AAA-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

Will ‘Jewish Women in Time and Torah’ Stimulate Change in the Orthodox World?

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Urim Publications and Ktav Publishing in Jerusalem and New York have just republished Jewish Women in Time and Torah. It focuses on three periods of time in how Judaism treated women: (1) The early period of more than a thousand years until around the beginning of […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Jewish Poets/ Jewish Voices’ New Season Begins Oct. 25

The opening Jewish Poets–Jewish Voices program of the 2022-23 season will feature three local poets who immigrated to San Diego from other countries. The Tuesday, October 25, 7:00 p.m. gathering will take place in person in the Astor Judaica Library and feature Ukrainian native Jane Muschenetz, Uzbekistan-born Nathan Grinshpun,  and Tel Avivian, Omer Zalmanowitz. [Eileen Wingard]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, International, San Diego County, USA

Hitler’s Portrait and a Response to Antisemitism

Some of you may have heard about an incident at Carmel Valley Middle School, where a teacher there had on display, among several pictures of other historical figures, a photo of Adolph Hitler. When confronted by a student who protested, the teacher responded that while Hitler did some bad things he also displayed strong leadership qualities. Parents and community members were rightfully very concerned and expressed that concern to school district leaders. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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California, Heidi Gantwerk, Holocaust, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

A Journal to Prompt Children to Express Themselves

Here is a journal encouraging children between the ages of 7 and 13 to read, think, and write about everyday secular and Jewish topics.  Because it will encourage their children’s self-expression, parents may find this an ideal gift for one of the days of Chanukah. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles

A San Diego Rabbi’s Incisive Analysis of the Book of Numbers

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentary: Numbers is the latest of the many brilliant, learned, eye-opening, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand books by the brilliant scholar Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel. It is another one of his excellent contributions to scholarship. San Diego County’s own Rabbi Samuel — currently the

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Arab-Jewish Musician Releases CD Exploring His Heritages

Yoni Avi Battat’s debut album, Fragments, explores his Arab-Jewish identity through nine selections. He composed the music for seven of them, delving into the Arabic melodies of his grandparent’s native Iraq for inspiration and including native instruments such as the oud (Arabic lute), qanun (chordaphone with many strings), nay (reed flute), riq (tambourine), frame drum, karakeb (large iron castenets), darbuka (goblet shaped drum) and joza (coconut shell fiddle held on knee). [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

US Fumbles Israel’s Marine Border Negotiations with Lebanon

Envoy Hochstein, in the tradition of American negotiators in Israel’s sphere, has proposed that it accept 100% of Lebanon’s demands in the Eastern Mediterranean, with some minor concessions to Israel. In any event, Hezbollah rejects the entire agreement, adding additional requirements. Acting Prime Minister Lapid had immediately commented favorably on the proposed deal, although the opposition vehemently disagrees. (Steve Kramer]

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Israel, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

‘Summer Lightning’ and the Sudden Strikes of Love

This novel follows a Jewish family through nearly four decades of American history, starting with the couple’s chance meeting at Roosevelt Field on May 20, 1927, while watching Charles Lindbergh begin his solo flight across the Atlantic, and extending through the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

4 Times 20

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — During the last few years, I have been spending part of the summer in France, supposedly to avoid the summer heat of Israel. That has come to be something of a joke, as the summers in France have been as hot as — or even hotter than —

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Lifestyles