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 Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — “Peace be upon you.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas uttered these hospitable words to conclude a hostile speech against his usual suspect, namely Israel, in a pre-recorded speech to the United Nations General Assembly. If Abbas means what he says, which we can rarely count on, Israel and the Palestinians
Mahmoud Abbas UN Speech is All Bark and No Bite Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International, Middle East
This memoir combines journal entries of Zionist fundraiser Irma Ehrlich with the research and narrative of her granddaughter, Catherine Ehrlich, to tell the story of a strong-willed woman who migrated to England, and later the United States, with her son, Paul, from Vienna, following the Anschluss that merged Nazi Germany and Austria. [Donald H. Harrison]
Refugee from Hitler Promoted Zionism in Britain and U.S. Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A birthday and a wedding anniversary (55 years!) impelled us to celebrate the double occasion with a weekend of pampering and feasting at one of the hotels situated on the shore of the Dead Sea. Upon checking in at the hotel we were required to show proof that
The Lowest Place on Earth Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Travel and Food
Intrigue, maneuvering, scheming, plotting, and murder highlight the years from Herod’s reign to the Jewish rebellion against Rome, beginning in 66. Herod, the Great, acting more like the King of the Jews than a Jewish king, ascended to the throne in 37 BCE. His rule lasted forty-one years. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
Jewish Infighting Contributed to Fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish History, Middle East
A Jewish detective imprisoned in Auschwitz is drafted by the camp commandant to determine who has stolen the ledger in which there is an accounting of the gold extracted from the bodies of murdered prisoners. Shimon Divko knows that he will be sent to the gas chamber whether he solves the mystery or doesn’t — the first alternative because he would then know too much; the second as punishment for failure. [Donald H. Harrison]
Auschwitz Prisoners Drafted as Detectives in Mystery Novel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Do you worry that Jew-hatred might affect your comfortable American life? Do you think that Jew-haters will ignore you because your “Jewishness” is unimportant for you? If not, why not? Does this worry – if you feel it – fall below your concern for abortion legislation, diversity and gender issues, climate change policies, etc.? With this in mind, it’s time to wake up to the “new” West. [Steve Kramer]
Antisemitism in the ‘New West’ Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Following a chance meeting aboard an airplane, a doctor simply identified as “J.” is invited to give a lecture at Nevergreen College, which was built on an island that formerly housed an insane asylum. When the time for the lecture arrives, no one is there to attend it, not even the woman who invited him. He delivers it nevertheless. The following morning, he tours the campus, noticing at a student club expo that there are tables for almost every kind of belief, however ridiculous or contradictory. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Nevergreen’: A Satiric Commentary on Contemporary College ‘Values’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
As we once more begin our annual reading of the Torah, we recount the grandeur of Hashem’s creation. Some may think they’ve already read it enough times to know it all. But in his 1971 sermon on Parshat Bereishis, Rabbi Norman Lamm z”l asked how might we bring ourselves to Bereishis once again with a new perspective, ready for new learning. How can we look at Bereishis with renewed eyes? {Miahael R. Mantell, Ph.D}
Torah Reading for October 2, 2021 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel, author of Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentary, Leviticus, has made a significant contribution to posterity by writing this beautiful book and bringing the thinking of Maimonides and many dozens of others, ancient and modern, Jewish and non-Jewish, rational and mystic, to his readers. Among many other sources, he focuses on the writings of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, his Guide of the Perplexed, his commentary to the Mishnah, his ethical work Shemoneh Perakim, as well as his Responsa, and even the Commentary on Exodus that his son Abraham wrote. This volume follows his successful books about Maimonides on Genesis and Exodus. He reveals much that many people do not know and does so in a clear easy to read and engaging fashion. There is much in these books that we can learn. [Rabbi Dr. israel Drazin]
Book on Maimonides Clarifies Many Rules of Judaism Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
The name John Steinbeck evokes images of the hay-field covered American southwest, the Dust Bowl, hungry children with dirty faces, and men and women scarred by depression and poverty. Where Grapes of Wrath left off, a new, more hopeful tale is reimagined by American-born, Latino playwright Octavio Solis. His new play, Mother Road, will kick off the return to theater with San Diego Repertory’s run October 7-31. [Eva Trieger]
Remember ‘Grapes of Wrath’? ‘Mother Road’ at SD Rep is the Sequel Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
This journalistic tour-de-force tells the story of October 27, 2018, the day an antisemitic gunman snuffed the lives of 11 congregants at the three small congregations that occupied the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is not simply a depiction of the carnage, but also a portrait of the community in which it happened. Author Oppenheimer, a former religion columnist for The New York Times, methodically tells us the stories of the victims, including those who barely escaped with their lives, and of the diverse reactions in the community to the shooting. There were those who organized vigils; those who protested a photo-op visit to the synagogue by then President Donald Trump with his wife, Melania, daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Additionally, there were trauma tourists, compelled perhaps like moths to a flame, who wanted to see the site. There were also presumptuous would-be helpers, who felt they knew better than Squirrel Hill’s residents how the victims should be mourned. And there were fundraisers, who through various appeals including a Go-Fund-Me effort, raised millions of dollars for the families of the victims and for the congregations themselves. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Squirrel Hill’ Portrays Pittsburgh Community Where Tree of Life Massacre Occurred Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Under the title “Early Birds: Soaring with the Ancients,” the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem has put together an exhibition of archaeological items from the Land of Israel and the Ancient Near East depicting birds of various kinds. Upon entering the exhibition area and before inspecting even one
Birds of a Feather Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
The Jewish Federation of San Diego County has updated its list of Jewish organizations and their leaders who have signed its statement condemning the anti-Israel resolution adopted by Local 1931 of the American Federation of Teachers, which represents faculty at the San Diego Community College District and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. The statement issued Sept. 17 by the Jewish Federation and other elements of the organized Jewish community may be read here. The AFT resolution that triggered the controversy may be read here. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Federation Updates List of Organizations Condemning AFT 1931 Resolution on Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
There is a new chamber music series in town, taking place at the La Jolla Women’s Club. The inaugural opening concert, scheduled for this Sunday at 4:00 p.m., is sold out. The founder and director of the series is the French-Jewish pianist, Francois Chouchan. He is moving his nine concert series, Le Salon de Musiques, to La Jolla after an eleven year run in Los Angeles. [Eileen Wingard]
Francois Chouchan brings Le Salon de Musiques to La Jolla Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County