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
Subjects in this column:
* 2020 may be the year of local exhibits on the Holocaust
* Rabbis weigh in on the controversy over kosher slaughter of animals
* How mayoral candidates are spinning the latest poll
Our Shtetl San Diego: September 12, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food
Suppose you were a military careerist, one who has risen to the rank of colonel with responsibility as a brigade commander. Suppose also that you were coming up for a promotion that would put an entire armored division under your command.
In the case of Roni (Shimon Mimram), the promotion is conditioned upon him extending the period of his military service – ordinarily a requirement that would cause him no qualms. But over the last two years, Roni has been replaying in his head a conversation he had with his son Roy. (Or Ben-Melech)
GI Film Festival Preview: ‘That’s Mine’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Perhaps the parasha is more about another war with our real enemy, our internal mindset. Moving against our nature, especially lifting ourselves beyond our natural impulses and desires, is a struggle, a fight with our “yetzer hara” or “evil inclination.”
D’var Torah for September 14 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
On Monday President Trump told reporters: “I don’t want to allow people that weren’t supposed to be in the Bahamas to come into the United States, including some very bad people and some very bad gang members and some very, very bad drug dealers.” The seeds of his 2020 stump speech have been planted. Here’s our forecast of what he’ll say.
Humoring the Headlines: September 11, 2019 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireSubjects in this column
*Handicapping the race for Susan Davis’s Congressional Seat
*Proposed Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Brings Heat, Not Light
* Too Many Jewish Offerings to Attend Everything
Our Shtetl San Diego: September 11, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — In 2008, in my first book on Maimonides called Maimonides: The Exceptional Mind, I described how ancient Jews had a totally different idea why they were blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. As Rosh Hashanah observances Sept. 29-Oct. 1 approach, I thought I’d recapitulate for San
Why Blow the Shofar – To Confuse Satan? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
A behavioral scientist from Sweden thinks cannibalism of corpses will become necessary because of the effects of climate change. The name of this person is Magnus Söderlund, and he is associated with the prestigious Stockholm School of Economics. In his dystopian vision of the future, he proposed that in order to truly take on the effects of climate change, we must “awake the idea” that eating human flesh should be discussed as an option in the future.
Climate change activist foresees necessary cannibalism Read More »
International, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiSubjects in this column:
* Nine Israeli professors join faculties at three area universities
*Traffic will detour during two days of construction at Schwartz Courthouse
* Republican Famela Ramos joins race to succeed Susan Davis
* ADL, Aspen Institute name Nathan Fletcher to Civil Society Fellowship
* San Diego’s New StandWithUs Director Has Roots in the Region
* Preliminary hearing Sept. 19 in Chabad of Poway shootings
Our Shtetl San Diego: September 10, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
In tracing the origins and development of the Talmud over the millennia in which it has existed in one form or another (first oral, then written, and eventually printed), Harry Freedman, a historian and expert in Aramaic and Judaic studies, introduces us to the different environments and cultures in which the Talmud emerged and eventually flourished, as well as giving us insights into the various rabbis, interpreters, and scholars who helped to formulate and establish it.
The Talmud has defined the Judaism of today Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Jewish ReligionAmong the newest countries to come out against kosher slaughtering, Belgium now insists that any kind of ritual slaughtering must first stun the animal before it is killed. The European Union held that the animal ought to be unconscious by the time it is slaughtered, to minimize its pain.
How humane is stunning an animal before slaughter? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, The World We Share
Subjects in this column:
*Dr. Peter Salk to Discuss the Works of His Father, Dr. Jonas Salk, Oct. 28
*Beth Israel Men’s Club hosts San Diego Jewish World publisher Donald H. Harrison Oct. 16
*Love Chocolate? You’ll love LFJCC’s Oct 29 Exhibit and Jan. 14 Lecture by Rabbi Prinz
Our Shtetl San Diego: September 9, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
Subjects in today’s column:
* Three Jewish women making political headlines in San Diego
* Behavioral Modification for Homeless Dogs and Cats
* Suppose he had lived in Chevy Chase?
* An Example of Erotic Yiddish Poetry
Our Shtetl San Diego: September 8, 2019 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, The World We Share, Trivia, Humor & Satire
My owner writes parodies of songs and suggested I try my paw at it. I heard this old Patti Paige record and decided to update it.
How much is that puppy in the window?
The one who is sold at a store.
Unlike the doggies at the shelters,
You know it will cost you much more.
Hounding the Headlines: September 8, 2019 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, The World We ShareRosh Hashanah is not a biblical holiday, although it replaced a biblical one, and is notably different from the holiday it replaced. The biblical holiday, Yom Teruah, had a totally different purpose than Rosh Hashanah, which focuses on the onset of a new year, repentance, and commitment to live the next year properly. Yom Teruah concentrated on months and the number seven.
Rosh Hashanah: the New Year that Wasn’t a New Year Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion