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 . CARDIFF BY THE SEA, California –These are the good times in the Jewish preschool at Temple Solel here, where children are blissfully unaware that warfare is again looming over Israel and the rest of the Middle East. How nice it was on “Grandparents Day” on Friday, Nov. 16, to watch […]
Tales of two Jewish schools Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Eva Trieger LA JOLLA, California –When it comes to good taste, it’s all relative, especially if you keep it in the family! Linda and Tiana Ravden have created an extremely tasty haven in La Jolla, filled with divine, unique and creative sensations. Finch’s Bistro and Wine Bar is the newest darling of Girard Avenue
Restaurant review: Finch’s Bistro Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego CalendarBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Is revenge or vengeance permissible in Judaism? Has the view of revenge changed over time? Answer: You ask a difficult question and the answer is far from simple. Numerous laws and passages proscribe revenge and vengeance. Conversely, revenge plays an important role in rectifying injustices that occurred. The
What Judaism says about revenge Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BALTIMORE—The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) set a theme of “Where the Jewish community downloads/uploads/shares” for its 2012 General Assembly well in advance. Then Hurricane Sandy came along and ravaged the East Coast, making the theme that much more relevant. “The uploads, the downloads, the connection—to me it’s all around the
Federation CEO on Sandy, Iran, young leadership Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, USABy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org BALTIMORE—Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the Reform movement’s congregational arm, was an atypical choice as scholar-in-residence for the 2012 Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly—by his own admission. “First of all, it’s an honor,” Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), said in an interview with JNS.org in
Jewish Federation pick Reform movement head as its scholar Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison MOORPARK, California –Reflecting on a Civil War reenactment that was staged at the Underwood Family Farms here, I found myself focusing on two lessons from the proceedings. First, a mistake may snowball into a disaster. And second, charisma can outlast even death. Our nation is now observing the sesquicentennial of
Lessons from a Civil War reenactment Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Shoshana and Stephen Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. _- Most of the questions related to the Benghazi debacle are about the mechanics, both offensive and defensive. What did the White House know and when? What assets were available to the military? Did someone order a stand down, and if so, who? Why was “the video” blamed
Was there a Syrian arms connection to Stevens’ death? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, Stephen D. Bryen
First in a series By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Natural catastrophes such as a floods or earthquakes are frequently referred to as an “act of God.” A deer crossing in front of a car that causes an accident is also considered an “act of God.” When “acts of God” occur, it exempts
What was God’s role in Hurricane Sandy? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Simon and the Oaks, directed by Lisa Ohlin (Sweden, Germany, Norway: 2011). By Laurie Baron Note: I haven’t written my column for several weeks because I’ve been giving lectures around the country. Indeed, I was stranded in West Hartford, Connecticut, for two extra days due to Hurricane Sandy. Having endured two other hurricanes in New England in
The Wandering Review: ‘Simon and the Oaks’ Read More »
Lawrence Baron
SAN DIEGO– One of Israel’s foremost performers of Yemenite music — Sagiv Cohen — says he finds surprising similarities in mood and lyrics between the historic songs of African-Americans and those of the Jews of Yemen. In San Diego on a private family visit, Cohen explained that both peoples — African-Americans during the time of
Israeli singer admires African-American gospel and blues Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
The Philosophy of the Hebrew Scripture by Yoram Hazony, Cambridge University Press, New York; ISBN 978-0-521-17667-5 ©2012, $24.99, p. 273, plus notes and indices. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California –Placing the word “philosophy” next to the expression “Hebrew Scriptures” seems to be incongruous; after all, philosophy is about using reason to find “truths” to
Shepherds vs farmers: a queston of biblical philosophy Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Recently I learned, to some shock, that one of the people who helped make the Top Gun school at Miramar Naval Air Station famous–Ehud Yonay –had died of brain cancer on August 21 at age 71 in Israel. Yonay, a journalist and a student of the military, had written
‘Top Gun’ journalist dies in Israel Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –The Republican Party needs to be introspective at this time of our country’s history. As I think about the collapse of the Romney campaign for the Presidency, I think Gov. Romney missed several opportunities to win this election. Part of the problem has a lot to
What Romney should have done Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — A reminder to the administration: the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend. The friend of my friend is not necessarily my friend. And the friend of my enemy is not necessarily my enemy, but he may be not by my friend, either. Friends, in fact, are
No friends for U.S. in Syrian civil war Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen