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

Real Tasmanian Devil unlike Warner Bros’ ‘Tazzy’

  Editor’s Note: This is the ninth 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 By Donald H. Harrison […]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, The World We Share, Travel and Food

Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but …

First of two articles By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Lately, it seems as though Natalie Portman has transformed herself into a human lightning rod. She created a storm of controversy and gave the Palestinians in Gaza far more respectability than they deserved by canceling plans to receive a prestigious Genesis Award

Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but … Read More »

Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A journalist’s life in David Feldman’s memoir

Irreverent Forever: True Tales From a Newspaperman’s Outrageously Rewarding Life by David Arledge Feldman; © 2018, Gray Castle Publishing, ISBN 9781987-713190; 226 pages plus appendix and acknowledgments. By Donald H. Harrison   SAN DIEGO – Journalist David Arledge Feldman inherited his father’s sense of humor, but not his Jewish religion.  For most of his life,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

IsraelFest offered plenty to do at Liberty Station

Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO – A trip to the IsraelFest on Sunday led to Camelot. In this case, Camelot was a well-behaved camel, wearing an intricately woven Middle Eastern blanket over his saddle. He posed regally for photographs and graciously tolerated strokes and pats from admiring humans. 

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori

Link found between longevity and shul attendance

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Here’s yet another finding in the ancient question about how to live longer.  Attend synagogue regularly.  That’s it.  Simple isn’t it? Now before you assume the study backing up this recommendation was funded by a religious organization, think again.  After all, this isn’t some medical study backed

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Travel and Food

A European debate on anti- Semitism

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Unable to sleep one night I surfed through the TV channels I sometimes watch and came across a debate about anti-Semitism on France24 (in English, fortunately). The trigger for this was President Macron’s tweet about the existence of an ‘old anti-Semitism’ in France alongside a new form of the

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East

Deja Vu in Europe

By Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — “Will Europe’s Jews stop wearing kippahs [skullcaps]? Most already have,” was the lead article in the Times of Israel internet newspaper on April 26. (timesofisrael.com) Unfortunately, it’s not hard to believe the above statement.  Times have certainly changed since the 1950s, when as a youngster I first learned about

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International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

‘Noises Off’ brings you behind the scenes of a comedy

By Eva Trieger CORONADO, California — Noises Off, the British play-within-a-play, was conceived by writer Michael Frayn in 1970, as he watched Vanessa Redgrave from the wings, perform in a show he authored. What he discovered was that the play was much funnier from off-stage and so he created this clever idea for his British

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

SeaWorld Encounters on World Penguin Day

Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO – If I had gone into the place blind-folded, I might have thought I was in the sanctuary of a synagogue—a very cold sanctuary—listening to the sounds of shofars being blown in celebration of Rosh Hashanah. The blasts were reminiscent of the tekiah

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, The World We Share

‘Evening with Groucho’ brings back funnyman Marx

By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — A delighted North Coast Repertory Theater audience watched in amazement Tuesday night, as Frank Ferrante became funnyman Groucho Marx.  Before our very eyes, Ferrante painted on his mustache, donned rimmed glasses and adopted the familiar Noo Yawk accent in his lightning quick banter. The ninety-minute show recalled Marx

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Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire

The Resilience Antidote

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Someone once said that a well-adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without making him/herself nervous.  What’s the secret?  Mental health experts claim it’s resilience. Personal elasticity if you will. Flexibility of the psyche, a springy attitude, a pliable outlook. Whatever you call it,

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell