After all, aren’t we supposed to take part in tikkun olam? But, most people – and their advisors – don’t really know how to define or implement or socially responsible investing! “Socially responsible investing” (SRI) means investing based on personal
Money Maven: Socially Responsible Investing Read More »
Sheryl Rowling, Travel and FoodSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — The Jewish Federation of San Diego County and partners at the Jewish Agency have mobilized in response to the attack on Wednesday, July 18, targeting Israeli tourists in Bulgaria. The Fund for the Victims of Terror, operated by The Jewish Agency for Israel and made possible by contributions from Jewish
Federation to aid Israeli bus bombing victims Read More »
Travel and Food
By Natasha Josefowitz LA JOLLA, California — THINGS! More things to clutter our desks, our shelves, our homes! Years ago, on our way to Borrego Springs, just past Dudley’s bakery, we saw a man carving a bear with a chain saw. There were several bears in various stages of completion, some standing, some sitting. One
Impulse buying often results in clutter Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and FoodNimpentoad is a children’s fantasy book written by San Diegan Henry Herz and his elementary school-aged sons, Josh and Harrison. Nimpentoad is being very well received, with over 40 Amazon 5-star ratings. The authors recently attended the San Diego Comic-Con. Below, older son Josh recounts their fun day. By Josh Herz SAN DIEGO
Nimpentoad authors navigate the Comic-Con forest Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — He did it again. Last April British actor and comedian Ricky Gervais, famous for his role in The Office, was widely criticized by Jewish and non-Jewish publications in both Britain and America when he made tasteless Anne Frank “jokes” on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show in New
Gervais tweets another tasteless Anne Frank joke Read More »
Travel and Food