Standing Together 2024: A Community Response to Antisemitism
Standing Together 2024: A Community Response to Antisemitism Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAAAA-Writers and photographers
Below are the names of writers who are currently active. For others, living and deceased, please type their name into the search box above the masthead on our home page, www.sdjewishworld.com
Some Facts about the Torah and its Laws
The weekly portion of Mishpatim, Exodus 21-1-24:1, begins with laws concerning an eved ivri, translated “Hebrew Slave.” But the term is not explained. It continues with laws when a man sells his daughter as a slave, a death sentence to a person who kills another, the law of an accidental killing, the rule that holding on the altar does not protect a murderer, injuries are punished “an eye for an eye,” and striking a father or mother and kidnapping result in the death penalty. There are many more laws. The rabbis changed all of these listed laws. This is not unusual. As I will explain, the rabbis saw multiple hints in the Torah that the Torah wanted the change. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Some Facts about the Torah and its Laws Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionParasha Mishpatim: Finding Meaning in Brokenness
Healing requires patience, understanding and seeing the imperfect humanity of one another. We all make mistakes in our search for purpose and belonging. Parasha Mishpatim is teaching us to have compassion when those around us falter on their journey, binding up hearts broken by rage and judgement. If together we pick up the shattered pieces with care, perhaps we’ll find wholeness awaits on the other side. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Parasha Mishpatim: Finding Meaning in Brokenness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined ContributorsDemocratic Senate Candidates in California Split on Israeli Ceasefire; Agree on Combating Domestic Antisemitism
The most significant difference among the candidates was their answers to the ceasefire question. While she favors eliminating Hamas as the power controlling Gaza, Lee said, “what I don’t think will assure Israel’s security is killing 26,000 women and children and civilians.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Biography: Banker Ludwig Bamberger Almost Was Hanged as a Revolutionary
“The Red Jew” was probably the richest revolutionary in history. His range of occupations was immeasurably broad, and his activities were full of attempts to improve Germany and to forget the Jewish people. He became one of the first statesmen of a united Germany, but remained an outsider in the society of which he aspired to be a full member. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D]
Jewish Biography: Banker Ludwig Bamberger Almost Was Hanged as a Revolutionary Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined ContributorsA Big Angry Statue of a Lion for Mefalsim
Hamas threw themselves at the Mefalsim gate, their bodies piling up on top of the murdered corpses of Jews who had tried to escape the Nova Music festival about a kilometer down the road. Hamas made certain no Jew reached the gate. The defenders of Mefalsim made sure no monster made it inside the perimeter. Mefalsim took losses, houses were smashed with RPGs, members died in their safe rooms. [Jerry Klinger]
A Big Angry Statue of a Lion for Mefalsim Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jerry Klinger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and FoodSatire: How Nikki Haley Can Win Over Republican Voters
Political operatives are advising Nikki Haley to start criticizing Donald Trump more, but if she really wants to win over Republican voters, here are the things she must do (Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: How Nikki Haley Can Win Over Republican Voters Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USASymposium Told a New Strategy Needed to Combat Antisemitism
America’s Jewish community always knew that there was no vaccine or antidote for the disease of antisemitism, but prior to Oct. 7th, it felt the disease could be kept in check. “We developed a containment strategy, a firewall, to make sure that here we could keep it in the sewers, with the covers on,” Abe Foxman told a “Standing Together” symposium Sunday that was jointly sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Federation of San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]
Symposium Told a New Strategy Needed to Combat Antisemitism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USAHelene Fortunoff Shattered the Diamond Ceiling
Fortunoff eventually headed a multimillion-dollar business based in New York and northern New Jersey, for which she hired mostly women to buy jewelry and gems from manufacturers and suppliers around the world. [Donald H. Harrison]
Helene Fortunoff Shattered the Diamond Ceiling Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAOwn Your Accomplishments; Give Yourself Credit
I’m answering emails and half watching the 2024 Emmy Awards on TV, mostly to see the fancy dresses and gorgeous humans. I gaze up from my laptop as Niecy Nash-Betts accepts her trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actress, proudly raises it to the sky, and yells “I’m a winner, baby!” Now, I am watching with my full attention. I see Niecy give a powerful, emotional acceptance speech, which includes a loud shout-out to an unusually recognized person. [Shayna Kaufmann]
Own Your Accomplishments; Give Yourself Credit Read More »
Lifestyles, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA‘English’ Probes Motivations and Problems of ESL Students
Set in Iran in 2008, the play follows a teacher and her students in a small school where the students are preparing for the TOEFL exam (test of English as a foreign language). As the play progresses we learn the hopes, dreams and fears of each character as they share why they are studying English, and they try to find their voice. [Sandi Masori]
‘English’ Probes Motivations and Problems of ESL Students Read More »
International, Middle East, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & BroadcastPennsylvania’s Electoral College Votes May Turn on Support for Israel in its War with Gaza
Pennsylvania native David McCormick now guarantees that the Israel-Gaza war will command attention until November as he attempts to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Robert Casey. Both are their parties’ presumptive nominees in the coming Pennsylvania Senate race. {Bruce S. Ticker]
Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rose Schindler’s Hologram Addresses Students
In technology similar to that seen at such presidential museums as the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, the Schindler family has preserved the memory of the late Holocaust survivor Rose Schindler by creating a hologram of her that can answer questions from students or other audience members. [SDJW staff]
Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rose Schindler’s Hologram Addresses Students Read More »
Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAMy List of Three Basic Principles of Judaism
I agree with the Torah, Hillel, Akiva, Ben Azzai, and others that the first basic principle is to treat others as you want them to treat you. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
My List of Three Basic Principles of Judaism Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors