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
“The Happiest Man on Earth,” a memoir by Australian centenarian Eddie Jaku, departs from memoirs by other Holocaust survivors in its contemplation of the role of friendship in enabling prisoners of Nazi concentration camps to survive. [Donald H. Harrison]
Friendship His Key to Survival at Auschwitz Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles
Military officers in democratic countries have a difficult mission: to protect the people and to wage war at the command of their governments. It isn’t easy, and the IDF – like the United States military – has an admirable record. Occasionally however, military officers glide off into politics. A group of retired Israel officers, Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), appears to be doing that – which normally would be an issue only for Israelis and their government. But this group is asking the United States to create circumstances they believe serve their country but are not being pursued to their satisfaction by their own government. [Shoshana Bryen]
Israeli Officers Are Wrong to Ask for U.S. Intervention Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
Hello suitcase, my old friend.
I’ve come to pack you once again.
Because I’ve had two vaccinations
I can now take a vacation. … {Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: Vacation after Vaccination Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Enrique Morones, a humanitarian who has spent decades advocating for dignified and welcoming treatment for migrants, told Thursday of a woman at a Jewish congregation who expressed shock that parents would allow their minor children to cross into the United States by themselves to whatever fate might await them. [Donald H. Harrison]
Baby Moses and the Unaccompanied Migrant Minors Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, USA
Sometimes when we are hit with an immense tragedy we are left speechless. The Torah tells us that after the Jewish people had inaugurated the Mishkan (Tabernacle), Aharon’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu, died tragically. At the height of the celebration tragedy struck. The Torah tells us that Aharon was silent (“VaYidom Aharon”), there was nothing for him to say. G-d Himself, and the Children of Israel led by Moshe, came to comfort Aharon in his profound distress. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
Tragedy Strikes on Joyous Day of Lag B’Omer Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Another of the consolations provided by the internet was on-line shopping. I don’t know about everyone else, but my screen ‘feeds’ constantly contained images of desirable garments, books, items of furniture, gadgets and sundry items with which someone out there sought to entice me. Most of the time I managed to resist the temptation, but , I must confess that there were occasions on which I succumbed. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Joys and Perils of Internet Shopping Read More »
Business & Finance, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle EastSecretary of State Antony Blinken, with regard to elections in South America, tweeted earlier this month: “I recall @POTUS saying: ‘Democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant.’ Elections are the first step. We must respect results and hold leaders accountable to sustain our democracies.” [Shoshana Bryen]
No requirement to respect elections rigged by dictators Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
It is wonderful to see how resilient and innovative our San Diego area theaters are, and North Coast Repertory Theater is a testament to the old adage, “the show must go on.” Under the direction of David Ellenstein with co-writer Marc Silver, audiences were invited to attend the one-man show, Einstein Comes Through, portrayed by Jake Broder. [Eva Trieger]
Einstein Didn’t Come Through for This Reviewer Read More »
Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The 437-page book A Concise Guide to Mahshava: An overview of Jewish Philosophy, is one of five new books published by Maggid Books which were authored by the recently deceased scholar Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz who authored sixty books and hundreds of articles. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A Comprehensive Guide to Jewish Philosophy Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Frank London, jazz trumpeter, band leader, co-founder of the Klezmatics, founder of the Klezmer Brass Allstars and co-founder of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, is one of the most important figures in the Klezmer Renaissance. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, majoring in Afro-American Music, he is also well schooled in World Music. Currently, he serves on the music faculty of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase. [Eileen Wingard]
CD Compiles Music from Jewish and Other Ghettos Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
If it had not been for a nice Yiddishe fellow, Siegfried Marcus, there would not have been the internal combustion engine. Greta Thunberg would be thrilled today. No cars, no CO2 or sulfur emissions to cause global warming and give the antisemites something else to hate the Jews over. [Jerry Klinger]
Some Jewish Race Car Stories You May Not Have Known Read More »
International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, USA
Jewish New Yorkers could be governed by two anti-Israel candidates now running for citywide offices. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Anti-Israel candidates run for citywide NYC offices Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
When we speak words of Torah, we enhance our life, and the lives of others. To do so is a choice we make. We can surely choose not to and when we select that path, we largely create acrimony in our life and in the lives of others. While the sanctity of the Kohanim is a major theme in this week’s Torah reading, we also see another key theme in the parasha, the holiness of Shabbat, of time, and of the festivals we are blessed to enjoy. It is this latter theme that caught my attention. To be holy is freeing, expansive, liberating, to help us connect with Hashem, and properly with one another. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]]
Treating everyone with compassion Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The action in this debut novel by San Diego County resident Cheryl Brin occurs sometime in the distant future on a planet called Tyra, which has descended into mutual suspicion and warfare between the countries of Altira and Donira. Altira has a feudal system of government, dominated by landowners, while Donira has a socialist-style ideology, which some revolutionaries believe is not pure enough. Vakor, a country far more technologically advanced than either of the two rivals, once dominated the planet and its rulers would like to do so again. [Donald H. Harrison]
Debut Novel Takes Us to a Dystopian Planet Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison