AAA-Writers and photographers

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

A bissel this, a bissel that–San Diego Jewish news and chatter

(Column 17, February 9, 2011)   Compiled by Donald H. Harrison ___________________ Spotlight: Sy Brenner __________________     Veteran Sy Brenner, 88, was to have spoken to the Tifereth Israel Men’s Club about his experiences during World War II as a prisoner-of-war held by German captors who were unaware he was a Jew.  But now he […]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

A bissel this, a bissel that–San Diego Jewish news and chatter

  (Column 16, February 7, 2011) Compiled by Donald H. Harrison ____________________ Spotlight: Debra Kamin ____________________ The former editor of San Diego Jewish Journal, Debra Kamin, is preparing to make aliyah to Israel, where she will become a member of the staff of the Jerusalem Post.  She writes: “I’ve always wanted to live in Israel,

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Donald H. Harrison

Up close, the Talmis are family dedicated to music, social causes

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — For three nights, during our visit to Israel last December, my daughter Harriet, son-in-law Danny and I were guests in the Kfar Saba duplex apartment of Er’ella and Yoav Talmi.  Our friendship, dating back to Yoav’s years as Music Director of the San Diego Symphony, prompted the wonderful home hospitality.

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Eileen Wingard

Book on Begin-Sadat correspondence provides timely background to events in Egypt

Peace in the Making: the Menachem Begin-Anwar El-Sadat Personal Correspondence, edited by Harry Hurwitz and Yisrael Medad, Gefen Publishing House, 2011, ISBN 978-9656-229-456-2,  349 pages including appendices and footnotes, price unlisted. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—It is hard not to feel wistful while reading this correspondence, which began with such hope, and then became

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Donald H. Harrison

Surprise! Egyptian troubles now being blamed on Israel

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Several months ago, a blogger penned, “There was a growing perception among Arab leaders that the U.S. was incapable of standing up to Israel; that CENTCOM’s mostly Arab constituency was losing faith in American promises; that Israeli intransigence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was jeopardizing U.S. standing in the region.”

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Shoshana Bryen

‘Jewish Theology in Our Time’ appears to be a smorgasbord

Jewish Theology in Our Time: A New Generation Explores the Foundations and Future of Jewish Belief,  edited by Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, PhD. Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT;  ISBN 978-1-58023-413-9 ©2010, $24.95, p. 224 plus notes and suggestions for further reading. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California —Jewish Theology in Our Time is a collection

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Fred Reiss, EdD

A bissel this, a bissel that~San Diego Jewish news and chatter

(Column 15, February 3, 2011)   Compiled by Donald H. Harrison  *  _________________ Jewish Organizations _________________ Western States Jewish History has put San Diego’s first federal judge, the late Jacob Weinberger, on the cover of  its winter edition.  Judge Weinberger came to San Diego after serving as a member of the convention in Arizona responsible

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

Paradoxical as it sounds, the majority of this Jewish country is secular

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel–Despite claims to the contrary, Israel is a secular country. There is, however, a modicum of truth in the assertion that the stream of Judaism defined as orthodox exerts undue influence, both political and social, over various aspects of life in Israel. Notwithstanding, the majority of Israelis remain doggedly secular,

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion

Book teaches people how to prepare for and cope with death

 Saying Goodbye by Someone You Love by Norine Dresser and Fredda Wasserman, Demos Medical Publishing, 2010, ISBN 978-1-932603-85-9, 210 pages including index, $16.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Folklorist Norine Dresser suffered the loss of her longtime husband, Harold.  Fredda Wasserman is a grief counselor.  They became friends, which eventually led to their

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Donald H. Harrison

Poets share at Lawrence Family JCC … and on our website!

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California–The third year of “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” at the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family JCC opened Tuesday evening, January 18, and featured Judith Rubenstein, Howard Rubenstein and  Ron Horvitz. Each of the featured poets read 15 to 20 minutes from their original works. Judith Rubenstein played selections of

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Eileen Wingard

A bissel this, a bissel that –San Diego Jewish news and chatter

Column 14, January 31, 2011 Compiled by Donald H. Harrison __________________ Jewish organizations _________________ Seventeen eighth graders, or 75 percent of the 8th grade class, at Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, recently presented science fair projects that were deemed qualified for entry into the Greater San Diego County Science Fair.   Among the winners were

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Donald H. Harrison, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

‘By Fire Possessed’ tells of Jewish woman who fought the Inquisition

By Fire Possessed: Dona Gracia Nasi by Sandra K. Toro, Santa Fe, N.M.: Gaon Books, 2010, ISBN 978-1-935604-06-8, 209 pages, price not listed By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Set in 16th Century Europe, this historical novel recounts the battle of the House of Mendes, a Jewish shipping, banking and trading company, for safety from

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Donald H. Harrison