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 Heidi Gantwerk Last Saturday, we all followed the attack in Colleyville, fearful of the worst possible ending as we also were reminded of our own local past tragedies. The Jewish Federation of San Diego County and ADL San Diego were in touch immediately to share updates and discuss potential local warnings. Federation also was […]
From Darkness to Light Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, San Diego County
By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel The first proclamation of the Ten Commandments, “ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,” (Exod. 20:2) has puzzled Jewish scholars and philosophers for well over 2,000 years. Maimonides deduced from this passage the biblical precept
Is Belief a Commandment? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — “Prayers answered,” tweeted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “All hostages are out alive and safe.” What a relief that pro-gun advocates routinely offer prayers whenever innocent people are threatened with or harmed by firearms. Abbott maintained the pattern as we worried what would become of the four hostages at Congregation
All We Can Do is (Ahem!) Pray Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — In his Guide for the Perplexed, book 3, chapter 51, in the easy to read translation by M. Friedlander, Maimonides (1138-1204) tells readers: “The present chapter does not contain any additional matter that has not been treated in the [previous] chapters of this treatise. It is
Maimonides’ View on the Proper Way to Worship God Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
This is an academic work, yet a very personal one for Bernice Lerner of Boston University’s Center for Character and Social Responsibility. The Jewish girl referred to in the subtitle was author Lerner’s mother, Rachel Genuth. Her Romanian hometown of Seghet was annexed by Hungary, then an ally of Nazi Germany. Teenaged Genuth and the town’s other Jews were rounded up and sent to Auschwitz. [Donald H. Harrison]
Author Tells of Survivor Mother and the Extraordinary Medical Campaign that Saved Her Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. In this week’s parasha, Yitro, one of the six portions termed for an individual, we discover the Ten Commandments, the Aseret HaDib’rot, being revealed to Moses and to the Israelites in the wilderness. We see from this pinnacle experience that the Torah can be learned anywhere, even in a wilderness,
Parashat Yitro: Covering Our Challah Loaves Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Hershey Felder created another hit with Mozart and Figaro in Vienna, streamed January 9 from Florence, Italy. In this musical film, Felder portrayed Mozart’s librettist, the remarkable Emmanuele Conegliano, better known as Lorenzo Da Ponte, the name given him when his father converted the family from Judaism to
‘Mozart and Figaro in Vienna’ is Hershey Felder’s Latest Hit Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Their story starts off as a tale of conflict between two towns, one of which grows apples, and the other which raises honey bees. When the residents of Dvash stripped an apple tree in the town of Tapuchim, the first reaction of the adult residents of Tapuchin was to retaliate against Dvash. But a little girl suggested that before they do anything, they should seek the advice of their rabbi. [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Literature: Turning Conflict into Cooperation Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do,” do not miss Desperate Measures at the North Coast Repertory Theatre. This delightful show is an antidote for the
North Coast Rep’s ‘Desperate Measures’ an Antidote for Pandemic Blues Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Being Jewish, my wife and I light Shabbat candles on Friday evening before the Sabbath begins. This is a longstanding Jewish practice, usually understood to be over 2,000 years old. The usual explanation for the custom is based on a dispute between the Sadducees and Pharisees.
Why Do We Light Shabbat Candles? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Who is the more credible source, one who has witnessed something, or one who has researched it thoroughly? This is the crux of an upcoming and provocative reading of The Soap Myth, a benefit for North Coast Repertory Theater in Solana Beach. The play, written by Baltimore native,
The Soap Myth: A Provocative Exploration of Holocaust Scholarship Read More »
Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Israel began its COVID vaccination program earlier than the United States. The U.S. then followed Israel’s lead in giving booster shots and probably will do the same for the next round of boosters. Hence, COVID must be a Jewish plot to impose Israeli medical policies on the world. Although
Satire: Blame the Jews Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
At our last stop, Jewish merchants were our focus. Another reason one can anticipate finding a “Jewish story everywhere” is the nation of Israel. Every other country in the world either enjoys or refuses relations with Israel, but whichever the case, it leads to a Jewish-interest story. On a more personal level, there are relationships between the Jews who live in the Land of Israel and people living in other areas of the world. [Donald H. Harrison]
Israeli Agriculture and the Little Landers Movement Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food
Rabbi Jason Nevarez of Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego attended college with the rabbi who was taken hostage in Colleyville, Texas. After college, they were classmates at the Hebrew Union College seminary in Jerusalem in 2001 during the height of the Intifada. [Donald H. Harrison]
S.D. Rabbi Was Classmate of Texas Rabbi Taken Hostage Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA