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 Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California–For those of us who are attuned to every development in Middle Eastern news–worrying about violence in Syria and Egypt, negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and the prospect of Iran getting the N-bomb–attending a town hall meeting such as the one Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) conducted at […]
Congresswoman’s Town Hall focuses on domestic issues Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Tilia Klebenov Jacobs, Wrong Place, Wrong Time; Linden Tree Press, (c) 2013, ISBN 978-0615805597, 400 pages, cover price unlisted. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO- – While reading and enjoying this novel about an almost-ethical kidnapper, I kept wondering why the author had decided that the female victim in this story should be a well-educated
Novel probes relationship between kidnapper and victim Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–Popular culture often adds its own midrashic spin to famous biblical stories. The episode known as the Akedah, “The Binding of Isaac” illustrates the harrowing chapter when Abraham almost saw his future go literally, “up in smoke.” Bob Dylan and Woody Allen both add a remarkable subtext to
God wanted Abraham to just say no Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Laurie Baron (Tune: My Country ‘tis of Thee) My country is shut down Congress has let us down. And we must plead. Land of enormous size, It needs a compromise. Support from Boehner’s side That’s how to lead. Here’s my analysis Of our paralysis. Let the House vote. To fund the government, On debts
Humoring the Headlines: October 15, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire• The sign of circumcision is so important, that . . . .it alone would preserve the nation [Israel] forever — SPINOZA, Theologico-Political Treatise 1670. Ch. 3 • Turnus Rufus asked R. Akiba: “If God wanted circumcision, why didn’t he make man born circumcised?” R. Akiba replied, “Why do you ask only regarding circumcision? Why
Circumcision has been debated through the ages Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — After seeing the latest polls on the percentage of Americans who disapprove of the Republican strategy of linking the approval of a budget to the defunding of Obama Care, Confucius say, “Those who heed the advice of the junior senator from Texas will find themselves in a Ted end.”
Humoring the headlines: October 12, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Retirement is becoming a more distant dream for a rising number of older Americans, largely because they need the money but also because they are healthy enough to keep working. The percentage of 65-plus women who are working jumped more than 4 percentage points to 12.5%.
Abraham proved the Power of One Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Someone might have predicted years ago when Sue Marder was 8 and still younger than her grandchildren are today, that she would become both a writer and a volunteer at an animal shelter. As a child she wrote a poem called “My Pet” and precociously sent it off
Marder’s poems display her humor, doggone it! Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfecta in his generations, and Noah walked with God (Gen 6:9). אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדֹרֹתָיו אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים הִתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹחַ (Gen 6:9 ) in his generation – What is signified by “perfect in his generation”? R. Yochanan said:
Noah & Abraham: A Rabbinical Comparison Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — After several days of the government shutdown, Bain Capital has offered to buy the Federal government, downsize and reorganize it, and outsource most of its services. Bears in the National Parks have petitioned Congress to reopen the parks. It reads: “You humans are beastly and unbearable. Please restore
Humoring the Headlines: October 4, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON–It seemed as if the entire Pygmalion audience fell in love with actress Hannah Hedgecock as she threw herself into the part of Eliza Doolittle on Thursday night at Grossmont College’s Stagehouse Theatre. The meaner that co-star Derek San Filippo in the role of Henry Higgins behaved toward Eliza, the
By Jove! Hannah Hedgecock has got it! Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonWe’re Missing the Point: What’s Wrong with the Orthodox Jewish Community and How to Fix It by Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein, OU Press, New York, ISBN 978-01-6028–202-5 ©2012, $25.00, p. 252 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Outsiders might wonder what could possibly be wrong within the Orthodox Jewish community. Until the Age of
Rabbi offers pathway for Orthodox Jews Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish ReligionBy Laurie Baron Guido Barilla, the owner of the largest pasta company in the world, asserted that he would never feature a gay family in his firm’s commercials because he believes that only a woman and a man can form a family. Barilla also announced that he would halt production of large shells and manicotti
Humoring the headlines: September 30, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON –Those who would ban books cite inappropriate language or too much sexuality or violence as their motivation for wanting them removed from library shelves. However, often their unspoken motivation is to suppress ideas that may disrupt the established societal order. In observance of National Banned Book Week, a faculty-student
Grossmont College panel tells motivations of book banners Read More »
Donald H. Harrison