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
What’s with Moshe and his songs? We’re familiar with the “Song of the Sea,” יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ אָ֣ז, in Exodus where we sing of praise for the miraculous redemption following the crossing of the sea while Ha’azinu הַאֲזִינוּ — “listen” – teaches us in a dramatic artistic way something more broadly about the important role of our attitude in life. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
A Torah song of privilege and poverty Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Jews who Rescued Jews During the Holocaust is an extraordinary initial publication of the compiled research of Moshe Gromb. The work is precisely summarized, factual, clinical, telling the stories of 100 of the over 2,000 harrowing stories he has collected. [Jerry Klinger]
Chronicler tells of Jewish rescuers during Holocaust Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Middle East
Under the constitution, a president can be elected by a minority of voters, and the majority of senators can be elected collectively by a minority of voters. Trump was elected by a minority as were the 53 Republicans who now control the Senate, and they are authorized to stack the Supreme Court with right-wing justices whose rulings often threaten the welfare and freedom of the people. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Minority rules in selection of President, composition of U.S. Senate Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
Zoom, Facebook and YouTube cancelled use of their platforms Wednesday for the airing of a San Francisco State University sponsored webinar featuring airline hijacker Leila Khaled of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, with Zoom citing its obligation to obey U.S. law. [Donald H. Harrison]
Zoom, FB, YouTube block Leila Khaled speech to SFSU Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Is the delaying of the burial of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg by placing her in State for some days rather than burying her as soon as possible a violation of Orthodox Jewish law? A: It is not a violation. (Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin)
Ginsburg lying in State does not violate burial Halachah Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, USA
The South African Jewish American Community, better known as SAJAC, has issued its annual magazine for 2020, reporting that San Diego State University Prof. David B. Cline is conducting oral history interviews with community members. The magazine’s writers also offer suggestions on coping with COVID19, and Alzheimer’s Disease, and additionally they profile young entrepreneurs, visual artists, and poets, among other articles. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”
Study underway of S.D.’s South African Jews Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, San Diego County
President Trump has decided to replace the current “crusade against American history” by setting up the 1776 Commission to teach students “about the miracle of American history.” Historians from Fox News have leaked advance outlines of the lesson plans for the different eras in the American past. Here’s the one for the colonial period. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: The Happy History of the United States Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USAReleased today on a variety of streaming services , Extra Innings is the story of a boy who was a very talented baseball player, whose Orthodox Jewish parents not only discouraged him from this pursuit, but also refused to attend any of his games. This was sad because the young man, modeled on writer/ director Albert Dabah’s own life, had natural talent, both as an outfielder and as a batter. [Movie review by Donald H. Harrison]
‘Extra Innings’ is not only a baseball story Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBack to work following the two-day observance of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish organizations are paying tribute to the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died at age 87 just before the High Holy Day. Among the tributes were the following: [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]
RBG’s death prompts Jewish pride, sorrow Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
The prolific author Lynne Sharon Schwartz has put together a collection of 25 of her short stories that have appeared in a variety of publications, calling the resulting book Truthtelling. To go on sale on October 6, the slim volume makes for engaging reading in short, concentrated bursts. The first story in the book, also called “Truthtelling,” tells of a long-married couple exchanging confessions about misdeeds during their marriage. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]
A prolific writer shares stories, fables, glimpses Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonRabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is a world-wide respected religious leader, the former chief rabbi of the English Commonwealth, the author of more than thirty books, and the winner of numerous prizes. His new book Judaism’s Life-Changing Ideas,” with a Foreword ‘”The Secret of Our Staying Power” by Bari Weiss, the award-winning author and op-ed editor and writer of the New York Times, introduces readers to a life-changing Jewish idea from each of the more than fifty weekly biblical portions. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A book filled with knowledge Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
I have read and reviewed numerous Holocaust memoirs, but none hit me with the impact of this novel — perhaps because the author infused The Brothers of Auschwitz with such onomatopoeia as the sounds of machine gun fire, the clubbing of human beings, the whistle of death. This made the experience different from reading the more flatly narrated memories of Holocaust survivors; it stimulated me to not only read about the horrors of the camp, but to empathically experience them. [Donald H. Harrison]
Novel captures horror, confusion of Holocaust, recovery Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison“You know, putting a national lockdown, stay-at-home orders, is like house arrest. It’s — you know, other than slavery, which was a different kind of restraint, this is the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history,” –Bill Barr, September 16, 2020 … If Attorney General Bill Barr ever writes his autobiography, it might go something like this: [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: Barr’s 6 Months a Slave Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USALoomer has also called Frankel “meshuggah” for praising Black Lives Matter, which Loomer falsely claims is aligned with radical Islamists, according to JTA. One of the two candidates is “meshuggah,” common Jewish term for crazy. You decide who fits that description. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Who is ‘meshuggah’ in congressional politics? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA