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 Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — According to rabbinic tradition, in order to impress upon Adam the need for human companionship, God brought him all the animals so that he might notice that each one had a partner. This parade of God’s creatures was intended to lead to a deepening of Adam’s own consciousness […]
The woman who stood against Adam Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — After the first presidential debate, I commented that it had been a model of civility and informed discourse. I contrasted it to the nasty commercials that characterize election season. On Thursday night, we had the vice presidential debate, and I must admit I was disappointed in Vice President
A debate that changed very few minds Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Stephen and Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. —Washington wants to avoid a confrontation with Iran, but faces two wild cards. First, Israel may find itself unable to forgo the use of force against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Second, the administration has reiterated that it, too, finds a nuclear-armed Iran “unacceptable,” and may have to take action
USS Ponce in serious danger in Persian Gulf Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, Stephen D. Bryen
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — Nearly everyone knows a toe tapping, easy to hum along with melody by George Gershwin….but we are not quite as familiar with Ira, brother of the song and dance man. Ira’s life will be the subject of an upcoming musical created by Joe Vass, premiering October 17-20 and running
New musical pays tribute to the other Gershwin — Ira Read More »
Eva TriegerBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — It has been said that bad news comes in threes — and that has proven true with the recent deaths of Mervyn Dymally, Nancy Miller, and Gloria Penner All three of them touched my life, and I’d like to pay tribute here. The Associated Press sent me early
Mervyn, Nancy and Gloria Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —Simchat Torah is a relative latecomer to Judaism. Historically, the first mention of Simchat Torah is found in the 13th century work known as the Zohar, which is a mystical commentary on the Bible.[1] Sometime in the 9th century, European communities would begin reading Genesis immediately after
Why and when we celebrated Simchat Torah Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Here are the endorsements of the San Diego Jewish World for local offices now being contested in San Diego County. Our publication focuses on open seats and upon those several offices where the challenger seems preferable to the incumbent. Comments, rebuttals, congratulations, and readers’ political commentary (so long as it is
SDJW makes bipartisan endorsements in local races Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — In 2011, Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), failed to win U.N. acceptance of Palestine as an independent state1. This year, he lowered the bar to upgraded status within the U.N. In the intervening year, Palestinian finances have collapsed, Palestinians have taken to the street to denounce
U.S. should cease its paramilitary aide to Palestinians Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California — Theresa Rebeck’s Mauritius at the Stagehouse Theatre at Grossmont College wins this reviewer’s stamp of approval notwithstanding some reservations over a few technical issues and the use of far more “f-bombs” than really are necessary. The play will intrigue any philatelist as it revolves around the discovery
Everyone’s a con artist in ‘Mauritius’ at Grossmont College Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–I was delighted with the first debate between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Not because I think the debate held at the University of Denver on Wednesday evening, Oct. 3, will determine the outcome of the presidential election, but rather because I believe it set a
Three cheers for the presidential debaters Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USAThe Good Friday Prayer by Howard Rubenstein (San Diego: Granite Hills Press, 2012); ISBN-10: 1929468237; 520 pages; $24:95; Rating 4* By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — When one considers all the new books that have appeared in the news about Jesus, Howard Rubinstein’s book, The Good Friday Prayer is one of the
‘The Good Friday Prayer’ challenges Catholic theology Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Coming Home by Laurence Brown; ISBN: 978-1477591819; 431 pages plus appendices, retail price unlisted By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — This is Australian novelist Laurence Brown’s second novel. Previously he published Sicarri, a set of stories dealing with zealots and thugs who ruled through intimidation. Coming Home is broader in scope, tracing a family
Four-generation novel follows pogrom’s victims’ families Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —Today in the news I came across the following article: · On September 18, 2012, Muhib Ru’yat Al-Rahman, a senior writer on leading jihadi forum Shumoukh Al-Islam, suggested that Muslims living in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.S. kill Westerners and display their decapitated heads
Religion like rain: sometimes soft, sometimes murderous Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy JNS.org NEW YORK—Faced with what he considers an existential threat to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spelled things out for world leaders in simple terms at the United Nations General Assembly. Actually, he drew things out. Providing a cartoonish diagram of a bomb during his Sept. 27 address, Netanyahu drew a red line across
UN Week: Iran at center of debate Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle East