One is supposed to “get away from it all” on a vacation, but, given the fact that this online newspaper’s slogan is “There’s a Jewish story everywhere,” I couldn’t resist photographing evidence of Jewish influences wherever we set foot. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish influences abound in Caribbean, Central America Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Travel and Food
It seemed like a good idea at the time. A trip that would last just over three weeks, starting with a few days in Madrid, continuing with visits of several days each to cousins on the east coast of the USA. After that we were due to spend a few days with our son in Las Vegas, and conclude with a few more days in Rome. What a perfect combination of fun, family and art. Lots of art. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Multiple-city itineraries can be exhausting Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Travel and Food, USA
By Steve Kramer AMSTERDAM, Holland — It wasn’t quite winter, but it felt like it, when my wife Michal and I visited Amsterdam at the end of November. Having been to Amsterdam about 25 years ago with our young sons, it wasn’t at the top of our wish list, especially since it’s overcrowded with
Amsterdam: the good and the ugly Read More »
International, Jewish History, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
Sephardic Jews who were expelled in the late 15th century from Portugal and Spain learned about cocoa and the production of chocolate from the indigenous peoples of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Keeping up contacts with non-Jewish acquaintances who had remained on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, they helped to popularize chocolate and develop it as a product in international trade. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews and chocolate: 500 years of sweetness Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
Three Democratic members of Congress representing portions of San Diego County – Susan Davis, Scott Peters, and Mike Levin – were among 192 cosponsors of a House Resolution approved by a vote of 226-188 on Friday, Dec. 6, that reiterated support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. A fourth San Diego Democrat, Juan Vargas, joined his colleagues in the majority. [Donald H. Harrison]
Resolution on Israel wins S.D. reps. support Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
True to its roots, when it was founded in 1936 to help European Jews who were being persecuted by the Nazi regime in Germany, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County on Tuesday, Dec. 3, launched a community-wide coalition to come to the aid and honor an estimated 500 Holocaust survivors who live in the county today. [Donald H. Harrison]
Community coalition to aid Holocaust Survivors Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
In the past, philanthropists Ernest and Evelyn Rady donated $60 million and $120 million to Children’s Hospital, which renamed itself as Rady Children’s Hospital. Now, the married philanthropists have offered to outdo themselves. They promised to match $200 million in donations from other people in an effort to create a $400 million Rady Reimagine Fund to chart and implement the pediatric hospital’s growth. [Donald H. Harrison]
$200m offered in match for Rady Children’s Hospital Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
The California Democratic Party, at its recent convention, passed over some of the Jewish Democrats running for offices in the San Diego County area in favor of better-known candidates. [Donald H. Harrison]
California Democrats pass over local Jewish candidates Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Travel and Food
In Western religions, the numbers 3, 7, and 40 have symbolic significance. So too are they important to the understanding of the life and works of Baldassare Forestiere, who created the sprawling underground gardens and home that today are recognized as a California Historical Landmark as well as a venue listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [Donald H. Harrison]
Religious numerology at a state historic landmark Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Travel and Food, USA
Becky Krinsky, who organized the Pink Challah Bakes, both in Bonita and across the border at the Centro Social Israelita of Tijuana, said there were several reasons for merging Shabbat San Diego with breast cancer awareness. Noting that women traditionally make the challah that Jewish families eat on Shabbat, she commented that “breast cancer affects mainly women. We all have either one person who died from cancer or we know someone who is struggling with cancer, so I think it is a beautiful idea to unite us in praying for everybody and getting both things at the same time.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Event marries Shabbat, Breast Cancer Awareness Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
On a recent beautiful autumn morning we left for a short two-day holiday with friends. Our plans included the Hula Lake bird sanctuary and the Old City in Acre (called Akko in Israel). But since our friends hadn’t eaten yet, we decided to enjoy a breakfast break on our way north at the fabulous Herodian/Crusader ruins in Caesarea National Park. [Steve Kramer]
Touring the Israeli coast and Hula Nature Reserve Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
Various passages in the Torah teach us not only to refrain from harming animals, but to be kind to them as well. That’s why it’s appropriate to think of the Lindsay Wildlife Experience as a place where ethical and religious precepts can be learned not only in words, but also in deeds. [Donald H. Harrison]
Torah precepts in action at wildlife center Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA
Two authors, whose books recently were reviewed by San Diego Jewish World, were front and center Sunday at the Artisans Fair at Temple Emanu-El. [Donald H. Harrison]
Side-by-side authors at Temple Emanu-El Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Marcia Berneger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food
The playwright Eugene O’Neill (1888-1953) grew bored and frustrated by what passed for theatre early in his life. There were few stories told that connected with reality; instead, theater essentially was spectacle – lots of costumes, big sets, predictable plots and one-dimensional characters. He wanted to change all that, suggested Tory Starling, the educational technician at the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site. He experimented in various forms of theatre. [Donald H. Harrison]
Tao House: Where O’Neill wrote well-known plays Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA