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 — Bart Denton Ehrman, born on 10/5/55, a PhD American New Testament scholar and author or editor of several dozen very popular, fascinating, and informative books, began life as a fundamentalist Christian, became a minister, and preached in churches. But he gave up Christianity and became an
Why Is There Suffering in the World? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
“The Foundation of Judaism,” by Akiva Aaronson (originally published by Targum Press, Inc. 1997, 2000); Feldheim Publishers, 2021; ISBN: 978-1680254815; 216 pages. By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — I just finished composing my weekly D’var Torah on parashat Terumah, focusing on gifts, and a surprise parcel arrived at my front door. A delightful
Book Expands Cerebral Understanding of the Jewish Faith Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — I was requested to write on the question, “Did Maimonides believe that God produces miracles?” This question has been debated for centuries. I will give the ideas held by those who state that Maimonides contended that God does not perform miracles. To understand this view, one
Did Maimonides Believe That God Produces Miracles? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
“The Jews of Sing Sing,” by Ron Arons; Barricade Books, 2008; ISBN 978-1569803332; 384 pages. By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Back in 1965, I remember sitting on the stoop of the bungalow in Far Rockaway, and hearing my Pop Pop and his brothers-in-law kibitzing about the gonif who broke into his butcher shop
‘The Jews of Sing Sing:’ Understanding Why Some Jews Fell Into Crime Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, International
“Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood,” by Zack Bodner; Gefen Publishing, Jerusalem, ©2022; ISBN 978-965-7023-68-6; 196 pages, plus references and index; $18.00. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Prognostication is very difficult, particularly as it pertains to the future. Zack Bodner, having extensive background in Jewish communal life and currently
Book Provides an Ideological Scaffolding of Jewish Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Judaism
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California —The poetic talent in the San Diego Jewish Community was once more on display last Monday evening, January 24, when three featured poets and nine others on open mic read their works during the “Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices” program. Sponsored by the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center’s Astor Judaica Library
Program Showcases San Diego Jewish Community’s Poetic Talent Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard
By Jerry Klinger DALYAT AL CARMEL, Israel — On Sunday night, in the largest Druze city in Israel, Dalyat al Carmel, a first occurred. The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation (JASHP) donated a sculpture, the Flame of Friendship, to the community and all of Israel’s Druze citizens. The Druze of Israel, an ethnic Arab
A Sculpture for Israel’s Druze Citizens Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Middle East
The tale of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve is a classic good news/ bad news story, with some members of the Jewish community doing their best to further tip the scales to the good news. [Donald H. Harrison]
An Ongoing Battle for a Clean River and Beaches Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — There is an old joke that most rabbis probably know: From where in the Torah do we know that God is a great baseball fan? The answer is simple: Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim v’et ha’aretz: In the big inning, God created heaven and the
Who Should Have the Final Say on Acceptance Into the Baseball Hall of Fame? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Sports & Competitions
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker needs to suspend his job search for a new pulpit. Instead, he must find a literary agent – if none of them have found him yet – and publish a book recounting his background and the 11 hours that Malik Faisal Akram held him hostage at
Is a Movie About Colleyville the Antidote to Antisemitism? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
(To the tune of the eponymous song) By Laurie Baron In pre-Trump days we held elections And honored the voters’ selections. Now Bannon knows, anything goes. The loser by the voting tallies Won’t concede and incites rallies. Fraud he’ll expose, anything goes. Biden deserved the plaudits Instead of audits. The mob who fought it. Since
Satire: ‘Anything Goes’ Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson For some time now I have been hearing and reading about audiobooks. Members of my family have told me that they listen to them while on long car journeys or taking long walks. The idea seemed alien and remote to me. After all, I have been addicted to the printed word since
So there is another shanda, disgrace, emanating from former Chabad of Poway Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein’s complicated scheme to steal money from taxpayers and generous employers. Caught up in it is another Chabad Rabbi, Yehuda Hadjadj of Chabad of UC San Diego, who pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Jan. 26, to conspiring with Goldstein to illegally divert money fraudulently obtained from Qualcomm. [Donald H. Harrison]
OpEd: Blame Goldstein and Hadjadj, not the Jews or Chabad Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Opinion, San Diego County, Shanda File
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls out on January 27, permit me to share with you the remarkable story of Charles Lutz. A friend visiting Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov community was walking on Charles Lutz Street. The street sign mentioned that Lutz was among the Chasidei Umot Ha’olam
Carl Lutz: The Mystery Savior Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Jewish History, Middle East, Travel and Food