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
It is possible that the legend of the Golem which is told in the Talmud, in many books, and even several films has a disturbing message. Let’s take a look at the recent 2019 film version. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Message of the Golem Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Fiction, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Todd Salovey, Lorraine Thall and June Gottleib are the three local poets to be featured in Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices’ opening program of its 2020-21 season. The virtual event will be streamed on Zoom Tuesday evening, December 8 at 7 p.m. There is no cost for this Astor Judaica Library offering. [Eileen Wingad]
Jewish Poets, Voices to Feature Salovey, Thall, Gottleib Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard
It has been a long time since I’ve written one of my columns. Since my owners stay at home every day, I haven’t had many moments to gather my thoughts and dictate them to Laurie. He frequently drags me in front of his computer to show me off to his family and friends on ZOOM calls. The last time this happened it dawned on me that dogs should have a platform for communicating with each other during the pandemic too. [Laurie Baron for his dog Elona]
WOOF, a Zoom-like platform for dogs Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Most people are not born with an attitude of gratitude. I want to share with you some Thanksgiving meditations I have thought about this week. To begin, here are two brief anecdotes that illustrate this point. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Meditations on Thanksgiving weekend Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Valley of Tears, the dramatic series currently being shown on Israeli TV about events in the Golan Heights at the outbreak of the Yom Kippur war, has had me and many others spellbound each week. Although several of my friends and acquaintances have told me that they are unable to watch it as it brings back too many painful memories, I find myself compelled to watch. I quite understand their attitude, and am almost surprised at my own ability to persist through every graphic scene. I admit that I find it difficult to sleep afterwards, but some obsessive preoccupation with the events of that traumatic time brings me back to the screen every week. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
TV Series on Yom Kippur War drives home peace necessity Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The portion (Va-Yetzei) starts by telling us where Yaakov left, something we already knew. Why didn’t it just say, “And Yaakov went to Charan?” Rashi, the great classical commentator, explains a specific lesson from the seemingly extra phrase. When Yaakov, great Tzaddik (righteous man) that he was, departed Be’er Sheva it made an impact. Likewise, when he arrived in Charan it made an impact. That is what happens when a saintly person leaves a place and arrives somewhere else; it makes an impact. The influence of the holy is profound and enduring. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: A Giant’s Presence Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
I’m always fascinated at Thanksgiving time to see how rabbis express what is a central tenet of Judaism: giving thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings bestowed upon us.
For example, the Forward offered a prayer from the book, Talking to God: Personal Prayers for Times of Joy, Sadness, Struggle and Celebration by Rabbi Naomi Levy of the Neshuva congregation in Los Angeles. The poem focuses on every day things—children’s laughter, our ability to breathe, having enough food to eat, living in adequate shelters, being clothed, being healthy, the special people in our lives, and residing in a country where people are free to practice their religion without fear. [Donald H. Harrison]
Thanksgiving Blessings and Tzedakah Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
My wife and I are in the medical field. My wife works on the front lines at a large medical center and watches the suffering that COVID inflicts. Not just to the patients and their families but to the front line workers risking their lives to help others. In the evening we watch the news showing these dedicated doctors, nurses and support staff, exhausted both physically and mentally, literally begging us to stay home this Thanksgiving. The Surgeon General, the President-elect and many of our states’ governors also warn us not to make matters worse. They are ignored by a huge percentage of the population. [Ben Dishman, PharmD]
Medical professionals lament holiday travel Read More »
Ben Dishman, Judaism, Lifestyles, USA
The world has never been more advanced than it is now. Humans have found cures for many of the major illnesses that threaten us; we can travel across the globe in a matter of hours; and we can communicate with each other almost instantaneously. Virtually every problem humans have historically had, besides suffering caused by other people, has been mitigated to some degree. Why is it then that so many of us are still unhappy? Daniel Cordaro says that the problem doesn’t lie with the state of the world, but with the state of our internal being. [Shor M. Masori]
Contentment, Mindfulness and Judaism Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori
In the recent election, American-Israelis voted 70%-30% for President Trump, the converse of how American Jews voted. That tells you Israelis value the president’s accomplishments abroad, feats which are not high priority for most Jews in the US. Under Trump, the US moved its embassy to Jerusalem, quit the Iran nuclear deal, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, declared that Israeli “settlements” beyond the 1949 Armistice lines are not illegal, endorsed, in principle, an Israeli annexation of up to 30% of the West Bank, and brokered normalization agreements with three Arab states under the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement. All of these accomplishments deal with reality in the Middle East, not some tired, fanciful panacea about the necessity for a State of Palestine to allow peace in the Middle East. [Steve Kramer]
Trump is a good friend of Israel. We’ll see about Biden Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Among Jews nominated for important posts in the Biden Administration is Secretary of the Treasury-designate Janet Yellen, a former chair of the Federal Reserve. Although she and her husband, Nobel Prize-winning economist George Akerlof, have not to date talked much publicly about their religious beliefs, it is known that as residents of Berkeley, California, decades ago, they attended services at that city’s Congregation Beth El, and that their son Robert Akerlof, who is now himself a professor of economics at the University of Warwick, was enrolled by them in the Beth El preschool. [Donald H. Harrison]
Janet Yellen to be 3rd consecutive Jewish Treasury Secretary Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
In case you ever doubted it, Palestinians have the same conflict over career paths as you and I. Young Americans must choose between accepting a steady and lucrative if humdrum job or chasing a stimulating if risky profession. Such as a businessperson or teacher as opposed to an actor. The Palestinians last week presented their own contrasting example – that of a nurse or of a … terrorist. It turns out that it is far more profitable to choose terrorism rather than a nursing position or any other employment offered by the Palestinian Authority. [Bruce S. Ticker]
What’s better paying in P.A? Nursing or terrorism? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Business & Finance, Lifestyles, Middle East
The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, www.JASHP.org, has funded and completed another marker it its series honoring and recognizing the Partnership for Good of Jewish philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and Black educator Booker T. Washington. Rosenwald was key to the construction of over 5,400 schools, in the 13 States of “South” for Black school children. Millions of Black Americans were significantly benefited by Rosenwald’s generosity. [Jerry Klinger]
Rosenwald’s and Washington’s Partnership for Good Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Following are programs of scholarly and popular Jewish interest that can be accessed via the Internet from Nov. 29 through Dec. 4, 2020. All times are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 29-Dec. 4, 2020) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA