Travel and Food

By Danny Bloom CHIAYI, Taiwan — New Hitler lookalike dolls are for sale at 7-ELEVEN convenience stores in Taiwan today. Seems as if images of Adolph Hitler, the German Nazi dictator, have a special place in the marketing hearts of Asian advertising agencies and PR mavens. From Japan to India, from Taiwan to Vietnam, images […]

97 Orchard by Jane Ziegelman, Smithsonian Books, $25,99 By Marc Yaffe BETHESDA, Maryland — If you were raised in New York City, are well passed the mid-century mark, and are Jewish, you can’t help but harbor your own special memories involving the Lower East Side, in its day the largest Jewish enclave in this country.

By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — When he recently passed Trevor Hoffman’s formidable record of 601 saves, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera maintained his hallmark reserve and quiet dignity. Pete Rose was always a bit histrionic about his all-time record-breaking (4,256), games played (3,562), and at-bats (14,053). No one is likely to ever

By David Amos SAN DIEGO — I have said the obvious many times, but it is certainly worth repeating: The future of classical music and its many rewards and beauty rests entirely on the education of the younger generations. It is insufficient for us, the believers in this art form to aloofly go to concerts,

By Danny Bloom TAIPEI, Taiwan — On a bright sunny Sunday afternoon in tasty, tantalizing and terrific Taipei, a group of around 200 people, Jews and non-Jews, marched through the city streets celebrating the arrival of a Hebrew-language Torah scroll donated by an Israeli businessman who flew in for the occasion as well. The festive

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Rav Yosef Poesner was a brilliant scholar and an amazingly righteous individual. During  his entire life, he seemed to be plagued by a nagging wife who would humiliate  him at every opportunity. His wife was the daughter of the reknowned Nodeh B’Yehuda, the esteemed Rav of Prague. After

By Danny Bloom TAIPEI, Taiwan — Overseas, and in India in particular, the big movie gossip involving the 2012 Warner Bros. remake of The Great Gatsby has nothing to do with Leonardo DiCaprio or Tobey Maguire. Rather, it involves Bollywood film star Amitabh Bachchan and what will amount to the actor’s first-ever Hollywood film appearance

By Steve Hofstetter NEW YORK — Compatibility is typically measured in likes and dislikes, general station in life, and temperament. But maybe its time people started measuring it in health, too. Whether you believe in common interests or opposites attracting, we’ve always measured a relationship by preferred hobbies. I once had a girl break up

By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — Summer vacations. I remember road trips as a kid with my folks, driving south from New Jersey to Gettysburg, Williamsburg and Fredericksburg.  And another time, we drove through New England up to Canada, eventually to Montreal and Quebec City.   I’ve continued that tradition with my daughter. This year, we ventured

By Lynne Thrope LA JOLLA, California –It came at sunset. A sense of awe long past due. It crept up so suddenly as if a deity were gifting me with a spectacular view that for too long had been taken for granted. It is true that ocean lovers from all parts come to this place