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

Yawn! Israel’s Election Produces More of the Same

It’s déjà vu all over again. Groundhog Day. More of same. Another general election in Israel. The fourth in the space of two years. And again the result does not give a decisive majority to any combination of the 38 parties vying for our votes. Israel’s society is fragmented into countless interest groups, with parties representing segments of the population, ideas and occasionally even ideologies that seek to predominate in this small country. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

Yawn! Israel’s Election Produces More of the Same Read More »

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

P.A. Seeks to End Run U.S. Law Against Paying Terrorists

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has been meeting with American, European and Israeli government representatives to end-run both the American Taylor Force Act (anti-“pay for slay”) and the Israeli law prohibiting financial transfers to the Palestinians in the amount the PA remunerates terrorist “salaries.” [Shoshana Bryen]

P.A. Seeks to End Run U.S. Law Against Paying Terrorists Read More »

Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Transforming the Mundane Into the Holy

What’s the most frightening question you can ask a Jew this week?

 “Have you finished cleaning for Pesach yet?” It’s Shabbat HaGadol, the first Seder follows immediately after Shabbat and, oh my goodness! And if that’s not enough, along comes parasha Tzav to point to how we benefit from de-cluttering our homes, and I’d add, our lives. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

Transforming the Mundane Into the Holy Read More »

Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Jewish community responds to Boulder, Atlanta shootings

The Jewish Community Center in Boulder,  Colorado, is actively participating in the healing of that city in the wake of a gunman opening fire on Monday, March 22, at the Table Mesa King Soopers supermarket and killing 10 people ranging in age from 20 to 65, including Police Officer Eric Talley, 51, who tried to quell the disturbance. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish community responds to Boulder, Atlanta shootings Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

Gardens, cacti and a ring grab poets’ attention

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” program featured a stellar line-up of poets for its Tuesday, March 16 program, attracting over 100 virtual audience members. The attendees were well-rewarded with the high caliber of poetry, beautifully delivered by local poets Annette Friend, Jen Laffler and Susan L. Lipson. A sample

Gardens, cacti and a ring grab poets’ attention Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County

Biblical days started at daybreak not sunset

Rabbi Samuel ben Meir, known as Rashbam (c. 1085–c. 1158), a grandson of Rashi, was the author of a superbly rational commentary on the Bible and Talmud. Rashbam wrote in his commentary on Genesis 1:5 that the biblical day began at daybreak. The Torah states in Genesis 1 that God performed certain acts of creation on the first day; then there was evening and then morning when the first day ended, and God began new activities in the morning of the second day. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Biblical days started at daybreak not sunset Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Obituaries provide much to learn and ponder

I often read the obituaries of people I have never met, and often find myself regretting that life hadn’t afforded me the opportunity to sit down with them and benefit from hearing their stories and life experiences.  In today’s San Diego Union-Tribune there were 4 ½ pages of paid obituaries, and many of them had an endearing fact or two about the deceased family member.  Below I pull brief quotes from 22 of them so you can see what I mean. If you’re like me, I bet you also would have enjoyed meeting each one of these remarkable people. [Donald H. Harrison]

Obituaries provide much to learn and ponder Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Travel and Food

A Word of Torah: What’s in an Alef?

This week we begin the third of the Five Books of Moses, the Book of Leviticus, known in Hebrew as VaYikra. The portion begins by G-d calling to Moses, inviting him to enter the newly-completed Tabernacle, also known as the Tent of Meeting. The purpose of this meeting was so that the Almighty could explain the array of sacrifices that the Jewish people were commanded to bring for numerous different reasons. For instance there was one type of sacrifice brought for sins, another for peace offerings (to offer thanks), daily communal sacrifices, special sacrifices for Shabbat and Holidays, and many other reasons as well. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

A Word of Torah: What’s in an Alef? Read More »

Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

A Pilot’s Love Affair With a Beautiful Israeli

I ordered this book from Bibliophile because the blurb proclaimed that its main character was a pilot who fell in love with an Israeli woman and fought for his adopted country. That, in essence, is the nub of the story, but around it surges and swells a series of events and adventures involving love and enmity, joy and sorrow, and a veritable roller-coaster of emotions for the reader, who cannot help but be drawn into this gripping tale of romance, adventure and action. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

A Pilot’s Love Affair With a Beautiful Israeli Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

Refugees will become hard-working Americans

With the wave of immigrants arriving at the border clamoring to be let in, I have been thinking a lot about immigration.  When Trump was in power, the border was basically closed, refugees and asylees had to wait in Mexico until their case was heard and that was a very long, inhumane process. In addition, many mothers were separated from their children. It seems like now the pendulum has swung from one extreme to another.  Do I agree with all the adults and unaccompanied minor rushing the border? It is creating unmanageable chaos and confusion.  However, I do understand why this is happening.  America is viewed as a safe haven for so many whose own countries or lives are in conflict, and they are desperate. [Mimi Pollack]

Refugees will become hard-working Americans Read More »

International, Mimi Pollack, USA