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 — Question: My mother is 90 years old, in frail health but of sound mind. Last year, one of her three grandchildren and the youngest of my two sons died in an accident at age 29. My son and my mom were close. As an adult, my son […]
Should an elderly woman be told of her grandson’s death? Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — As a child, I used to love reading the golem stories attributed to Rabbi Judah Lowe, a.k.a., the famous “Maharal of Prague” (1525-1609). Since my father came from Czechoslovakia, I grew up hearing many family tales about the golem. These stories were especially delightful since my
May a golem count towards a minyan? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 37th anniversary of the fall of Saigon today is a good time to review the utility of American security promises — including those purchased with American blood — to countries fighting ideologically based insurgencies. There were 540,000 Americans in Vietnam at the peak of the U.S. part of
Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan… is there a pattern here? Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA
SAN DIEGO — To celebrate Israel’s 64th anniversary as an independent state, the Jewish community and its friends held a festival at Ski Beach of Mission Bay, featuring information booths, entertainment, kosher food, and lots of good old fashioned shmoozing. San Diego Jewish World editor Donald H. Harrison, there with his camera, shares some of
Thousands of Israel’s friends party at Mission Bay Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Yoav Talmi, former conductor of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, performed his final concert with the Orchestre Symphonique du Quebec last May, 2011, after a 13-year tenure. He is succeeded by the French conductor, Fabien Gabel. Talmi’s final concert included his own composition, De Profundis, a work in three
Keeping up with Yoav Talmi Read More »
Eileen Wingard
Room 306: The National Story of the Lorraine Motel by Ben Kamin, Michigan State University Press, 2012, ISBN 97801061186-049-8; 186 pages including bibliography, $24.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — As a modern parallel to the ancient Exodus, the march of African-Americans from slavery to freedom has thrilled Rabbi Ben Kamin’s Torah-loving soul. See
Rabbi Kamin tells of Rev. King’s assassination and the aftermath Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Every custom has a remarkable history and story. In dealing with someone who has an unusual seminal discharge, the Torah defines that person as being ritually and ceremonially “impure” and is called a “zab” (cf. Lev. 15:8). Historically, such persons often experienced being shunned by the general
Torah’s lesson, if followed, could have saved many patients Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Horace Mann School of Cherry Hill, NJ, is still living in the dark ages. It is ironic that the original Horace Mann opposed corporal punishment in the classroom. He was an early advocate for teaching moral values in the classroom, and that the character formation was as
If schools won’t take action against bullying, it’s time for lawsuits Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education
The Gilboa Iris by Zahava D. England, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, 2012, ISBN 978-965-229-574-3, 454 pages, Price unlisted. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –A young American girl wearing a dress has an embarrassing moment trying to get down from a tree. Her muscular Israeli boyfriend comes to her aid, and they kiss with enthusiasm
One-dimensional characters detract from Israeli novel Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Haredim and archaeologists in the Holy Land have never been especially fond of each other. Traditionally, they are a little bit like meat and milk. By themselves, each is fine. However, when they get together, they create a combustive chemistry. Whenever an archeological excavation takes place,
Haredim grapple with archaelogy and other sciences Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — A small group gathered Sunday at nearby Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the life and work of British Maj. Gen. Orde Wingate of blessed memory, who is interred there with the Americans with whom he was flying when his plane crashed in Burma in 1945. Israel and the Jewish
Orde Wingate’s doctrines still best for fighting insurgents Read More »
International, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —In this week’s parsha we read about the death of Aaron’s two sons, who died from an accidental explosion in the Tabernacle. Aaron’s reaction is quite telling–despite the absence of scriptural detail from the narrator. As is often the case with biblical narrative, more is said by
Sometimes God’s seeming indifference shocks us to silence Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–A city council candidate learned the ins and outs of government for eight years serving on the staff of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. He also worked for the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and later for the Service Employees International Union. As a result, Mat Kostrinsky, 41, says he has
Kostrinsky says council members should mediate disputes Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Travel and Food
A Lasting Reward: Memoirs of an Israeli Diplomat by Yissakhar Ben-Yaacov, Gefen Publishing House, ISBN 978-965-229-539-2, 309 pages, price unlisted. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– Author Yissakhar Ben-Yaacov, who left Germany as a child and thereby was saved from the Holocaust, returned to Germany and Austria as an Israeli diplomat, and additionally served his
Israeli diplomat sketches foreign service life Read More »
Donald H. Harrison