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

ADL panel weighs coronavirus and anti-Semitism

In a webcast sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday, panelists Deborah Lipstadt of Emory University and Jonathan Sarna of Brandeis University were asked if a cure for coronavirus were to be discovered by a Jew, would that reduce anti-Semitism? The two academicians, appearing alongside ADL’s president and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, responded in the negative. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices to be carried May 5 on Zoom

When the Lawrence Family JCC needed to close because of the Coronavirus and all programs were cancelled, it seemed obvious that the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices program, scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, at 7 p.m. would not take place. However, Melanie Rubin, the JCC’s innovative Director of Senior Activities and the Astor Judaica Library, and her assistant, Sarah Mattis, suggested that we could have the program after all, by doing it on the internet through Zoom. [Eileen Wingard]

Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices to be carried May 5 on Zoom Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, Melanie Rubin, San Diego County

The weirdest Independence Day ever

Ever since its foundation in 1948 Israel has celebrated its Independence Day with general festivities in which anyone and everyone can participate. After I came to live in Israel, about sixty years ago, Independence Day has always been a very special day for me. In my first few years on the country I would hang out with other students, and we would roam downtown Jerusalem, join in street dancing, enjoy the ambiance, bang squeaky plastic hammers on one another’s heads, and eat falafel. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

The weirdest Independence Day ever Read More »

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

Lauren and Sol Lizerbram bring San Diego presence to global Yom Ha’atzma’ut celebration

Sol and Lauren Lizerbram of Rancho Santa Fe had cameo roles in the hour-long, worldwide webcast for Israeli Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzma’ut) that was co-hosted Wednesday by Israeli actress Shira Haas (who stars in the mini-series Unorthodox) and Eric Fingerhut, chairman of the Jewish Federations of North America. Sol Lizerbram is the U.S. President of the Jewish National Fund, which arranged to video the near-private ceremony this year at Mount Herzl in honor of Yom Ha’atzma’ut — near private because of the ban in Israel on gatherings of large groups [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Lauren and Sol Lizerbram bring San Diego presence to global Yom Ha’atzma’ut celebration Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

The too-often forgotten thank you

There is a forgotten Thank you. We don’t see them; they are rarely seen on the street. They are the watchers on the wall. They are the ones, far away from us, thousands upon thousands of miles away, standing watch, far from their family, their home, doing their silent duty looking into the scary night. They stand the cold, wet wall across from the DMZ, they service the ships upon the seas and the vessels deep under. They squeeze into cockpits and fly the skies. They crowd into uncomfortable steel tanks or patrol the road with only a rifle and prayer in their hands. [Jerry Klinger]

The too-often forgotten thank you Read More »

Jerry Klinger, USA

Biden’s 3-point program to protect religious institutions

Former Vice President Joe Biden, referencing the one-year anniversary of the murder of Lori Gilbert Kaye in a shooting attack on Chabad of Poway, on Tuesday announced a three-point program to protect religious communities. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

The country needs a top dog

While pawing through the newspaper today before I chewed it up, I noticed a report about the first case of a human transmitting Covid19 to a dog.  Given the incompetence shown by the Golden Deceiver when he advised ingesting or injecting bleach or Lysol as a cure for the disease (which is akin to telling dogs to eat rat poison if they don’t want to be bitten by a rat), I have decided that the United States needs to appoint a top dog to manage the pandemic.  [Satire by Laure Baron channeling his dog Elona]

The country needs a top dog Read More »

Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Mental Health Challenges During a Crisis

Barbara Bry, San Diego City Council’s President Pro Tem and candidate for mayor, hosted a one-hour webinar on Monday that included the following panelists: Physician Coach, and Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California, San Diego Dr. Helane Fronek; Associate Professor in Family Medicine, Public Health, and Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego Dr. Suzi Hong; Emeritus Professor in Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego Dr.David Janowsky; and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Health Mentor Marc Rosenberg

Mental Health Challenges During a Crisis Read More »

Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, San Diego County

Jewish folk music for Yom Zikaron, Yom Ha’atzma’ut

In commemoration of Israel’s Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance) and Yom Ha’atzma’ut (Independence Day), I have selected my sister Zina Schiff’s recording, The Golden Dove.  Although the recording features composers of Russia’s Society for Jewish Folk Music, five of the composers on the recording — Engel, Weinberg, Rosowsky, Saminsky, and Achron — spent time in Palestine and influenced the early music of the pre-state Yishuv (Jewish settlement in Palestine). [Eileen Wingard]

Jewish folk music for Yom Zikaron, Yom Ha’atzma’ut Read More »

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

Israeli Memorial Day rites include Poway’s Lori Kaye

The name of slain Lori Gilbert Kaye, who died a year ago during a gunman’s attack on Chabad of Poway, was linked Monday in Latrun, Israel, to the names of Israel’s fallen soldiers during an annual Yom Hizakron (Day of Memory) ceremony. To view the entire ceremony on Facebook, click here. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Israeli Memorial Day rites include Poway’s Lori Kaye Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Joe Gandelman, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA