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 — In this week’s parsha we conclude the trilogy of the Joseph narrative; the biblical narrator was especially skilled in creating a sense of drama and suspense. To summarize, Joseph has created new circumstances to see whether his brothers’ attitude has really changed over the last 22 […]
The rope, the bucket and the gun Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Fictional agents Ziva David of NCIS and Eyal Lavin of Covert Affairs are unlikely to be assigned to a case together, if only because their shows are on different networks, respectively CBS and USA. But I would be fascinated by the prospect of a joint interview of actress
The TV spies who burnish Israelis’ images Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonGod created the first human being alone in order to teach us that whosoever kills a single soul is considered as though he has destroyed an entire world. By the same token, anyone who preserves a single human soul, it is as if that person sustained a whole world— BT Sanhedrin 37b; JT Sanhedrin 4:12, 22b By
Let’s require psychological testing for gun owners Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — All of us are horrified by what happened at the Sandy Hook School. May the souls of those slain rest in peace. May we, as a nation, somehow learn from this horrible experience! What disappoints me, in the aftermath of this outrage, is the arrogance of the
The gun hobby does not deserve Constitutional protection Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — Ever hear someone say that they wish the job of parenting came with a manual? Well, Michelle Cove, author and filmmaker has taken that one step further. Her 252-page manifesto contains a collection of concrete suggestions, words of wisdom, and encouragement for today’s working mother. Cove divides her book,
Now there’s a ‘manual’ for working moms Read More »
Eva TriegerBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — I often get asked, “What is the symbolism of the dreidel? What exactly is its origin?” The dreidel is a four cornered top that was popular in the medieval era and originally used for gambling. Jewish folklore purports that when the Syrians prohibited the study of
The symbolism of the dreidel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — We Jews, especially, know the story of immigrants who have come to America seeking economic opportunity. We recall how the older generation tried to hold onto the mother tongue, but how the younger generation quickly embraced English and American ways. We know that every generation of immigrants, from
PBS documentary examines lives of Iranian-Americans Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– Over the Chanukah holiday I turned 11 — again. And I can thank my wife Nancy for that. My grandson, Shor, and I, for many years, have been watching science fiction television series on DVDs. We saw together every episode of Star Trek, working our way through the original
A boy once more watching ‘Superman’ TV series Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –As election time in Israel draws near (the date set is 22nd January 2013), the plethora of parties and personalities vying for the Israeli voter’s attention is becoming ever more frenetic. On the one side is the massive combined weight of two right-wing parties, led by Avigdor Lieberman and
No option may be the best choice in Israeli election Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO– Now that the candles have been lit, the blessings recited, the latkes eaten, the dreidels spun, and the gifts exchanged, it’s time to sit your touchas down in the couch and watch a movie about Hanukah. The problem is that there just aren’t many major films about the holiday and
The Wandering Review: Have a Happy Hollywood Hanukah Read More »
Lawrence BaronJoshua Eli Plaut, “A KOSHER CHRISTMAS: ’Tis the Season to Be Jewish” ISBN 0813553806; Publisher: Rutgers University Press, 2012. 207 pages. Rating: **** By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Many Jews I know have a profound feeling of ambivalence when it comes to Christmas season each year. There is a hidden anxiety
‘A Kosher Christmas’ tells of Jews and Dec. 25th Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Historically, the holiday of Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday when compared to holidays like Passover or Yom Kippur, or the Sabbath. Nevertheless, its significance should not be under-appreciated. I realize many Jews try to make more out of the Hanukkah holiday in order to make
Not the victory of military power, but that of spirit Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — I heard about the book Start-Up Nation; the Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer a couple of years ago but didn’t take too much notice. After all, the fact that Israel is a hotbed of innovation, high-tech industry and networking is nothing new to
Belated praise for ‘Start Up Nation’ Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Armando Pesqueira, the young Mexican conductor, who was on the podium for the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) concert Tuesday evening, November 20, proved to be an expressive maestro who brought the orchestra to new heights. In the challenging Brahms Symphony #1, the upper strings played with good intonation
Pesqueira and Matsumoto in memorable performance Read More »
Eileen Wingard