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

National Dialogue Mixes Anger and Optimism

Anger and optimism are mixed in the national dialogue over the events at the nation’s Capitol on January 6th.  The anger is expressed in response to the attack on the Capitol in which five people died, including a Capitol policeman whose head was bashed in by someone wielding a fire extinguisher, and a rioter from San Diego who was shot by a policeman inside the Capitol building.  The optimism stems from the hopes that positive steps toward healing the nation’s divisions will be taken during President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration aided by Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

An Ancient Still-Relevant Play about War’s Ravages

The Trojan Women is a superb translation and adaptation of a splendid play by Euripides (about 480 to about 406 BCE) who wrote tragedies in ancient Athens. Scholars estimate that he wrote over 90 plays, most of which have been lost during the past 2,500 years. Only about a dozen and a half survived. The Trojan Women was first performed in 415 BCE. It is based in large part upon the classic Iliad by Homer which describes the war between the Greeks and Trojans. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Theatre, Film & Broadcast

A Word of Torah: The Springboard Effect

This week’s portion is titled, “Shemot,” which translates as, “Names.” It is the first portion in the second book of the Torah, the Book of Exodus. The name of a portion is always indicative of its content and the same thing goes as far as the name of one of the Books of the Torah. In this case we can therefore assume that the theme of the entire book is hinted at in its name, which incidentally is, “Names.” [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Qatar and Saudi Arabia: A Gift of a Different Sort, Maybe

The still-tentative agreement between Qatar and Saudi Arabia to reopen political relations and closed borders after four years is part of the Trump administration’s priority to reduce friction among its allies. The goal is to decrease the possibility that American forces will waste time and capability putting out smaller fires, thus leaving them in a better position to deal with broader issues: cybersecurity, improving readiness, boosting NATO, countering China and not participating in civil wars in the Middle East, Southwest Asia, and Africa. Out of Syria. Out of Afghanistan. Out of Somalia. Out of Iraq? [Shoshana Bryen]

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International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Bowman in for a congressional reality lesson

As he experiences his first week in Congress, Jamaal Bowman (D-New York) will start on a path to do everything he suggests that former Rep. Eliot L. Engel failed to do and perhaps even obstructed. To blame Engel for destructive social conditions in the Bronx or elsewhere in America, even by implication, exposes how clueless Bowman is about the obstacles that Engel faced and now Bowman himself will face in the next two years. [ Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, USA

Streaming Jewish Programs (January 10-16, 2021)

Following are streaming Jewish programs of academic and lay interest that may be accessed via the Internet.  All times Are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Attack on U.S. Capitol Causes Free World to Shudder

The sight of a crowd of people ascending the steps Wednesday in front of the Capitol building and forcibly entering the American House of Representatives, as happened yesterday and was beamed live all around the world, must have sent shudders down the spine of every freedom-loving individual everywhere. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, USA

Satire: Bye, Bye Lost American Dream

To tune of ‘American Pie’:
But November made me shiver. 
With every statement he’d deliver.
The results he discounted                                                                                                                                         
As the margins mounted.   
I can’t remember if I thought
It was just time that he bought.
His claims struck me as overwrought.  
The day democracy died. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

January 6 was the worst and best of times

Because of the disruptions and criminal trespass at the Capitol by a mob of President Trump’s supporters, some may be tempted to remember January 6, 2021, as one of the worst days for American democracy.   And they would be right!  Our coverage may be found in companion articles about the demonstration that turned violent and forced postponement of the counting of the Electoral College votes by a joint session of Congress. Ironically, January 6, 2021, also was one of American democracy’s best days because it demonstrated that racism and anti-Semitism, at least in the halls of government and in the polling places of Georgia, are on the wane.  Furthermore, the value that Americans place on racial and religious diversity is on full display. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, USA

OpEd: Power versus Duty in American politics

To anyone paying attention the last four years, Trump’s refusal to accept that he lost the 2020 presidential election fair and square could not truly come as a surprise. That he would never concede was practically a given. What we could not know (and still do not know) with any certainty is just how far Trump will go to maintain his grip on power. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Sam Ben-Meir, USA

Lawson-Remer receives major committee assignments

County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, in a demonstration of bipartisanship on Tuesday, Jan. 5, yielded the ceremonial board position of chairman pro tempore to County Supervisor Joel Anderson after she was nominated to the position by Supervisor Nora Vargas, who had also successfully nominated herself for vice chair and County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher as board chair. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA