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
A Concise Guide to Halakha: An Overview of Jewish Law, 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 60 books and hundreds of articles. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A New Guide to Jewish Law Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Thanks to Covid-19 many of us experienced “lockdown” in our homes, yet we can’t begin to imagine what life is like for those who are truly locked down and sequestered from polite society. That is, until the Playwrights Project teamed up with San Diego State University, nine years ago, to bring us Beyond Prison Walls. This innovative, honest and empathetic showcase brought us into the hearts and minds of those who’ve served time at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility and Centinela State Prison. [Eva Trieger]
Prison Inmates Tell Their Stories Through Theater Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Congregation Adat Yeshurun is preparing for the historic installation of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Daniel and Brooke Reich from April 30-May 2, cementing the milestone of the synagogue’s first rabbinic transition in its 34-year history. [Jacob Kamaras]
Adat Yeshurun to Install Rabbi, Rebbetzin Reich Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
What if Iran doesn’t actually plan to use a nuclear weapon? What if Iran wants, as various of its officials have said over the years, to prevent being toppled the way Saddam Hussein was, or Moammar Gaddafi or Hosni Mubarak? To prevent a 20-year U.S.-led invasion like that of Afghanistan? [Shoshana Bryen]
Iran’s Long-Term Goals Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
‘The True Sea’ is a gem of a novel, but like Mark Twain’s ‘Huckleberry Finn’ before it, schools and libraries may ban it because it uses the “N-Word” in portraying relationships between Whites and Blacks in the Florida Keys in the early 20th century. [Donald H. Harrison]
Racism and Literary Censorship Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, USA
This year’s nominees consist of intimate dramas or recreations of politically or socially relevant events or situations. Among the eight movies nominated for best picture, The Father, The Sound of Metal, Mank, and A Promising Young Woman feature protagonists suffering from some addiction, disease, disability, or trauma and examine how these afflictions affect their careers or personal relationships. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
This Year’s Oscar Predictions Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The bystander credited with saving a wounded man’s life following Thursday night’s Gaslamp Quarter attacks said modestly on Saturday that he deserves only half the credit. “My friend also helped,” said Shai Gino, 28, a former captain in the Israel Defense Force now married to an American and studying for U.S. citizenship. His friend, who served in a “special unit” of the IDF, is Dvir Benesh, 26. [Donald H. Harrison]
Former IDF soldiers aided Gaslamp Quarter wounded Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Israel has held four elections in the last two years. Prime Minister Netanyahu set the stage for this farcical and unprecedented cycle of elections by dissolving his government with the mistaken idea that he could gain more members for his coalition if an election were held sooner rather than later. He couldn’t. [Steve Kramer]
Will Israel Need a 5th Election? Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
There’s a new social media app making waves that you may have heard of. It’s the all-audio app called Clubhouse. Though it’s only a year old, is still in Beta, and hasn’t had a public offering, it’s been given a $4 Billion valuation. Yes, that’s Billion with a B. [Sandi Masori]
Clubhouse’s Pros Outweigh Its Cons Read More »
Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Emuna is the Hebrew word for faith, and in his newest book, 13 Principles of Emuna, Rabbi Lazer Brody passionately reexamines Maimonides thirteen assertions, ranging from the fervent belief in one God to acknowledging the future resurrection of the dead and the coming of the Messiah, through a traditional orthodox-Jewish frame of reference. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
Author Adopts Maimonides’ Principles as True Judaism Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
Kobili Traore cannot stand trial for killing a Jewish woman since his state of mind was influenced by consumption – voluntary consumption, that is – of cannabis. [Bruce S. Ticker]
France’s Insanity Defense Is Itself Insane Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International
The Israel Prize is awarded for academic or social excellence, and serves as Israel’s attempt to provide its own version of the Nobel Prize. Sadly, I have never attended a Nobel Prize ceremony, but I have read about it, and I know it is a very stately and serious occasion. Just imagine, if the ceremony would be the occasion for a series of pop singers to pop up, sing and play at the tops of their voices a medley of songs of questionable taste (and certainly not my taste). But that was the overriding tone of the Israel Prize ceremony last night. The whole occasion left an impression of bad judgment and inferior standards. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Israel Lowers Its Cultural Standards of Excellence Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
After a Minneapolis jury on Tuesday convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd, Jewish organizations and individuals issued their reactions. Among them: [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Reactions to Chauvin Guilty Verdict Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
This week’s double Torah portion, Acharei and Kedoshim, springs off the scroll with applicability to the pandemic of our times, COVID, or if you prefer, kaf, bet, dalet, KOVOD. The English letters, K, V, D, form the root of the word Kavod. What’s dignity, respect or honor have to do with these parshiot? Plenty. Kavod, ,כָּבוֹד KVD, a word of strength and importance, refers to “glory,” “respect,” “majesty,” and “honor.” Other uses of kavod can refer to wealth (Gen. 31:1, the first use of kavod in the Bible), reputation (Gen. 45:13), the quantity of something, or splendor, all of which may be summed up in the word “dignity.” Another very important application is found in the fifth commandment, commanding us to “honor” (kavod in verb form) our fathers and mothers. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Extending Kavod to Others Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell