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 SAN DIEGO – Up in San Francisco, a measure headed for the Nov. 8 ballot asks city voters to ban male circumcision inside the city limits. Some see it as a thinly veiled attack on Jews and our religious beliefs. Others accept take proponents at their word that they are just […]
Answering San Francisco’s circumcision haters Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Having read about Palestinian demonstrators’ plans for massing along Syria’s border with Israel, I had a fantasy about what Israel could have done…. Instead of shooting tear gas, rubber bullets and in some cases live ammunition, soldiers in my fantasy would have pulled back the gates and as the Palestinian crowd rushed
A fantasy on the Golan Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Norman Greene SAN DIEGO — Ohr Shalom Synagogue, winner of a Save Our Heritage Organization award, held a Dedication event Sunday, June 5, to acknowledge its “Restoration of a Sacred Place Award” and to thank all those responsible for the $4.6 million restoration project. Welcomed by Ohr Shalom’s president Al Shelden, congregants and
Ohr Shalom dedicates its restored, historic synagogue Read More »
Adventures in SD History, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Call it Jewish pride, but if I had my druthers, I’d like to see the San Diego mayor’s race come down to a race between two members of our community: District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, a Republican, and Congressman Bob Filner, a Democrat. Now, it’s not that I have
How about Dumanis vs. Filner in San Diego mayoral finale? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — We watch the news on TV where we are informed that murder and mayhem, death and destruction are raging all around us. Regimes are changing in the wake of mass demonstrations, some more violent than others, in several countries nearby. But we look out of the window and
If Middle East is in turmoil, why does life seem so pleasant? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
Nachas Ruach: Torah-Based Psychotherapy and Tools for Growth and Healing by Dr. Naftali Fish, Targum Press, Brooklyn, NY; ISBN 978-1-56871-50099-9 ©2011, $29.95, p. 304 plus bibliography By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., founder and medical director emeritus of Gateway Rehab, in Pittsburg, PA, relates in an opening letter to the book Nachas
Psychotherapy for the haredim Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO –Coptic Christians in Egypt are increasingly concerned for their safety and well-being; the “spring” has quickly turned cold and threatening for this historically maligned minority in the land of the Nile. The despotic ruler of Yemen refuses to loosen his bloody grip; Gadhafi still runs and mutilates the Libyans;
President Obama underappreciates Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East
SAN DIEGO — License plate spotter Melanie Rubin found one from California that reminds us that God has given us commandments to follow.
Jewish license plate: Mitsvos Read More »
Melanie Rubin
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—As the California commander of the Jewish War Veterans, Allen Miliefsky kept a busy patriotic and inter-religious schedule on Memorial Day. At Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, he and JWV Post 185 commander Rick Nathanson laid a wreath at the Casket of the Unknown, and later dedicated a small monument
JWV leader navigates patriotic and religious cross-currents Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego CountyBy Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California –The enthusiastic audience, which filled the JCC’s Dorothea and David Garfield Theatre recently, was thrilled by the artistry of three young Israelis, violinist Asi Matathias, a Pinchas Zukerman disciple, pianist Victor Stanislavsky, competitor in the recent Van Cliburn Competition, and mandolinist Avi Avital, a grammy-award nominee. Matathias and
Three Israeli musicians provide a memorable AICF concert Read More »
Eileen Wingard
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The J Company’s presentation of Children of Eden, a delightful musical by Stephen Schwartz, served as a fitting vehicle for the Company’s talented students–over 100 in two casts. The J Company Director, Joey Landwehr, participated in the performance of the biblical saga as the off-stage voice of the
Musical midrash included in J*Company’s retelling of Genesis tales Read More »
Eileen Wingard
Editor’s Note: This story focusing on El Salvador is the fourth in the World-At-Home series, in which we attempt to “travel” around the world without ever leaving San Diego County . By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Tim Boelke and Eugene Kaneko, respectively the founding and current presidents of the local chapter of Engineers
Editor’s Note: This story focusing on Guatemala is the third in the World-at-Home series, in which we are attempting to “travel” around the world without ever leaving San Diego County. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Jessica O’Dwyer flew down to Guatemala to adopt a daughter. She also found a country to love. The difficulties
American tells of love for daughter and Guatemala Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in our World-At-Home series, in which we endeavor to show that one can travel to every country of the world without ever leaving San Diego County – provided that one is willing to attend lectures, visit museums, go to ethnic festivals and take advantage of other diverse and manifold
SDSU archaeologists restored Maya royal residence in Belize Read More »
Donald H. Harrison