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
Every year around Halloween, many Americans watch various monster movies about creatures who are often “undead.” Let’s be honest; nothing is appealing about zombies. They lack the sexiness of vampires; they lack the glamor and good manners. At least vampires know how to blend in society. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Some underlying reasons for zombies’ popularity Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Theatre, Film & BroadcastThere is hardly a day that passes when I don’t marvel at an individua’s power and ability to move mountains and change history. Our current presidential election underscores the importance of one vote and a single individual’s power to bring about change in society. The same could be said concerning Abraham. Abraham believed he could change and transform the world. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Abraham exemplified the power of an individual Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
In the third and final part of our Jewish Halloween series, seen above, Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Congregation Ohr Shalom shares with us how you can have a meaningful Halloween in a Jewish way. Some of his suggestions involve kosher candy, keeping Shabbat, and tzedakah. [Sandi Masori]
Jewish connections to Halloween, Part III Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, USA
Assume you have an upcoming bar/bat mitzvah, wedding, or another family simcha coming up, and you would like to invite some close relatives living in another country to attend. Right now it is a costly hassle for your relatives to apply for a temporary visa to visit the United States, with the possibility that they will be rejected causing you and them embarrassment, even humiliation. [Donald H. Harrison]
Guess who might come to your next simcha Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
For nearly two millennia, the Jewish people dispersed throughout the world—lacking a homeland, temple, Sanhedrin, and king—enduring many strange cultures, conducting their lives under control of foreign governments and alien cultures as slaves, outsiders, and self-rulers, did not abandon their God, their religion, or their dreams. Blondheim and Rosenberg are the editors of Communication in the Diaspora, a compendium of eleven essays, describing little-explored pieces of a puzzle explaining how Jews maintain a shared and cohesive identity. [Fred Reiss, Ed.D]
How scattered Jewish people kept a religion intact Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
We started reading the Torah for the new cycle on Simchat Torah. The first portion, Genesis had some sobering sections, including the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden among others. Last week we read Noah, that likewise had a difficult message for all of us, as we recounted the destruction of humanity and the animal kingdom, save for Noah and his family in the Ark. Finally, we come to our portion, Lech Licha, a portion that concerns itself with the Father and Mother of the Jewish people, Abraham and Sarah. The Rebbe comments that this makes this portion particularly joyful! [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Go for You Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiIn Part II of our Jewish Halloween series (seen above) , I interview Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Congregation Ohr Shalom, and he shares with us some of the parallels between our Jewish observances and Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos. [Sandi Masori]
Jewish Connections to Halloween, Part II Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Sandi Masori
I wouldn’t say I’m a shopaholic, but I was brought up at a time and place where shopping was a regular feature of life. As a child in London I would be sent round the corner to the grocery store in Willesden Lane (which was no lane at all) to buy the loaf of rye bread my mother loved. On the way home I would gnaw the crust, and once I had handed the loaf over my mother would cut off the crust, spread it with butter and give it to me to eat like a civilized person, which made it rather less attractive. But I ate it anyway. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Shopping in Coronavirus times Read More »
Business & Finance, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Lifestyles, Middle EastWith the coming of Halloween, San Diego Jewish World introduces a new feature — a three-part video reporting series by my daughter, Sandi Masori, who has been after me for years to utilize originally produced video. “Fine,” said I, “you do it!” And so she did. In this series, which can be viewed above and will continue tomorrow, and Halloween night, Sandi interviews Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Ohr Shalom Synagogue in San Diego about some of the parallels between Halloween and Jewish mythology. They discuss the stories of golems — human-like creatures created by great rabbis — intended to protect their communities, and how golem stories were background to Mary Shelley’s famous tale about Frankenstein’s monster. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish connections to Halloween? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Sandi Masori, USA
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday that henceforth U.S. passports issued to American citizens born in Jerusalem will say at their choice “Jerusalem, Israel,” rather than simply “Jerusalem,” as has been the case up to now. [Donald H. Harrison]
U.S. Passports Can List ‘Jerusalem, Israel’ as Birthplace Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Laurie Baron, PhD, compiles scholarly programs of Jewish interest available on the Internet during the week of Nov. 1-7.
Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 1-7) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
I can’t blame either congresswoman for fearing for their lives. “Posting a photo with an assault rifle next to the faces of three women of color is…incitement,” tweets U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. “There are already death threats in response to this post.” Adds her pal Rep. Rashida Tlaib: “It’s dangerous in a time of rising political violence openly encouraged by this fascist president that a soon to be member of Congress thinks a post threatening women’s lives is acceptable.” [Bruce S. Ticker]
Haters on the right and left this political season Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
Congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar, reacting to an unfavorable story carried about him by the Breitbard news organization, reiterated on Wednesday his support for a peaceful two-state solution for the Israelis and Palestinians, and his opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. [Donald H. Harrison]
Campa-Najjar tells stands on Mideast Peace, BDS Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
In this, the third parasha of this year, Hashem speaks to Avraham for the very first time, “Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.” What a way to greet someone for the first time. Go! So, what’s this teaching us? Let’s learn…
The word, “lecha” is seemingly redundant. Commentators suggest various meanings of this word, from “Go to yourself,” “Go for yourself,” and “Go by yourself.” [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Like Abraham, let Hashem be your guide Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell