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
Here are streaming lectures and programs of specific interest to the Jewish community from Sunday, Aug. 23 through Friday, Aug. 28 [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Programs, Aug. 23-28 Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Shoftim tells us, “When you besiege a city for an extended period, to make war against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field a man that you should besiege it?” The Ibn Ezra sees this as a statement, not a question, “Ki Haadam eitz hasadeh, the human being is a tree of the field.” He, like so many contemporary environmentalists, believes that we are intertwined with our environment. Destroy a tree, and we destroy ourselves. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Torah, environmentalism, and political leadership Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
One Friday night, when my grandchildren tried to tell me a joke (in Hebrew) and my sole response was to point out the linguistic fallacy involved, it dawned on me that I had become an old curmudgeon. And a bilingual one at that. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Becoming an Old Curmudgeon Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
The Anti-Defamation League is offering to high schools and middle schools a curriculum designed to challenge biases and to encourage students to think critically, according to George Selim, ADL’s New York-based senior vice president of programs. “With our powerful, new civics curriculum we’re cultivating the next generation of leaders to actively participate in their communities and champion social justice. We’re especially excited about partnering with Bites Media with their carefully curated articles which lift up and highlight the relevance of our civics lessons.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
ADL offers a high school curriculum challenging bias Read More »
Bruce F. Lowitt, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Overeating, what we are discussing in this column, is not obesity. It’s always important to be aware of what you feed, your head or stomach. So do you know where your hunger really lies? Here’s my handy “Gastronomic Positioning System” to help you locate your hunger above or below your neck. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
What are You Feeding During COVID19? Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Travel and Food
When Ali Velshi speaks, change the channel. Better yet, MSNBC could arrange it so that Velshi can only speak at a street corner.Saturday morning, at 9:45, I experienced an absurd, surreal display of Velshi’s creepy concept of broadcast journalism. If Velshi lived in Russia, he would fit in well writing for Pravda. He offended Jews and other supporters of Israel. Velshi strung together a string of facts and brazen lies while neglecting to supply relevant context on a news program he hosted to conjure up a not-so-creative Israel-bash-a-thon. [Bruce S. Ticker]
MSNBC’s Ali Velshi’s reporting biased against Israel Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
While Yoav Talmi was Music Director of the San Diego Symphony, the orchestra made seven recordings, testaments to the high level the orchestra had achieved during his tenure. The first recording, in 1993, featured music by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). [Eileen Wingard]
Following careers of Yoav Talmi and other SDSO alumni Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
George Salameh, owner of the Alforon Restaurant on El Cajon Boulevard near 59th Street, remembers living within the area near the port of Beirut that was leveled by the terrible blast on August 4 that killed at least 177 people and wounded or injured 6,000 more, leaving as many as 150,000 people homeless, and causing property damage estimated between $10 billion and $15 billion. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Lebanese memories prompted by Beirut explosion Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
With only nuance separating them on Middle East issues, and practically no discernible differences on domestic issues, I’ve been watching the tenor of their two campaigns to help me in my deliberations. There, I have to say, Sara Jacobs has been far more positive in her approach to the voters than Georgette Gomez. [Donald H. Harrison]
San Diego Jewish World endorses Sara Jacobs for Congress Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
It’s “early days,” but the surprise “Abraham Accord” announced by Washington has been a stunner. Against all odds, nothing leaked from any of the governments involved: Israel, the United Arab Emirates (Emirates or UAE), or the US. The Emirates-Israel peace agreement is the first one in which a non-contiguous Arab country has reconciled with Israel and which can be characterized as “peace for peace.” [Steve Kramer]
Many benefits to Israel-UAE agreement Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Many people who read or even carefully study the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, fail to pay attention to details and as a result they miss much that is in the Bible, the brilliant way that it is written, its poetry, its references to other incidences, its use of metaphor, and much more. The drama of Joseph and the number two is an example. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Use of ‘Two’ in the Joseph Drama Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionIn today’s column, I would like to share with you current editions of websites that I routinely visit as I familiarize myself with Jewish news from around the world. If you have the time and inclination, I’m certain that the hard-working staffs who publish these websites would very much welcome your readership and support, as, of course, do I. [Donald H. Harrison]
Some of the websites I like to read Read More »
Chris Jennewein, Donald H. Harrison, Joe Gandelman, Ken Stone, Michael Ordman, Miriam RafteryContinuing his campaign promise to deregulate America, Donald Trump has proposed regulating the following oaths if he is elected to a second term. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Deregulating oaths Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
We all know the saying, “Seeing is believing!” This means that there is nothing like witnessing something with one’s own eyes to make a dramatic impression. If I see something happen, I know it happened, and no one and nothing can convince me otherwise. I know what I saw. This would seem to be a greater level of internalizing outside stimuli than any other method. The Rebbe shares a remarkable explanation regarding hearing. When we hear something, meaning when a sound penetrates our minds to be analyzed and ultimately understood / grasped by our intellect, it can be a more profound experience than merely seeing something. At the end of the day seeing can fairly be described as a superficial experience whereas hearing is more internalized. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Experiencing HaShem with all our senses Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi