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 — Our tradition is a tapestry of stories. Every generation weaves its own unique color and threads as we make a mosaic about our history and family memories. Whenever our family of survivors told us about their experiences in the concentration camps, I used to marvel at their […]
The story behind a winning smile Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California–Of course administrators and faculty members at Grossmont College are smart, but they aren’t always very technically minded. Some of them, you’ll forgive the expression, are “klutzes” when it comes to the computers and audio-visual equipment that are on the “smart carts” in some 150 classrooms on the
‘Piece of Cake’ technician is lauded by Grossmont College Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The weekend report of a German-owned, Ukrainian-chartered ship carrying weapons to Syria should raise questions and alarm bells. Der Spiegel reported that the Atlantic Cruiser, owned by the German company Bockstiegel, had been chartered by the Ukrainian White Whale company to pick up Iranian-origin cargo in Djibouti. White Whale
Is Syria running out of ammo? Read More »
International, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Among the non‑Orthodox rabbis who were placed in the concentration camps, Rabbi Leo Baeck provides one of the most outstanding examples of shepherding of that era. Baeck’s saintly conduct served as an inspiration to all who were with him in the camp. In the years prior
Rabbi Leo Baeck never left the Jewish people’s side Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –“‘Give me liberty or give me death,” said the American Revolutionary War orator Patrick Henry. “And, while you’re at it,” add community members at the high school named after him, “give me a decent performing arts center too!” Since Patrick Henry High School’s construction in 1968, its students have had to
A community is determined to get its PHAME Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Nothing challenges the belief in a benevolent God like the ubiquity of evil in the world. For the Jewish people, the experience of the Holocaust revealed the inadequacy of traditional theology. The God of the Exodus seemed “to be out for lunch.” Asked in more simple and
Remembering a rabbi who would not forget his fellow Jews Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — A lick of historicism would serve the Obama administration well in its much-too-friendly relationship with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and other manifestations of the Arab uprising. There is a political space between going to war with countries that do not share our democratic norms and principles, and embracing them
U.S. should oppose Islamic dictatorships as it did Soviet ones Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California — Whimsy was a theme of Grossmont College’s two-day festival celebrating its 50th anniversary. An old-fashioned sock hop in the college’s gymnasium on Friday, April 13, looked back to the college’s founding in 1962, and students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends gave the “old college try” on
Grossmont festival marks college’s golden anniversary Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — An intimate gathering of Navy officers, Holocaust survivors and an offical from the Los Angeles consulate of the Netherlands commemmorated the Holocaust at Naval Medical Center San Diego on Friday, April 13,with personal remembrances of Dutch and Polish victims. Held in the main auditorium of what also is
Navy commemorates Holocaust with Medical Center ceremony Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Cellist Julian Schwarz, an up and coming artist, was the featured soloist at the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra’s most recent program, performed April 1 at Ner Tamid Synagogue and April 3 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. After two years of study at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, the brilliant
Cellist Schwarz delivers emotional performance with TICO Read More »
Eileen WingardBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —As we open our door to welcome Elijah, some of us probably snicker and say “Yeah, right…” The cynicism of our age makes us doubt whether the Messiah will ever really arrive. People often wonder who the Messiah is going to be. Many faith communities believe it
What do Jews believe about the coming of a Messiah? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Chesed Home, a group home for mentally ill Jewish adults, has been leased in Escondido, and fundraising is now underway to equip, staff and purchase what will become a licensed facility, according to Fern Siegel, president of Hope Village San Diego. Siegel, a former president of Jewish Family
Jewish Group Home for Mentally Ill Planned Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Recently, I attended a matinee performance of Thoroughly Modern Millie up in Ventura County. I enjoyed it, and why not, my teenage grand-niece, Ashlee Ford, had the title role, and I got to see her sing, dance, and even get kissed by a fellah on stage. Afterwards, my brother Bill,
What to do about racial stereotyping in theatre? Read More »
Carol Davis, Cynthia Citron, Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California —Children have an unusual ability when it comes to confronting our spiritual hypocrisy as parents and as adults; very often they get to the essence of the problem as they perceive things. Frequently, as parents, we often fail to hear the questions our young people ask of
Answering the ‘wicked child’ at the seder Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi