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
Expanding the voter rolls By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Voter rolls would be expanded if the electorate approves Proposition 17 to reinstate prisoners who have completed their prison terms, and Proposition 18 to permit primary election voting by 17-year-olds who will turn 18 before the November general election. Opponents of Proposition 17 say […]
SDJW urges ‘Yes’ votes on Props 17, 18 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
Parasha Bereishis By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — As we learn from “The Parsha Song” from Torah Island by Suki and Ding, “With Bereishis we begin learning Torah, How precious we hold our Mesorah, Bereishis, Noach, Lech Lecha, Vayeira, Chayei Sarah, Sarah lived for 127 years…” And on we go. Yes, new beginnings
With Bereishis We Begin Learning Torah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Sephardic Rabbi Yonatan Halevy of Kehillat Shaar Hashamayin (Community of the Gates of Heaven) has told police that he was attacked by teenagers during the Sukkot holiday last Saturday as he walked with his father Shalom Halevy, a stroke victim, near his congregation at 3232 Governor Drive, Suite
Sephardic rabbi says youths attacked him Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Mimi Pollack L’Chaim San Diego Magazine SAN DIEGO — My late fiancé, an 8th generation New Mexican, used to tell me about the secret or crypto Jews of New Mexico. He was convinced that although he was raised Catholic, some of his ancestors were “Conversos” or secret Jews who came to New Mexico when
Crypto Jews: Finding and Embracing their Roots Read More »
Jewish History, Mimi Pollack, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
By Fred Reiss, Ed.D WINCHESTER, California – The Book of Genesis is quite clear: God created time during the chaos of creation, measured by the motions of the moon and sun, equivalent to a lunisolar calendar. The Torah refers to days, months, and years quite often, but presents a calendar only once, in parasha Noaḥ,
The Noah Chronicles: Calculating Biblical Times Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Depending on how you look at it, it has been the good fortune or the misfortune of Jews to reach measurable levels of success in numbers that are disproportionate to our percentage within the overall population. A tiny fraction of the American population, our people have a strong
Editorial: Reject Discriminatory Prop. 16 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — California Proposition 15 would increase taxes on commercial and industrial properties worth more than $3 million by changing the method by which their tax liabilities are calculated. Under current California law, property is assessed on the basis of what the owner paid for it, and that value is
SDJW Urges a Yes Vote on Prop. 15 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Bond issues are the first measures on both the State of California ballot and on the City of San Diego ballot, asking respectively for the right to borrow $5.5 billion to finance stem cell research (Prop. 14) and up to $900 million to provide affordable housing (Prop. A). {See
Bonds: Yes on Calif. Prop 14, S.D. Prop. A Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — This has been a year when numerous women candidates have come to the forefront and our endorsements for the State Legislature reflects that. To begin with, we are happy to endorse State Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) for reelection. There is no arguing the fact that she is
For State Legislature: 5 women, 1 man Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I have read at least one daily newspaper almost since I could read. At my parents’ home in London we had the luxury (which we took for granted) of having a morning newspaper put through our letterbox every morning, so that it was there on the mat, waiting
A Love Affair with Newspapers Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Lifestyles, Middle East
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Ernest Bloch’s Baal Shem Suite is music that fits the High Holidays. The first movement, Vidui, is the Yom Kippur confessional prayer; the second movement, Nigun, encompasses cantorial pleading with the Heavenly Power; and the final movement, Simchat Torah, reflects the joy of receiving the Torah. My sister, concert
Baal Shem Suite evokes Jewish Holy Days Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Legislation signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom concerning how California deals with consensual sexual relations between adults and minors—often referred to as “statutory rape” – has flared up as an issue in the mayor’s race between Assemblyman Todd Gloria, who voted for the measure, and City
Gloria, Bry disagree on sex registry bill Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
Does this Holiday have Soul (or is that sole) or What?! By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort CARLSBAD, California — It is time to dig deep into those closets and pull out those old dancing shoes! Simchat Torah is upon us! This holiday epitomizes and serves as the climactic conclusion to the Sukkot Holiday, known as
Simchat Torah: A Time to Dance Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO−Last night’s debate between Harris and Pence was far more civil than the first presidential debate. As Trump’s vice president, Pence serves as the Blander and Chief. * A fly landed and sat for 2 minutes on Pence’s hair. What substance could attract a fly so long? * Although Pence