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
The contempt that is showered on our people has been unremitting, not just here in San Diego but around the country. It is part of a process, conspired in by right-wing and left-wing extremists, to normalize Jew-hatred. Our community really needs to be on guard. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Increasing instances of Jew-hatred mar country Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
When I retired from teaching at San Diego State University in 2012, Don Harrison asked me to write a weekly column. I agreed to occasionally review Jewish- themed films in a column titled “The Wandering Review.” A year later I offered to write a weekly political satire column called “Humoring the Headlines.” Familiar with “The Wandering Review,” Don thought I said that I was willing to write a column weakly. Nevertheless Don approved and all three of the fans of “The Wandering Review” were disappointed that it would appear less frequently. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Humoring the Headlines: The 500th Column Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Trivia, Humor & Satire
There were different types of war that the Jewish people would engage in. Those wars that entitled conquering the Holy Land were called, “Milchamot Mitzvah,” “Mitzvah” wars, as it was a positive commandment to conquer the land and expel the Canaanites, who were exceedingly evil people. Lest we accuse the Israelites of being colonialists it is appropriate to remember that the Canaanites had driven off the offspring of Noah’s son Shem, from whom the Jewish people trace our roots. In other words, the Jews were simply repatriating the land that belonged to them and which the Almighty had given in a bequest to Abraham our father. Astonishingly we learn about a different type of war – a war that was optional. The Torah explains that under certain circumstances the Jewish people would be allowed to expand the borders of Israel and fight wars with her neighbors in order to conquer additional lands [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: ‘Optional’ warfare Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiJewish community tensions are being ramped up with news of an arson fire at the Chabad House at the University of Delaware, vandalism at a Reform synagogue in Kenosha, and a video from the Republican Jewish Coalition purporting that Democrats are turning their back on Jews and Israel and are coddling anti-Semites. [Donald H. Harrison]
Arson, vandalism, RJC video ramp up tensions in Jewish community Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USALaurie Baron, Ph.D., has combed through Internet listings for programs of direct Jewish interest from Sunday, Aug. 30 through Thursday, Sept. 3.
Streaming Jewish programs, Aug. 30-Sept. 3 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Depending on one’s viewpoint, it could all make sense. Supposedly, Jews oppress Palestinians in Israel’s territories, so they must be part of white supremacy in America. Supposedly, all Jews are wealthy, so they must be oppressing people of color. For sure, anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism. And now, supposedly, we Jews want a race war. These are conclusions we can draw from the latest barrage in the ongoing war on Jews in America. [Bruce S. Ticker]
‘Progressive’ Democrats engage in regressive anti-Semitism Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
Karen Parry, a Jewish community professional who grew up and held her earliest positions in San Diego County, will return to her native city from Seattle to become the executive director of Hillel of San Diego. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Karen Parry new Hillel of San Diego executive director Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
This week’s parasha, literally meaning, “When you go out…” opens with a description of facing war with enemies. Maimonides tells us that more than seventy mitzvot spring from this week’s Torah portion, from weights and measures and collecting debts in a righteous way, to proper ways to divorce and keeping promises. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Overcoming evil inclinations Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The US has now twice failed to trigger a “snapback” mechanism in the UN Security Council to reimpose sanctions against Iran. Indonesia’s UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani dismissed the move that could have ended the 2015 Iranian deal, under his authority as president of the Council for the month of August. He said, “There is no consensus in the council and thus the president is not in the position to take further action. [Steve Kramer]
Stopping Iran, the world’s foremost terrorism sponsor Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USAZoom services may be good, but those in the open air are better in the opinion of Rabbi Mendy Begun of Chabad of Chula Vista. With what he hopes will be the help of other Jewish congregations, the rabbi plans to put on a free second night of Rosh Hashanah shofar blowing and concert by Cantor Daniel Moreno in Cottonwood Park in Chula Vista. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
An outdoor Shofar service for 2nd night Rosh Hashanah Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food
The star of the first half of this year’s pared-down Summerfest of the La Jolla Music Society was indisputably, the Israeli-born director, pianist Inon Barnatan. He was featured in all the selections on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. His playing was consistently well-calibrated and balanced with his string collaborators and musically distinctive in its beautiful phrasing and dynamic shadings. His string colleagues were no less distinguished. [Eileen Wingard]
Pianist Barnatan stars in LJMS Summerfest Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsHenry David Thoreau once shared that he had three chairs in his home, “…one for solitude, two for friendship, and three for society.” Doesn’t that provide you with remarkable insight about the value of a chair? Chairs provide comfort, stability, relaxation, style and for Thoreau, “…solitude, friendship and society.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
The Mantell CHAIR method Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellIn lieu of a platform, the Republican National Committee built an altar. My deep state sources furnished me with the original draft. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: The deification of Donald Trump Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Another extraordinary piece, Circus Maximus (2019) is one that I so deeply admired from the moment I saw it complete, for its vitality, its de-centered yet exquisitely balanced structure, its thematic unity, and vibrant palette, its countless intertwining stories – I so wanted my kids to grow up with this lively and inexhaustible work that Anderson kindly let me have it and pay it off gradually. He told me he had been collecting the materials that went into it for seven years, which could hardly be doubted. Michael waited until it had become something of the past and then he created this epic tribute to the circus world with all its zaniness, its indefatigable physicality, its costumes and clowns with their joviality yet frightening undercurrents, the animals, elephants, and lions, and so much more. The circus always struck me as a theme for which Anderson’s art was destined, perfectly suited to his unstoppable talent for deconstruction and recreation – here was a subject the content of which he could explore, take apart and endlessly reconfigure in his inimitable style. Anderson could in life play the clown, laughing or crying, for he was not afraid to show his tears – but he was most truly, I believe, the tightrope walker: always living on the edge but with supreme skill, and poise, and his own style of grace. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
In memory of Michael Anderson, collage master Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir