AAA-Writers and photographers

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

A ‘Mischling’ growing up in WWII Hamburg

Marione Ingram was born in Hamburg in 1938 to a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father, and so was defined as a ‘mischling’ (half-breed) by the Nazi authorities. Her autobiographical book begins with her account of having been sent by her mother when she was eight years old to take her younger sister to their aunt. She decided to return unbidden and found her mother in the throes of an attempt to commit suicide by putting her head in their gas oven. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

A ‘Mischling’ growing up in WWII Hamburg Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History

Rush to reopen houses of worship may be deadly

No doubt that millions of Americans have prayed as much or more than they ever prayed since the coronavirus crisis clutched us by the throat. They prayed at home – for survival and a return to pre-Covid-19 life. While we are it, many of us can pray for the resumption of traditional religious services where we will again be surrounded by friends and relatives inside a comfortable building such as a synagogue, church or mosque. [Bruce S. Ticker]

Rush to reopen houses of worship may be deadly Read More »

Bruce Ticker, Jewish Religion, USA

Beth Jacob to begin highly regulated prayer sessions

Beth Jacob Congregation will hold outdoor weekday prayer services by reservation only beginning on Sunday morning, its rabbis and lay leaders announced.  No decision has yet been reached on resuming Shabbat services, which normally attract far larger crowds than weekday services. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Beth Jacob to begin highly regulated prayer sessions Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Should worship be considered an essential service?

The question has come up: Should churches and other houses of worship be considered, “an essential service”? The President recently announced that he would override governors who do not open up the houses of worship for services. Moreover, it has been argued by many that places of worship are no less “essential” than liquor stores or supermarkets. Both these places should not be reopened before religious services.[1] The President’s position here is logical; by insisting that houses of worship be reopened, he is appealing to his evangelical supporters. Presidents in office often use the “bully pulpit” to promote an agenda that the President personally endorses. {Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

Should worship be considered an essential service? Read More »

International, Judaism, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

Stalking brazen bunnies during the pandemic

Ever since the pandemic began, I have noticed rabbits congregating in increasing numbers behind the fence surrounding the school playground in my neighborhood.  As a hound with a primordial instinct to hunt and kill rabbits, I slowly freeze into my stalking position and then tug on the lease to let my owner know I’m ready to chase and pounce on them.  I never get that far because the school has been closed and the gate to the playground is locked.  [Elona Baron as told to Laurie Baron]

Stalking brazen bunnies during the pandemic Read More »

Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

On ‘The Devil and Daniel Webster’

In “The Devil and Daniel Webster” Benet depicts Daniel Webster saving a New Hampshire farmer from the Devil and from Hell. In the story, the farmer Jabez Stone was impoverished; every effort he made on his farm turned out bad. Exacerbated, he agrees to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for ten years of great prosperity. His request is granted. At the end of the ten years, Jabez rushes to the famed orator and lawyer Daniel Webster to come and save him. The Americanized Devil, who calls himself Scratch, comes to collect the farmer’s soul. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

On ‘The Devil and Daniel Webster’ Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Webcasts reinforce tikkun olam

I zoomed in on two local webcasts today and although they dealt with different topics, they both made me feel good about belonging to a strong, caring Jewish community.  I was particularly impressed that the presenters had compassion not only for their own immediate circles of family and friends, but also for society at large, and particularly for people who struggle to make ends meet.  {Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]

Webcasts reinforce tikkun olam Read More »

Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Book review: Life of a Sar-El volunteer

Mark Werner is a retired corporate attorney from North Carolina, who at least once a year for the past 18 years has traveled to Israel at his own expense to sweat and grunt for three weeks as a manual laborer at various installations maintained by the Israel Defense Force.  The jobs varied from assignment to assignment, but they all involved hard work, typically in the hot sun of Israel and inside even hotter warehouses. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]

Book review: Life of a Sar-El volunteer Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA

Anti-Semitism and psychiatry

One of the distinct pleasures I’ve found that serving as a contributing author for San Diego Jewish World brings, is the opportunity to review material related to psychology and mental health. When I was asked to review Anti-Semitism and Psychiatry edited by H. Steven Moffic, John R. Peteet, Ahmed Hankir and Mary V. Seeman and published by Springer this year, I welcomed the prospect. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

Anti-Semitism and psychiatry Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education

A tune for Memorial Day? ‘Here’s One,” in fact, four

One of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of freed slaves in Charleston, South Carolina, after the Civil War, less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered. So it is fitting that, in honor of Memorial Day, I write about my sister Zina Schiff’s 1994 4-Tay CD, Here’s One” featuring works by American composers, including “The Deserted Garden,” by African-American composer Florence Price. Inspired by African-American spirituals, the simple beauty of “The Deserted Garden” reflects the somber longing for lost loved ones. [Eileen Wingard]

A tune for Memorial Day? ‘Here’s One,” in fact, four Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Zooming through Jerusalem’s religious sites

Traditionally, the Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest of the year for travelers, but not so in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.  However, technology, in the form of a Zoom meeting, whisked me on Sunday, May 24, from my home in San Diego and on to a tri-religious journey to Jerusalem, under the auspices of the America Israel Friendship League (AIFL). [Donald H. Harrison]

Zooming through Jerusalem’s religious sites Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, Travel and Food, USA

Anne Frank sculpture draws thanks from President Rivlin

Outside of the Jerusalem bedroom city of Ma’aleh Adumin, on the main road adjacent to a school, is a huge new bronze sculpture themed on Anne Frank. It was placed just last week.  The sculpture was funded by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. It is the artistic creation of Sam Philipe, the noted Israeli sculptor.  It is not interpretive; It is not abstract; That was a condition of funding.  It is real. [Jerry Klinger]

Anne Frank sculpture draws thanks from President Rivlin Read More »

International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Middle East

Wilderness weariness

There is no escaping the wild, chaotic terrain of the wilderness of life. Resisting the notion that life is fickle, fighting the uncertainty of the wilds of natural life, demanding predictability and expectedness in an otherwise disordered and often confused civilization, are futile. Many seem to believe that we live in an empty, befuddling and often frightening wasteland, one made even more worrisome by COVID-19. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

Wilderness weariness Read More »

Lifestyles, Michael Mantell