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
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — A child who has suffered death is always to be mourned; the ruin of another is to be mourned, as well. The stories of Layla and Ammar Ghandour cannot be separated. And neither story can be separated from the vicious way Hamas uses children as both fodder and propaganda. […]
Layla and Ammar: A Gaza Story Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Jerry Klinger KETCHUM, Idah0 — The other day, Emily Sue, a dear friend from Spokane, wrote to me she was headed to visit her kin at their family’s Sheep Ranch in Howe, Idaho. She was planning on a side trip to the annual Trailing of the Sheep festival in Ketchum, Idaho. I had never
Sun Valley’s Jews and anti- Semites Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Many people, including myself, have often wondered about the Russian strategy in Syria, now that the war is for the most part over. We all know that Assad is no boy scout; we also know that the ISIS fighters, who swelled the ranks of the rebels—are genocidal
Iran, Russia, now allies, may split over Syria Read More »
International, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista recently told me of a conversation he had with a young woman working behind the counter of an ice cream shop. Noting her unhappy expression, he told her that she should be very proud of the work
Cheesecake cups and ‘yetzers’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The Mingei International Museum’s current exhibition of Israeli crafts and design is a retrospective that incorporates aspects of the Jewish State’s history with what the exhibit’s curator, Smadar Samson, describes as four major themes of that nation’s experience. These themes are 1) invoking the collective memory of the
70 years of Israeli crafts on display at Mingei Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyBy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — In the May 10, 2018 issue of Newsweek, an article by Yardena Schwartz was headlined “More Israelis Are Moving to the U.S.–and Staying for Good.” Schwartz is a well known, respected journalist, but this article seems to have a chip on its shoulder. It reminds me of the
Newsweek article overblown about Israeli emigration Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USALamenting the Headlines: If I Were a Gazan (Melody: If I Were a Rich Man) By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — If I were a Gazan Daidle deedle daidle Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb I’d charge the fence while under gunfire. I don’t need Hamas to enflame my ire. My circumstances are extremely dire. Why
Humoring the headlines: May 18, 2018 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel —That Was The Week That Was (TWTWTW) was the title of a satirical program on UK television in my youth, bringing a great deal of mirth and merriment to the British viewing public. As satire tends to be, it was irreverent and entertaining, helping to brighten the somewhat dull
A week of roller coaster emotions Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Isaac Artenstein’s newest documentary, To The Ends of the Earth: A Portrait of Jewish San Diego, which is on sale at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park, tapped present and past Jewish leaders of San Diego to narrate the story of 168 years of Jewish settlement
Documentary on San Diego Jewry very well done Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County
Editor’s Note: This is the eleventh in a series of stories researched during Don and Nancy Harrison’s 50th Wedding Anniversary cruise from Sydney, Australia, to San Diego. Previous installments of the series, which runs every Thursday, may be found by tapping the number of the installment: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 By Donald H.
Cruise ship singer plans solo show on land Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and FoodBt Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Ahh, Shavuot is soon upon us. With its extended synagogue services, special readings including the story of Ruth and the 10 Commandments among others, Tikkun Leil Shavuot –the practice of staying up all night studying Torah — and of course all of those traditional delectable dairy dishes
How to THINk THIN for Shavuot Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Erich Fromm wondered: How can we account for humankind’s capacity for cruelty and violence? Fromm, like the ethologist Konrad Lorenz, believed that violence is something we share with the animal world—especially when it comes to directing our anger against members of our own species. On the
Embassy move affirms nation that prefers life over death Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort CARLSBAD, California — Today (May 14) has already been an historic day and it’s barely 9am here in California. Today truth trumped lies and virtue vanquished evil. Today the great Name of G-d was sanctified in His Chosen Land, in His Holy City, by His Chosen People. No, unfortunately, the Holy
OpEd: Embassy move a reason to rejoice! Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Palestinian Authority (PA) has called for a “Day of Rage” to protest the opening of the American Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. “Days of Rage” actually date to the 2011 uprising in Bahrain and have been seen in Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Arab
Abbas’s desperation tactics Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen