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
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Judaism has dozens of meaningful customs and ceremonies, but most people, even Jews, do not know all of them, their origins and their rationale. Rabbi Abraham Chill (1912-2004) gives readers of his book The Minhagim, Hebrew for customs and ceremonies, a very readable discussion of many […]
Questions About Sukkot Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Nearly four years after 11 congregants were slain at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Dr. Mehmet Oz is demonizing his Pennsylvania Senate rival from nearby Braddock for seeking the release of more convicts from prison. In the process, Oz unwittingly triggers thoughts of an advanced approach to
Gun-Violence Accomplices, in Congress? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Opinion, USA
By Laurie Baron Worried about all the legal problems his father-in-law is facing, Jared Kushner persuaded him to attend Yom Kippur services to atone for his sins. Donald agreed only on the condition that he didn’t have to fast and could call DoorDash to deliver him a Big Mac, fries, and diet Coke at lunch
Satire: Donald Trump’s Yom Kippur Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — How’s your hearing lately? Are you listening? Ha’azinu is one of the seven songs in Tanakh and is one of the shortest parshiot in the Torah with just 52 verses, filled with a treasure of information and striking imagery. It is written in two narrow columns. This is
Parashat Ha’azinu: Personal Accountability and Responsibility Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Many readers of San Diego Jewish World know Baron via his political satire columns, but I asked my colleague to put his hat back on as a Holocaust scholar to assess how well Burns’ documentary had covered the subject.[Donald H. Harrison]
Pros and Cons of Ken Burns’ Holocaust Documentary Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — If you’ve been holding your breath anticipating the return of the San Diego International Film Festival, it’s time to exhale. However, the depth and breadth of films will have you panting trying to keep up with the evocative array of human emotions. To learn more about the SDIFF 2022,
San Diego International Film Festival Runs the Gamut of Human Emotions Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — We Are the Tree of Life (WATTOL) founder and director, Jackie Gmach, is adept at recognizing talent and recruiting them to participate in her initiative. In Israeli-born dancer and circus performer, Tammuz Dubnov, Gmach struck gold. Dubnov is not only young, handsome and talented, but he is committed to
Bringing to Life, Through the Arts, the Victims of the Holocaust Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyBy Laurie Baron (Melody: Oklahoma) Mar-a-Lago, where the lackies come to kiss Trump’s ring Where secrets are stored since he likes to hoard Believing that he owns everything. Mar-a-Lago, where agents confiscated files. And he felt maligned since in his mind They’re declassified, no grounds for a trial. We know they belong to the land,
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — I received a pre-publication copy for review of A Banker’s Journey: How Edmond J. Safra Built a Global Financial Empire, by Daniel Gross, from the publisher’s representative. It’s a fascinating look at both Sephardic Jews and the banking industry. “Rather than a biography of a single man this
The Syrian-Born Jew Who Built a Banking Empire Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
As with Rosh Hashanah, Orthodox Jews like me recognize that Yom Kippur is not mentioned in the Bible. It replaces another day known as Yom Hakippurim, mentioned in the Bible in Leviticus 16:29–31, 23:27–32, and Numbers 29:7–11. Orthodox Jews follow the Oral Law, the ways that the rabbis interpreted the Torah. This can be called Rabbinical Judaism in contrast to Biblical Judaism. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Yom Kippur is not a Biblical Holiday Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
This memoir is about different kinds of self-deception. One form is that of a drug addict who keeps telling herself and others that she is on the road to recovery and doesn’t need any 12-step programs or psychological help. The other is about a well-meaning aunt, who enables her drug-addict niece by pretending not to know that she is still using. [Donald H. Harrison]
The Self-Deceptions of a Drug Addict and Her Enabling Aunt Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Herschel ran out on two marriages and three children. After being convicted of smuggling marijuana, he fled to Sint Eustatius where he all but disappeared to the outside world, while building a reputation on the Dutch Caribbean Island as a pharmacist and a professor. This memoir starts with a notice to his son Michael that he has died. [Donald H. Harrison]
Death Brought This Family Together Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Attracted by the intriguing title, I read “The Revenge of the Elders of Zion” in its ebook version on my phone, and as I tend to read books on my phone only when I’m waiting to see the doctor or dentist, it took me rather a long time
The Intrigue of ‘The Revenge of the Elders of Zion’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Over 10 years ago, I wanted to make an offer to buy a house in New Jersey and the agent told me to submit my offer in the form of a signed contract. She explained – and my lawyer subsequently confirmed – that upon the seller’s acceptance of the offer, my
Before Signing on the Dotted Line… Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Opinion