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 Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A cold and rainy Saturday morning with no visiting grandchildren or social obligations presented a golden opportunity to attend a concert of chamber music given in the nearby neighbourhood of Ein Kerem. This is an outlying part of Jerusalem, consisting mainly of picturesque old houses, many of […]
Chamber music and soup! Mmm-mm good! Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Martin Buber told the following story: Once the Baal Shem Tov stopped on the threshold of a House of Prayer and refused to go in. “I cannot go in,” he said. “It is crowded with teachings and prayers from wall to wall and from floor to
Prayer simply doesn’t work in the third person Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — The Jewish Community Foundation seeks three young leaders who can inspire other high school students in San Diego County to regularly engage in philanthropy and volunteerism. To find them, JCF is sponsoring a competition, with a deadline of Sept. 30 for entries, to pick suitable candidates for the
JCF searches for three more remarkable teens Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Note: I recently retired from San Diego State University after teaching there for 24 years and another 13 years at St. Lawrence University. (It is neither true that I taught at a Catholic university at my previous position nor that the school canonized me. It was in upstate New
The Wandering Review: Reflections on Jewish Film Read More »
Lawrence Baron
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — The Line by Israel Horovitz is the longest-running play off-off Broadway, having made its debut in 1974. It has been seen in 25 countries and translated into 35 languages. One of those languages is Spanish and Teatro Punto y Coma recently presented it during the San Diego Repertory Theater’s 19th
‘The Line,’ aka ‘El Primero,’ played with gusto but script is boring Read More »
Jewish History, Mimi Pollack
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — The current issue of Western States Jewish History is devoted to the Jews of neighboring Orange County. One very familiar San Diego name is included, that of Dr. Abraham Nasatir, (1904-1991), who grew up in Santa Ana and learned Torah from his father, Morris, long before settling here
A San Diego voice from Orange County’s past Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison DEL MAR, California — As a group of us walked into the press party Friday evening, June 1, at the San Diego County Fair, we were confronted by the old and the new. The old, in the sense of what expects to see at county fairs, was represented by a
The fair, politics, a Thai-Mandarin restaurant and the U-T Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Following are the endorsements of San Diego Jewish World in contested races on the June 5 ballot. We chose not to endorse in some contests, anticipating in some cases the opportunity to do so in the November general election. FEDERAL U.S. Senate — Dianne Feinstein U.S. Congress, 49th
San Diego Jewish World endorsements Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonThe Biblical Outlook: Topics in Jewish Philosophy by Rabbi Shlomo Polachek; Penina Press, Jerusalem, 2012; ISBN-10: 1936068273; 463 pages. $29.95. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The concept the author wishes to present is an important one. He wishes to show the various strands of biblical passages that can be used by a
Book on biblical philosophy needs better sources Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Sacred Trash: The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole; ISBN 978-0-8052-4258-4 ©2012, $26.95, p. 384, including notes Reviewed by Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — The word geniza, from the Hebrew root gimmel, nun, zion, means a hidden treasure, an appropriate name for a millennium’s worth of
‘Sacred Trash’ tells story of Cairo Geniza Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
Whatever is Contained Must Be Released: My Jewish Orthodox Girlhood My Life as a Feminist Artist by Helène Aylon, Feminist Press, New York, 2012, ISBN 978-1-55861768-1, 287 pages, $29.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–The author of Whatever Is Contained Must Be Released is a conceptual artist for whom Torah–and the rejection of some of
Artist/ Poet Aylon combats male-centered Judaism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Of the 70 family members and friends who gathered Saturday night, May 26, at the Crown Plaza Hanalei Hotel to celebrate the 90th birthday of World War II POW Sy Brenner, three sisters from France had only met the guest of honor the night before, but nevertheless were the
A poignant World War II ‘reunion’ on Memorial Day weekend Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Watching the mayoral debate on KUSI Thursday night, it occurred to me that we really can have the best of both worlds. We can elect an idealistic mayor, who time and time again has put himself on the line for the causes he believes in: Bob Filner. And
Bob for Mayor, Bonnie for District Attorney Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — For over the last 2,300 years, the subject of circumcision has always been controversial. When one considers the latest attempts to ban circumcision, one can see the subject will continue to awaken strong emotions in people—Jews and non-Jews alike. Freudian analysis would probably suggest that the
Circumcision has psychological, medical, and spiritual aspects Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education