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
Come Sinema and Manchin
Please heed the call
Don’t block Build Back Better
And cause Biden’s downfall.
Dems will lose midterms
If it gets stalled…. {Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: ‘The Trump is Still Conspiring’ Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Most people, Jews and non-Jews, think that Judaism prefers that Jews observe Jewish Law, called halakha, rather than ethics, and if the two come in conflict the Jew must follow the halakha. Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn shows in his excellent easy to understand book To be a Holy People: Jewish Tradition and Ethical Values that they are wrong. What are Jewish Ethics? How does it differ from Jewish law? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Ethics Trump Halakha in Jewish Religion Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
While some surprises are good and welcome, others, not so much. In this horror/thriller based on a real story, The Surprise Visit relates the story of an unplanned visit gone horribly awry. The story has factual historic roots, but co-producer, and actress, Serah Henessey told me that she and husband, Nathan Cowles, “Hollywoodized” it. I was very happy to hear that as the film disturbed me very much and I was relieved to know that it was embellished and not a precise re-enactment. [Eva Trieger]
‘The Surprise Visit’ Embellishes a True-Life Scary Story Read More »
Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & BroadcastWe know, or think we know, that Jacob was attracted to Rachel as soon as he saw her the first time. Genesis 29:11 tells us that he kissed her and wept. In verse 18, we are told, “Jacob loved Rachel.” He even agreed since he had no money, to work for seven years for her father if he would give her to him as a wife. But how long did this love last? We do not know. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
What We Don’t Know about The Matriarch Rachel Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Who isn’t seduced by a great storyteller? That enveloping sensation of being caught up in the creative, vibrant snare of a gifted word weaver transforms each of us into wide-eyed innocents, eager to share in the spinning of a yarn. Few raconteurs are as talented as the folks at Write Out Loud. [Eva Trieger]
‘Write Out Loud’ Brings Joy of Storytime to Children and Adults Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The theme of leadership is an important topic in Parshat Vyehi. Although Joseph was the nation’s political leader, the brothers never chose Joseph to be their family leader. Instead, they chose Judah. Historically, in the days of the First Temple, Israel became divided between the nation of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel. Rivalry persisted between these nations for centuries. Yet, history proved that the tribe of Judah retained its leadership over the other tribes. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Judah, Reuben, David, Bill Clinton, and Other Flawed Leaders Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Heidi Gantwerk I write this Shabbat message from Israel, where I am filled with emotion and excitement—even though I’m still in quarantine, having only landed here earlier today. If you’ve been here, you know. There is just nothing like being in Israel with its inspiring, vibrant mix of ancient and new, traditional and innovative,
Strengthening People-to-People Relationships, from San Diego to Sha’ar HaNegev Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, San Diego County
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The last live classical music I heard before COVID isolation set in was the cello recital of 13-year old Israeli cellist Nahar Eliaz on March 4, 2020, at Congregation Beth Am. In my review for San Diego Jewish World, I wrote: “Her’s was meaningful music-making of the highest
Israeli Cellist Nahar Eliaz Set for San Diego Encore Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyBy Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — We know, or think we know, that Jacob was attracted to Rachel as soon as he saw her the first time. Genesis 29:11 tells us that he kissed her and wept. In verse 18, we are told, “Jacob loved Rachel.” He even agreed since he had
What We Don’t Know About the Matriarch Rachel Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — It is alarming, if not surprising, that Israeli and American officials are clashing over whether to revive a nuclear-arms deal with Iran or initiate military action. The New York Times reports in the opening paragraph of a Dec. 10 article that two Israeli officials left Washington last week “concerned
Behind the Scenes of US-Israel Tension Over Iran Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
What sustains you through setbacks in life? Is it your self-confidence? After all, pop psychology would have us believe that what it takes is simply true belief in yourself. But this week’s parasha Vayechi, teaches us that what strengthened and motivated Joseph was a genuine understanding of Divine providence. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Parashat Vayechi: What Sustains You Through Setbacks in Life? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The much-loved Israel Broadcasting Association was disbanded (some say this was politically-motivated). Many of the familiar names and individuals vanished and a general shake-up of the tried and tested programming was introduced. Many new programs were introduced, but it was a relief to find that the classical music program could continue, albeit with set hours devoted to jazz and oriental music [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Israel Radio’s Assault on Classical Music Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Journalist, scholar and author M. Y. Berdichevsky (1865 – 1921) wrote for two different audiences. For the intelligentsia he wrote in Hebrew and German; for unsophisticated Eastern European Jews, he chose Yiddish, the language of the shtetl, small towns comprised mostly of Jews. Raised in Medzhibozh, western Ukraine, by his Hasidic father, the town’s rabbi, he spent his youth immersed in Judaism, but also began reading books produced in the Haskalah, Jewish Enlightenment, whose goals included preservation of Jewish heritage, revival of Hebrew, and integrating Jews into the ambient secular culture. [Fred R. Reiss, Ed.D]
Berdichevsky’s Yiddish Stories Collected and Retold in English Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, International
Future historians will consider this book a great find as it details over 20 years of protest, militancy, press releases, controversy, speeches, victories, and defeats in the campaign by secular American Jews to win the right of refuseniks in the Soviet Union to emigrate. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Detailed History of the Campaign to Free Soviet Jews Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, USA