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 review committee in London will consider a proposed historical plaque honoring a virtually forgotten Holocaust rescuer, Marie Schmolka, who was instrumental in organizing the Kindertransport. [Jerry Klinger]
Drive to Honor Holocaust Rescuer Marie Schmolka Read More »
International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Middle East
A Christian, a Muslim, and a Jew enter a bar. The bartender asks, “Is this a joke?” That’s how I feel after reading a recent Reuters article (3/4/21) entitled, “West scraps plan for IAEA rebuke of Iran.” Evidently Britain, France and Germany scrapped their plan, backed by the US, criticizing Iran for its many, serious actions regarding its nuclear activity. This must mean that the three European countries believe that they will be more successful in reining in Iran by being nice and continuing negotiations than by showing diplomatic strength. [Steve Kramer]
Europeans spineless about confronting Iran Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Just how much is $1.9 trillion, and what can be done with that much money? Well, on Friday, just to cover the basics of the American Rescue Plan that they all voted for. it took speeches by four Democratic members of Congress who represent San Diego County. Another eight speakers amplified on various aspects of the landmark legislation. [Donald H. Harrison]
4 S.D. Congressmembers extol $1.9T American Rescue Plan Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
The late Dr. Howard Rubenstein’s translation of the famed Greek playwright Aeschylus’ play Agamemnon is a brilliant work. It is the first modern, very readable, very interesting and educational translation of an important classic with a wealth of explanatory information. The problem with former translations is that its English is outdated, stilted, and often hard to understand. Dr. Rubenstein’s version was performed in 1997 in California and in 2002 in Florida with high acclaim. The work is so good that it should become part of the literature courses in upper high school grades and in colleges. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Rubenstein’s ‘Agamemnon’ wins posthumous plaudits Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Theatre, Film & Broadcast
At last! After a year of living in a cultural desert, the ban on public performances in Israel has finally been lifted. And last night when we were able at last to attend a real live concert. The requirements were clear: anyone who had bought tickets had to provide proof of having been vaccinated twice, as well as a certificate of identity. The seating arrangements were equally stringent, with an empty seat between anyone not from the same household (very handy as a place to put one’s coat). [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Public performances again allowed in Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
The Cohanim (priestly class) were given a very strict commandment to wash their hands and feet using the laver before entering the Holy Temple to do their service. The implement that they used to wash was called the Kiyor, and it was made of copper. The commentaries mention the source of the copper used, which in and of itself is interesting, as only a couple of the sources for the materials used in construction are traced back to their origins. This indicates that there is something significant in the source of the material In the case of the Kiyor the source, we are told, was the mirrors used by the Jewish women to beautify themselves during the times of the Egyptian slavery. The men would return from a day of back-breaking labor in the fields. They were physically and emotionally exhausted. These selfsame people had seen their babies murdered. Marital intimacy was the last thing on their minds. In fact, they were reticent to have any more children at all, lest they too become victimized by the evil tyrants. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
The city of Lowell, Massachusetts., did it right confronting anti-Semitism. It was not so right when Manhattan dealt with distortions on Israel. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Lowell, Mass., Knows Better Than NYC How to Respond to Antisemitism Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USAJerusalem 1000 – 1400; Every People Under Heaven is a beautifully-produced combination of a coffee-table book and exhibition catalogue produced in conjunction with the exhibition of that title held in New York in 2016. For the exhibition hundreds of precious, beautiful and fascinating artifacts produced in and concerning Jerusalem in the Middle Ages were amassed from a wide range of sources all over the world. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Jerusalem 1000 Years Ago a Treasure Trove of Artifacts Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
I’m Not the Boss, I Just Work Here,” was written by the founder and chairman of the multibillion dollar publicly traded telecommunications corporation IDT, and Genie Energy Ltd, Howard Jonas. Reading his personal short and succinctly portrayed story will leave you feeling that you too can overcome barriers of clinical depression and emerge with faith and profound success. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Jonas tells of bouncing back from hardship Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
To celebrate coming out of our third lockdown we recently went to Jerusalem for an urban exploration. We drove to our friends’ apartment, only the third time in a year we’ve been to Israel’s capital. Before our tour, we had lunch with Sarah Lynn (formerly of Ventnor, NJ) and her husband Ami, a Persian-born Israeli who once taught at Margate’s Hebrew Academy and later was the rabbi of Binghamton NY’s Orthodox synagogue. Among other things, Ami is a registered guide. He wanted to take us to Hanevi’im Street. We were his “guinea pigs” for leading a tour there. (Steve Kramer)
The Street of the Prophets Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
Let’s begin with a question. How could Moshe, who experienced the closest relationship with Hashem, facing the Burning Bush, the ten plagues, receiving the ten commandments and more, still ask, “And now, if I have indeed found favor in Your eyes, pray let me know Your ways, so that I may know You…” Moshe didn’t feel he knew the ways of Hashem? And WE feel troubled by our own questions about Hashem? [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
How can we discern God? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Tune: The Sounds of Silence By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Hello Dark Web, did you hear? Trump is back, nothing to fear. He’ll give your grievances an airing. With conspiracies he’s sharing. And the anger that he plants inside your brain. Do not abstain, From the resort to violence. In Washington you had amassed
Satire: The Sounds of Violence Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
There are figs in Israel, of course. But alligators? Perhaps in a zoo. The title is explained in Chapter 3 of this memoir. In Hebrew, figs are te’enim and alligators are taninim. It’s easy for an American just learning Hebrew to get the two confused. Imagine going into a market and asking the vendor for a kilogram of alligators. {Donald H. Harrison]
American remembers a life in Israel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, USACPAC is holding its annual meeting in Orlando this weekend. Although the meeting could be confused with Fantasy Land, delegates are encouraged to visit nearby Walt Disney attractions reconfigured to cater to these conservatives. Here’s a sampling of the most popular rides for this occasion. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: Disney Excursions for CPAC Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire