Ben Dishman

Rabbi Wayne Dosick: San Diego County’s Longest-Serving Rabbi and Still One of Its Most Innovative

Some people become increasingly conservative as they age; but the reverse has been true in Dosick’s life. He grew up in a Conservative congregation but decided to enter the Reform seminary of Hebrew Union College because he objected to the Jewish Theological Seminary of the Conservative movement on two grounds.  First, it still separated men and women during prayer services and Dosick opposed mehitzahs (physical barriers). Second the JTS leadership was then on record supporting the war in Vietnam in the mistaken belief that if the U.S. left Vietnam to the Communists, its support for Israel against its enemies also might be shaky. [Donald H. Harrison]

Rabbi Wayne Dosick: San Diego County’s Longest-Serving Rabbi and Still One of Its Most Innovative Read More »

Ben Dishman, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Howard Schultz and the Making of Starbucks

Some of the landsmen who were crucial in the evolution of Starbucks included Zev Siegl, Howard Schultz, Jack Benaroya, Herman Sarkowsky, Sam Stroum, Harold Gorlick and his nephew, jazz musician Kenny G. Later in the company’s history came Leonard Maltz, Howard Behar and Dan Levitan. [Donald H. Harrison]

Howard Schultz and the Making of Starbucks Read More »

Ben Dishman, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Celebrities, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

History Department Chairman Robert Bond Traces Turkiye’s Relationships with Jews over the Centuries and with Israel

A former Fulbright scholar who did his research in Istanbul, Prof. Robert Bond of Mira Costa College has a nuanced view about the relationship between Turkiye and Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

History Department Chairman Robert Bond Traces Turkiye’s Relationships with Jews over the Centuries and with Israel Read More »

Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food

Once a Place of Exile, La Colonia de Eden Gardens is a Beautiful, Thriving Community

Among the laboring families, there were numerous marriage that today, many people who live in La Colonia de Eden Gardens are married to each other. As the community developed, laborers’ families bought property, built homes on tree-lined streets, and created a pleasant, well-shaded, middle-class, hillside community. Streets were named for early residents of La Colonia including Castro, Gonzales, Granados, Hernandez, Ida, Junita, Vera, and Viva. [Donald H. Harrison]

Once a Place of Exile, La Colonia de Eden Gardens is a Beautiful, Thriving Community Read More »

Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Barry Robbins: Restaurateur, Food Brand Entrepreneur

The success of the bread was the second time that Barry Robbins and his retired major partner, David Levy, had a food product hit the big time nationally.  In fact, Levy once commented to Orange County Magazine that the success of the bread was “déjà vu all over again.” Before there was Milton’s Bread, there was Chicago Brothers’ Pizza. [Donald H. Harrison]

Barry Robbins: Restaurateur, Food Brand Entrepreneur Read More »

Ben Dishman, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Jewish Board Member Fred Schenk Says Care of Animals Part of Fair Board’s Mission

Schenk noted that, “There is a small but vocal community opposing the animals on the property and having livestock on the property and the sale of livestock. Our mission statement is about making the fairgrounds an agricultural environment. We are part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. So, those who would take exception to our mission statement are the ones who would say, ‘well you know, you shouldn’t have young people selling their livestock.’ Well they are the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and members of 4-H and that is the world in which they want to spend their career, or their hobbies, and that is what their circle of life is all about – animal husbandry…” [Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish Board Member Fred Schenk Says Care of Animals Part of Fair Board’s Mission Read More »

Ben Dishman, California, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Travel and Food

Helping Israel to Grow Its Economy, Shepherd Its Resources Are Sol Lizerbram’s Priorities

Eventually, Lizerbram’s activities both as a donor and as a member of the local JNF board led to an invitation to serve on the national board. Over the next 20 years, he served under such national JNF presidents as Ron Lauder and Jeffrey Levine, until he was elected as the national organization’s president in October 2017. [Donald H. Harrison]

Helping Israel to Grow Its Economy, Shepherd Its Resources Are Sol Lizerbram’s Priorities Read More »

Ben Dishman, California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Technology, Travel and Food, USA

Rabbi David Kornberg of Congregation Beth Am: ‘Balance Is My Mantra’

“The way of my rabbinate and my personal life is living a life of balance,” Kornberg continued. “What I have been able to do and what I try to do is bring [the religious and secular] worlds together with a sense of balance; you don’t have to live in one or the other. You can have a rich religious Jewish life and still live in the secular ‘real world’ so to speak…” [Donald H. Harrison]

Rabbi David Kornberg of Congregation Beth Am: ‘Balance Is My Mantra’ Read More »

Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss Combines Love of Judaism and Music

“Sometimes, I will do a creative service,” she continued. “I will have a theme and I will have some of the basic prayers, but I also ask people to bring poems or stories or something unique that speaks to the theme that I provided. Those were really received well because people could feel that they were participating. I am much more interested in participation than I am in performance.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss Combines Love of Judaism and Music Read More »

Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

Ann Jaffe Who Helped Raise Money for SDJA’s Construction Insists on Good Nutrition

In 2008, Jaffe joined the school’s Healthy Habits committee which had been organized by Ashley Stone. The committee called for the elimination from the campus of stands at which children could purchase ice cream, pretzels, and other junk food. “Within a year, we got that phased out,” Jaffe recalled. “Why have processed foods when we are teaching the kids to be the best version of themselves, knowing what goes into their bodies? We got salad bars for the kids to be included in their lunch so they could fill up on as many vegetables as they’d want.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Ann Jaffe Who Helped Raise Money for SDJA’s Construction Insists on Good Nutrition Read More »

Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food

Jewish Congressman Benjamin Gilman Fostered Study Abroad Programs

Chances are the students who receive the scholarships know only a little about their benefactor, the late Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman, a Republican from New York and a member of the Jewish community.  Towards the end of his congressional career, he urged his colleagues “to defray eligible study- or intern-abroad costs,” according to the website of the Gilman International Scholarship Program. “These costs include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance, international airfare, passport and visa fees.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish Congressman Benjamin Gilman Fostered Study Abroad Programs Read More »

Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Where I-5 Jewish Stories Are Found

The three-book series offers 90 stories in all – a mosaic of Jewish life, personalities, and influences along the Interstate 5 corridor from the Mexican border to the Orange County line. It has been a pleasure authoring this trilogy, which has been augmented by the photography of Dr. Ben Dishman and Fred Kropveld, two fellow congregants of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. [Donald H. Harrison]

Where I-5 Jewish Stories Are Found Read More »

Ben Dishman, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Author Tells How to Recognize and Treat Addiction

Readers with limited knowledge of addiction will find the book useful as it provides signs and symptoms to look for that may indicate that you, your child or other family member may be at risk of addiction. Also useful is the information provided that lays out possible treatment strategies and organizations that can be contacted for help with addiction issues. [Ben Dishman, Pharm.D]

Author Tells How to Recognize and Treat Addiction Read More »

Ben Dishman, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Medical professionals lament holiday travel

My wife and I are in the medical field. My wife works on the front lines at a large medical center and watches the suffering that COVID inflicts.  Not just to the patients and their families but to the front line workers risking their lives to help others.  In the evening we watch the news showing these dedicated doctors, nurses and support staff, exhausted both physically and mentally, literally begging us to stay home this Thanksgiving.  The Surgeon General, the President-elect and many of our states’ governors also warn us not to make matters worse. They are ignored by a huge percentage of the population. [Ben Dishman, PharmD]

Medical professionals lament holiday travel Read More »

Ben Dishman, Judaism, Lifestyles, USA