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
Changing the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History by Marc B. Shapiro, Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, Portland, Oregon; ISBN 978-1-904113-60-7 ©2015, $19.95, p. 285, plus bibliography and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Changing the Immutable by Marc B. Shapiro, who holds the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Chair in Judaic Studies at […]
Censorship in the haredi community Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson DOMEYROT, France — I know I’ve written about this subject before, but it’s one that simply isn’t going to go away, and in fact is getting worse every day, every hour, every minute. Many of these unfortunates come from Africa, from countries where conflicts, poverty, corruption and hopelessness are endemic. Others come from
Jews can empathize with refugees Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, The World We Share
By Donald H. Harrison CARLSBAD, California – Chabad of La Costa on Sunday, Aug. 23, celebrated the completion of what its spiritual leader, Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort, called the “floor of the present” containing an 88-seat sanctuary, offices, a small library, and a kosher kitchen. Already roughly constructed, but needing such important finishing touches as an
Chabad of La Costa celebrates ‘floor of the present’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiBy Michael R. Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — According to Jewish tradition, on the tenth day of the Hebrew month Tishri, Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the second set of tablets of the Ten Commandments after Hashem forgave the Jews for the sin of worshipping the golden calf. That day is called Yom
Tis the season to seek to be forgiven Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Somewhere There Is Still A Sun by Michael Gruenbaum with Todd Hasak-Lowy; Aladdin Books © 2015; ISBN 978-1-4424-8486-3; 378 pages including after words; $17.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This book is what you might call a combination of a memoir and historical fiction—the two genres mixing in a tale intended for middle
A Holocaust tale for middle schoolers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO─ Hackers have posted personal data obtained from the infidelity dating website Ashley Madison. Former President Bill Clinton has requested that the FBI immediately return the private server it confiscated from the Clinton home. * Donald Trump was dismissed from a jury panel when he told a prosecutor that the facts
Humoring the headlines: August 20, 2015 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
-18th in a series– Exit 6, Texas Street, San Diego — Old Tifereth Israel, Beth Jacob By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Although San Diego’s Jewish community started in Old Town San Diego in the 1850s, moving to downtown and environs in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was on the move again
I-8 Jewish Travel: Shuls on the move Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Recently I sent a list of questions about the pending deal with Iran to a small group of Jewish friends who live in the US. All are intelligent people who generally keep themselves aware of current events, including major happenings in Israel. Frankly, I’m a bit alarmed by
Pondering the Jewish divide over the Iran pact Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson DOMEYROT, France –It seemed like a good idea at the time. Every village in central France – and possibly elsewhere, for all I know – holds a brocante once a year, when locals and anyone interested can set up a stall and sell anything that they feel is superfluous to their needs.
Weather, language, conspired against book sale Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, InternationalBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama Administration has made it clear that it will not pursue Israeli-Palestinian “peace talks” while the Iran deal remains fluid. But as the President heads into his last year in office, the “two state solution” apparently remains an important political aspiration. The Iran deal and the “peace process”
U.S. subsidizes terror against Israelis Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Richard Simon and Tanya Simon, illustrated by Marc Siegel, Roaring Brook Press of MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group; ISBN 978-1-59643-949-8; 40 pages; $17.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Back in the early 1970.s, when I worked for the Associated Press in New York City, I was always
A refugee and the great American hope Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, USABy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO─ The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of OxyContin for children as young as 11 years old. When a reporter asked why kids that young would require the medication, an FDA official asked, “Do you know how painful it is to be a middle school student?” * Donald Trump
Humoring the Headlines: August 17, 2015 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – I find myself wondering why San Diego Gas & Electric decided to name its giant fire-fighting helicopter “Goliath.” Sure, it’s big, and Goliath of biblical infamy was big, but there the similarity ends. Goliath, a Philistine who stood between 12 and 13 feet tall, was a bully. He
The Jewish angle: Naming a helicopter and a ship Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — A highlight of my recent trip to China was in Xian, once the largest city in the ancient world and capital of China throughout 11 dynasties. After arriving by bullet train from Beijing, we had dinner at a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant and spent the evening listening to three speakers
Tracing ancient Jewish influences in China Read More »
Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish Religion