AAA-Writers and photographers

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

Jewish biography: Savielly Tartakower, rootless chess grandmaster

He spent his entire adult life on the move. He constantly stayed in hotels and boarding houses. He was doomed to wander. He was a nomad who made significant contributions to the history of foreign countries. He was a cosmopolitan in a world where nationalism was raging. But Jews do not always manage to be cosmopolitans. Antisemitism has a great penetrating ability. (Alex Gordon)

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Rabbi reviews another rabbi’s analysis of the biblical books of Samuel

The Book of Samuel, which follows Judges, describes the emergence of kingship. Samuel begins in this atmosphere but does something much more complicated than simply saying, “Israel needs a king.” The book introduces Samuel, a prophet and judge; then Saul, Israel’s first king; and then David, Israel’s great kingThe crucial question becomes: Can human political power be exercised responsibly under God’s authority? That is precisely the question that interests Rabbi Silber. (Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin)

Rabbi reviews another rabbi’s analysis of the biblical books of Samuel Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jews, Catholics to dialogue on counter measures to hate

Anti-Defamation League of San Diego announces “Confronting Extremism: Oren Segal in Conversation with Father Brent Kruger” at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9, in Carmel Valley. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Parsha Ki Tetse: The Torah forbids cruelty to animals

The companion law is equally revealing: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain” (Deut. 25:4). The animal that labors is entitled to taste the fruit of its labor. The rabbis long ago noted the human parallel: a person capable of muzzling an ox is only a short step from muzzling his workers. History confirmed their suspicion. In Italy, vineyard owners once forced migrant laborers to wear muzzles so they could not eat the grapes they harvested. The Torah saw the danger centuries earlier. Cruelty, it turns out, is a transferable skill. (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel)

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animals, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Teshuvah is one skill that separates humans from animals

Rosh Hashanah is traditionally associated with the creation of Adam, the first human being, on the sixth day of creation. Humanity was created immediately before Shabbat, and according to the Torah’s account, Adam’s first mistake came almost immediately. In that sense, the need for teshuvah is nearly as old as humanity itself. But what distinguishes a human being from an animal or from an angel? (Cailin Acosta)

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animals, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jew hatred in colleges escalates

Will Sussman, a Ph.D. student in computer science, joined the board of MIT Grad Hillel. That led to him being targeted as he witnessed fellow students celebrate Hamas attacks, chant slogans calling for violence, occupy buildings, disrupt classes, and intimidate Jewish students. [Steve Kramer]

Jew hatred in colleges escalates Read More »

Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, News Media, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, USA

Columnist says Israel can’t take ‘yes’ for an answer

“One sign Hamas might be serious about giving up its weapons is that…it and other armed groups have apparently not fired a rocket at Israel since the original cease-fire took effect in October,” Shehada states. “This unusual holding back could very well indicate that Hamas has no better cards left to play. Armed resistance in Gaza has reached its limit and has exhausted the rationales that sustained it.” [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

2 of the selections at American Legacy concert were composed by Americans. Others were underwritten by an American philanthropist

“American Legacy,” the August 12 Summerfest concert, had only two of its four offerings by American composers, Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Shorter’s Terra Incognita. [Eileen Wingard]

2 of the selections at American Legacy concert were composed by Americans. Others were underwritten by an American philanthropist Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors

AJC unveils guidebook for confronting antisemitism in the schools

With school back in session from Kinder to College, the American Jewish Committee shares key resources and guidance designed specifically for schools, students, and parents to create learning environments that are inclusive of all identities, including Jewish identity, and safe from harassment and fear. [Cailin Acosta]

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animals, Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Glitches in a New York Times political column

‘Progressive’ is a huge category,” Cohn writes. “Over half of congressional Democrats support Medicare for all; nearly half are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; nearly half voted to cut off aid to Israel.” Glitch numero uno: What makes aid to Israel a “progressive” issue? Half of that half of House Democrats voted for aid to Israel in the past. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Jewish History, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish biography: Ernst Boris Chain, Nobel Prize winner for developing penicillin into a medicine

The discovery was made during World War II. It saved millions of lives. The use of penicillin raised humanity to a higher standard of living and health. To bring such a great idea to fruition required a skilled master tenacious, meticulous, demanding champion of the quest for a stable drug, a conductor of the molecular world. (Alex Gordon)

Jewish biography: Ernst Boris Chain, Nobel Prize winner for developing penicillin into a medicine Read More »

Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors