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
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. Harrison
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) has offered an amendment to the FY 2013 funding bill for the State Department that would require the Department to provide two numbers to Congress: 1) the number of Palestinians physically displaced from their homes in what became Israel in 1948, and 2) the
Sen. Kirk seeks true census of Palestinian refugees Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy 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. Harrison
By 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
By Eileen Wingard SANTA BARBARA, California–During a bright, sunny afternoon on May 6, the Santa Barbara Music and Arts Conservatory’s 28th Annual Young Soloists Showcase took place in the charming Granada Theatre on State Street. The guest conductor, leading a 33-piece professional orchestra to accompany the young performers, was my niece, Avlana Eisenberg. The nine
Guest conductor Eisenberg imparts confidence to youth soloists Read More »
Eileen WingardBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — When one takes a gaze at the Jewish horizon, one gets the distinct impression that many synagogues find themselves confronted by a spiritual problem they can scarcely understand—much less articulate: Irrelevance. Judaism may someday die—not by genocides—but by apathy. Yes, as rabbis we love to sermonize
Recovering Jewish spirituality Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
This Is America by Henye Meyer, Israel Bookshp Publications, 2012, ISBN 978-1-60091-196-5; 352 pages; price unlisted. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –In 76 episodes that previously had been serialized in the Orthodox daily newspaper Hamodia, this novel relates the experiences of members of a Ukrainian Jewish family who establish new lives as immigrants on
Staying frum as an American immigrant Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –A question came up recently in my congregation regarding the use of music at a Jewish funeral. The Reform Movement has long permitted the use of music at a Jewish funeral—provided the music does not derive from the Christian liturgy, e.g., Amazing Grace. Most Conservative and all
Is music at a funeral kosher? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — NATO’s snub of Israel — a “major non-NATO ally” and member of NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue — in its Chicago summit this weekend was simply waved away. “Israel is neither a participant in ISAF nor in KFOR (Afghanistan and Kosovo missions),” said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Israel didn’t
U.S. goes along with NATO’s snub of Israel Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– Most of the focus at schools at this time of the year is on the annual rite known as the graduation ceremony, because, wherever it is held, it typically involves a major portion of the student body in symbolic culmination of an important chapter in their lives. The
Those rituals that fill our lives Read More »
Donald H. Harrison-Staff Report- Kurt Sax, 89, a former president of Temple Beth Sholom in Chula Vista who had been in ill health since his first stroke six years ago, died Friday, May 11 at La Jolla Nursing and Rehabilitation, after celebrating Shabbat for the last time. His daughter Sandi had helped him on with his
Kurt Sax, 89, makes a final visit to Temple Beth Sholom Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego CountyBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — President Obama’s revelation surprised me. I wondered: Why did it take him so long to state his opinion? Wasn’t it obvious? True, the President indicated that he had reservations on whether he should personally endorse same sex marriage, or not. Although I think the President would
Halacha may be adjusted to societal reality Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi