By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A performance of Bach’s monumental St. Matthew Passion is always an event to be treasured. Its musical complexity and religious significance as well as the fact that it calls for a double choir, an organ and an enormous orchestra means that it is rarely performed in Israel. So […]
Bach’s ‘St Matthew Passion’ is rewarding music Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — After its improbable opening day last season in Australia, baseball will debut year this in the appropriately Midwestern locale of Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Cubs fans will be sanguine for a week or two. Like the clinging vines of that old ballyard, America will be green with hope. The All
Returning home: a tribute to baseball Read More »
Sports & Competitions, USABy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO –– Esther’s Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews edited by Houman Sarshar, published by the Center for Iranian Oral Jewish History, 2005, is a large book which opens with a three page foldout of the timeline of significant events in Iranian-Jewish History. It is a history which begins in 539 BCE
From the Jewish Library: ‘Esther’s Children’ Read More »
Jewish HistoryBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I am not a great fan of looking far ahead of where we are. There are too many possibilities capable of foiling the most carefully plotted scenarios. A small country is especially vulnerable to who knows how many outside occurences, including the unexpected. That is doubly so in the chaotic
With no party dominant, expect a messy coalition Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–In a country where women are conscripted into the army one would expect gender equality in all spheres of public life, but it’s not like that in Israel. In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8, the subject has been discussed in the media. The forthcoming election has provided something
Israel, women, and the vote Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Congressman Lee Zeldin, this week sent a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen asking for information regarding the tax-exempt status of The PeaceWorks Network Foundation, most commonly known by the name “OneVoice,” after several media reports indicating OneVoice, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, has been using
Cruz, Zeldin seek IRS probe into ‘One Voice’ Read More »
Middle East, USA
SAN DIEGO–For some, the phrase in God’s hands might recall an old movie title, or a song, or perhaps a line of street wear. But when license plate maven Melanie Rubin sent this into San Diego Jewish World, it brought to mind a poignant moment from the play Fiddler on the Roof. “Papa, God alone knows when we
Jewish interest license plate N GD (Hand)Z Read More »
Melanie Rubin, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California– There are people everywhere, at the supermarket, in the streets, in restaurants and movie houses, people standing in line and rushing about. One bumps into people non-stop—And yet, one may feel alone—yes, alone—lonely, isolated! After my husband died I interviewed widows and widowers in order to understand and
Feeling lonely in a crowd Read More »
Travel and Food
(Editor’s Note: At Monte Vista High School in suburban Spring Valley, a gun was found along with narcotics in the locker of a 14-year-old student, who was arrested on Friday, March 6, according to Sheriff’s Deputies. Meanwhile in San Diego, four schools were placed on lockdown after an anonymous email threatened violence. In the following story,
Student tells of school lockdown experience Read More »
San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USANEW YORK (Press Release) — As America marks the 50th anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” march from Selma to Montgomery, a day that would change the course of civil rights history, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on elected officials to celebrate the progress we have made in guaranteeing voting rights and act today to protect the
ADL calls for new voting rights legislation Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel One of the interesting facets of the Purim story is the tradition of giving a Purim Torah talk during the holiday. “Purim Torah” is a humorous and often satirical way of using biblical and Talmudic narratives in a manner that is creative and imaginative—but always funny, if not carnivalesque. Purim
Obama, Netanyahu and the Purim story Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USABy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO─ Based on its investigation of the Ferguson Police Department, the Department of Justice concluded that Ferguson’s police exhibited a pattern of racism against African Americans in arrests, fining, car and pedestrian stops, ticketing, and the use of force and dogs. In an addendum the DOJ revealed that the highest ranking
Humoring the headlines; March 6, 2015 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire