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By Eileen Wingard JERUSALEM — The State of Israel pulled out all the stops to welcome the Hadassah Convention in Jerusalem October 15-18, celebrating the women’s Zionist organization’s centennial and the dedication of Hadassah Hospital’s new Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower. There were banners and signs displayed everywhere, and on Ben Yehuda Street, the stores all […]
Celebrating Hadassah’s centennial as a delegate Read More »
Eileen Wingard
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Obviously Jewish survival must depend upon something more than empty sentimentalism. There must be something more than a cultural Jewish identity that finds Jewish fulfillment in bagels and lox. While many Jews live a nostalgically religious life, at least an equally large number have become ambivalent
When Jews seek spirituality elsewhere Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org The largest-ever joint defense exercise between the United States and Israel kicked off on Sunday and is lasting for three weeks in the Jewish state. Austere Challenge 12 (AC12), an air and missle defense training exercise, will involve 3,500 U.S. military members and another 1,000 from the Israel Defense Forces, according to
U.S., Israel in joint missile defense exercise Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–For Jewish voters who love Israel but consider themselves liberal on social issues, this is an agonizing presidential election. There is no way to get all that we want. Clearly President Obama is far more likely to protect women’s control over their own bodies, or gay couples’ right to marry,
A reluctant endorsement for Mitt Romney Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO –Sometimes words fail him, but Jake Zeldin, who talked to me by telephone from Toronto, can really bust a rhyme. Robyn, Jake’s mom, reported that Jake has been affected with a serious stutter since he began speaking. As a concerned parent, she took Jake to all of the experts in the field, but
Stutterer is flawless when he raps Read More »
Eva Trieger
Story and photos by Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–A German school principal and teacher bearing gifts from their K-4 students in the elementary school of the small town of Neuhaus-an-der-Oste in the far north of Germany helped on Monday, Oct. 22, to formally inaugurate a sister-school relationship at Cabrillo Elementary School that is based,
By Jacob Kamaras and Sean Savage/JNS.org “There are, I think, almost 3,000 Americans in foreign jails. Almost all of them are in there for doing something.” That is the assessment given to JNS.org by U.S. Rep. Bob Turner (R-NY), a leading advocate for the freedom of 53-year-old Brooklyn flooring contractor Jacob Ostreicher—who, according to
U.S. Jews jailed, held hostage overseas Read More »
International, Jacob Kamaras, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– There’s a new resource in town for anyone interested in the Jewish experience in San Diego: A Time to Remember: The First 150 Years, a beautifully printed, hard-cover book detailing the experiences thus far of Congregation Beth Israel and its historic forerunner, Congregation Adath Jeshurun. The book was
Beth Israel book a valuable resource to historians Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –A Facebook message that appeared on my computer screen caused me so much shock and dismay that I committed a mortal Facebook sin: I told the person who had put the message up what I thought of him by using insulting language. I regret that reaction. I regret my
In defense of ‘Haaretz’ and ethical behavior Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — The other night at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, I had the opportunity to moderate a debate between two presidential surrogates. Mat Kostrinsky, who lost a close race to be a San Diego city councilman from the 7th district, spoke in behalf of President Barack Obama. Arie Lipnick, regional
Moderating two presidential surrogates Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — When people ask carpenter David Swanson how big the ship now under construction on a parking lot at Spanish Landing will be, he responds, “Oh, about 30 cubits by 40 cubits.” It was probably a coincidence that his allusion relates to “Noach,” this upcoming weekend’s Torah portion.
Recreating Juan Cabrillo’s historic ship Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Noah was a remarkable man. Just how remarkable was he? How would he compare to Abraham or to Moses? Rabbinical tradition grapples with this question. Rashi cites the midrashic text that offers an answer to our question. Two rabbinic scholars differ on how they interpret the
That remarkable man, Noah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Philanthropist, business leader and Democratic activist Murray Galinson on Wednesday evening, Oct. 17, decried the lack of civility among political candidates in contests for offices up and down the ballot. He told a meeting of the Beth Israel Men’s Club that it wasn’t always like that, citing his experiences as
Combating the nastiness of politics Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonArab Lawyers Union honors terrorist who killed 21 Israelis in Haifa (JNS.org) The Palestine Committee of the Arab Lawyers Union recently bestowed its “highest honor” on female suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat, who killed 21 Israelis in a 2003 attack on Maxim’s restaurant in Haifa, Palestinian Media Watch reported on its website here. Jaradat, who worked as
JNS News Briefs: October 18, 2012 Read More »
International, Jacob Kamaras