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 SAN DIEGO – When he performs the brit milah ceremony, Dr. Stuart Rubenstein, a pediatrician and mohel, often reflects upon the spiritual importance of Shabbat. His comments on Tuesday, May 7, about the spirituality of Shabbat brought back memories for Rabbi Matthew Earne of another spiritual Shabbat in a far-off […]
Brit Milah, Shabbat, and the far-flung Jewish people Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — “Vibrant” “Engaged” and “Enchanted” were three adjectives that leapt into my mind when I met the teacher, clarinetist and international performer. Alexander Gourevitch and his wife Anna, welcomed me into their Carmel Valley home Friday morning. I was eager to learn about Gourevitch’s upcoming role in the San
From Russia with klezmer Read More »
Eva Trieger
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Rachel Barton Pine informed us, as she opened her recital at San Diego State University, that she was not Jewish. In fact, with the exception of the Nigun by Bloch and the Hebrew Melody of Achron, she had never played any of the selections on the Jewish Studies program
Pine demonstrates universality of ‘Jewish music’ Read More »
Eileen Wingard
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Jewish pioneer Louis Rose, who wondered upon his arrival in 1850 why the dusty little village of San Diego wasn’t more water-oriented like his hometown of Neuhaus-an-der-Oste in Germany, might have smiled with satisfaction on Monday, May 6, if he had witnessed a modern-day result of his successful campaign
Jewish pioneer’s legacy: German-U.S. ‘sister schools’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — On June 26th, 2012, the District Court of the Federal State of Cologne ruled that ritual circumcision for children as required by the parents, constitutes an infliction of bodily harm to the child, and is therefore—a criminal offense. Fortunately, the Federal Constitutional Court shortly afterward overruled
The danger of metsita b’peh Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.–The announcement by Secretary of Defense Hagel that the United States will “rethink all options” including arming Syrian rebel groups, was carefully hedged. “It doesn’t mean… you will” (choose any particular path). The statement however moves the U.S. closer to picking sides in a war with no good options and no
Sunni-Shia clash in Syria part of their global war Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Donald H. Harrison DEL MAR, California– Come Wednesday, May 22, when supporters of the Foundation Fighting Blindness gather at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in La Jolla for a “Dining in the Dark” dinner– to be served and eaten with the lights out and the blackout curtains drawn — I just hope the attendees
‘Dining in the Dark’ and salute to Stones to benefit research Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — A five year old was in the audience of “Les Mis” and left the theater asking his parents, “How did that boy get on that stage?” Three years later, after enrolling in acting classes and piano lessons, the boy was a full-fledged theater enthusiast and performer. Evan Jay Newman
‘American Idiot’ musical director eyed show biz career at age 5 Read More »
Eva TriegerBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — As a rite of passage, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah marks the beginning of a young person’s adult participation in the Jewish community. However, in many congregations across the religious divide, the Bar and Bat Mitzvah day has become a graduation from Judaism. When I think about the
Bar mitzvah dedicates himself to aiding the autistic Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — In the well-appointed living room in the Palm Springs home of former Ambassador, Republican party chairman and one-time actor Lyman Wyeth (Robert Foxworth) and his loyal one-time actress wife Polly (Kandis Chappell), a large Christmas tree stands against the picture window. From a bottom branch, facing the
Family in ‘Other Desert Cities’ at war decades after tragedy Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM–The exhibition currently on show at the Israel Museum reveals just a tiny fraction of the grandeur and ambition of King Herod, the Idumaean who once ruled Judea with some help from his Roman patrons. He was known mainly for his grandiose building projects throughout the region, most notably the Second Temple in
Israel Museum features exhibit on King Herod Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-VansonBy Donald H. Harrison LA MESA, California–A character in Linda Goodman’s The Daughters of the Appalachians comforts herself with a bit of her family’s wisdom which teaches that some people are like paper mache: very pretty on the outside, but nothing but dirty old newspaper on the inside. Sara Jane–currently being interpreted by Michelle Burkhart
Appalachian stories delight at reopened Lamplighters Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Having studied and taught about the Holocaust for 37 years, I realize that many stories from of it remain untold because their participants died while it was occurring or remained silent to rebuild their lives and avoid traumatizing their children. When spelunker Chris Nicola journeyed to the Ukraine in
The Wandering Review: ‘No Place on Earth’ Read More »
Lawrence BaronBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–As a teenager growing up in her native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Myrna Cohen was already soloing with the Conservative Synagogue Choir where her mother, Goldie, an opera singer, was a hired professional. Myrna was the soloist at her confirmation and went on to teach music at religious schools and Jewish camps. The
Temple Emanu-El to salute singer Myrna Cohen May 4 Read More »
Eileen Wingard, San Diego County