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- A Jewish ceramicist says she considers it fascinating that even a minor physical condition might influence a person’s entire personality and lifestyle. For example, she says, someone with a lisp might decide to build a vocabulary that largely omits words with the letter ‘s.’ Now an associate […]
Anatomical speculation motivates a Jewish ceramicist Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Distant Dreams and Hard Truths: Zionist and Other Writings of Zelman Kagarlitsky by Daniel Harbour, editor, The Lansing Press; ISBN 978-0-9567661-0-6 ©2010, p. 218, including notes and index, cover price unlisted By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Who is Zalman Kagarlitsky? Thanks to Daniel Harbour, the great-grandson of Kagarlitsky, the work of an articulate and
Works of globe-girdling Yiddish journalist translated to English Read More »
Fred Reiss, EdDBy Donald H. Harrison CHULA VISTA, California –If it had been the subject of publicity, it might have been labeled “Percussion Shabbat” because at the beginning of the Friday night service congregants of Temple Beth Sholom helped themselves to drums, cymbals, triangles, tambourines and maracas. As they drummed, tapped, rang, and shook their way through
Beating away idols during a percussion Shabbat Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One might wonder: Why did the Israelites worship a Golden Calf? Why does the Torah forbid the making of graven images in the Ten Commandments? For one thing, our ancestors believed graven images of a person or a god gave them power over deities and mortals
How Judaism and other religions regard idols Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California — I recently was walking through a parking lot of Grossmont College when I saw a car bedecked with a multiplicity of bumper stickers, three of which attracted my attention: They proclaimed “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History,” “Freedom of Religion Means All Religions” and “The Truth Is We Are
Bumper stickers that make you think Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — Members of Tifereth Israel Synagogue presented a joyously anachronistic dramatization of the Book of Esther — “The Thrillah Megillah” — retelling the Purim story on Wednesday evening, March 7, with the songs, dances and costumes of the late Pop/ Rock Singer Michael Jackson. After Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal recited an abbreviated version of
‘Thrillah Megillah’ sung to Michael Jackson melodies Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Cremation or Burial? A Jewish View by Doron Kornbluth, Mosaica Press, 2012, 192 pages including appendices, ISBN 978-1-937887-01-8, No retail price listed. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Doron Kornbluth is a prolific writer, having fairly recently published two books: Raising Kids To Love Being Jewish and Why Be Jewish? ,both of which have
Book sets out the case for burial instead of cremation Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — During the Holocaust years, Purim celebrations were forbidden to the Jews. Christians and Jews could not even own the book of Esther. Such decrees did not stop the Nazis from poking fun at the Jews on this Jewish holiday. With diabolical glee, the Nazis frequently orchestrated
Some uncanny Purim coincidences Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Here are some comments that Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu perhaps should have added in his talk with U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this week: “Mr. President, you live in a big country: wide and long with friendly neighbors and oceans. The distance of your journey from Honolulu to
Some words to Obama that Netanyahu might have added Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — In nearly every costume imaginable, including some Esthers and Mordechais, members and friends of Tifereth Israel Synagogue on March 4 held a Purim carnival, featuring a wide variety of games, prizes, activities and, of course, hamantaschen, looking forward to the joyous holiday that will be officially celebrated
Purim carnival delights Tifereth Israel congregants Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel–I finished reading Howard Jacobson’s book, The Finkler Question, and was still pondering its manifold messages in the evening as I attended a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore. This was given in Jerusalem by an amateur troupe composed mainly of immigrants from English-speaking countries.. Friends had tried to
Greatly to their credit, most Jews hold Israel close Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Travel and FoodKosher Jesus by Shmuley Boteach; Gefen Publishing House; ISBN-10: 9652295787 ©2012, $26, 300 pages. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Shmuley Boteach is a complicated man. At the risk of sounding obvious, Shmuley is not your typical Chabad rabbi. His past associations with singer Michael Jackson and his book on Kosher Sex
What Shmuley Boteach could have written in ‘Kosher Jesus’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
San Diego Judge Mayor: How Murphy’s Law Blindsided Leadership with 2020 Vision by Dick Murphy, Sunbelt Publications, 2011, 191 pages, $22.50 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –As a local historian, I am very pleased that Dick Murphy, the 33rd mayor of San Diego, has written a book about his life and career. I wish
Murphy’s memoir a welcome treasure for future historians Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON D.C. — The aftermath of the American disposal of Korans mutilated by Afghan Muslims requires revisiting our position in Afghanistan. Not because Americans were killed by their Afghan “partners.” Not because dozens of Afghans have died in rioting as well, or because the UN evacuated its northern offices. Not even because
U.S. squanders military aid on non-Allies Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA