By Michael Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — “I’m so hurried at this time of the year, I don’t have time to breathe,” my Caffeinated Corner buddy spouted on and on. What’s a Caffeinated Corner? Oh, that’s the group I see nearly every morning at the local Starbucks where we sit and over coffee and a
5 ways to remove stress from the holidays Read More »
Michael MantellBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Jews have had a Diaspora at least since the middle of the sixth century before the common era. During the time of the Second Temple, a substantial number, perhaps even a majority, lived outside of the Judean homeland. The Jerusalem-centered Diaspora figures in Christian anti-Semitism, via the episode of Jesus overturning the
Split widens between Israeli and Diaspora Jews Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — Not only is the Hannukah menorah going to light up with brilliance this month, but Twitter has also lit up with some hilarious Hannukah humor. “I plan to start saying a hearty ‘Molotov!’ to all my Jewish friends,” Jeff Chu, a reporter at Fast Company, tweeted the other
A ‘Molotov!’ heard round the world Read More »
Trivia, Humor & SatireLA MESA, California (Press Release) – Chabad of El Cajon has arranged a Chanukah celebration outside the Bath & Body Works at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, according to Rabbi Rafi Andrusier. The event will include live music, dancing, gelt, fresh latkes, coffee, a grand raffle, visits from elected officials, and the lighting of a
Balloon hannukiah to be lit at Grossmont Center Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego CalendarBy Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — In the late 1800’s, a man who lived in a shtetel (small town) near Kiev (Russia) wrote a story about his milkman, Tevya. It was an unlikely story written in an unlikely language. At that time Jewish writers wrote either in Hebrew or the language of the country within
The man who made Tevye famous Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Michael Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — A client recently bought an expensive new car. He hasn’t been the same since. He’s been ranting about how expensive it is, how he shouldn’t have spent so much, and on and on. I asked him about what type of options he put into it and he angrily spewed, “A
Fit yourself with a personal GPS system Read More »
Michael MantellBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California–Hanukkah, the little holiday that could, begins with the lighting of the first candle against the darkness this Tuesday, December 16. Year after year, the assessments begin and the questions accumulate: Is Hanukkah the Jewish Christmas? Which one came first and how are they related? (Of course, the real inquiry
Why Chanukah is important to Christmas Read More »
Jewish HistoryBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Isaac Herzog may have betrayed – or at least tampered with – what was left of the Socialist ideology of Israel’s Labour Party, but judging by recent polls, he and his partner Tzipi Livni have emerged as possible alternatives to Binyamin Netanyahu. He has also vindicated three of his
Herzog- Livni coalition gives hope of peace Read More »
Middle EastBy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM–An initiative of the Israeli embassy in Senegal recently led to the inauguration of a drip-irrigated vegetable farm in the city of Fatick earlier in December. Managed by a group of Senegalese women, the farm plot was established following a request made by the First Lady of Senegal, Marième Faye Sall, to
Israeli embassy inaugurates farm in Senegal Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–We are feeling a wave of resolutions, almost none of them binding on their governments, being taken by European parliaments, in favor of recognizing the State of Palestine. Expressions from Irish leftists supporting their resolution ring like the most barbaric of anti-Semitism. They accuse Israel of slaughtering and raping Palestinians since 1948,
Wave of anti- Israel resolutions counter- productive Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California–You often say to a friend, “You are a sister to me,” or “You’re the brother I never had.” And you are indeed blessed if you have a true friend, one who knows your foibles, your hopes, fear and aspirations and loves you not only because of who you
When death takes a friend Read More »
Travel and FoodSAN DIEGO (Press Release)–Jewish Family Service (JFS) and Whole Foods Del Mar teamed up this November to raise vital funds for the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry. Through the extraordinary efforts of Whole Foods Del Mar staff members and the generosity of its customers, the campaign raised more than $15,000. Whole Foods customers were able
Whole Food customers donate $15,000 to Hand Up Read More »
San Diego CountyBy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — From Aaron Sorkin at his two HBO series hits The West Wing and the just-concluded The Newsroom to poet and literary critic Wayne Koestenbaum, the seldom-used (but now increasingly spoken and printed) word “ensorcelled” has been making the rounds. Danielle Berrin at the Jewish Journal in Los Angeles likes the
‘Ensorcell’ has become a verb of choice Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Lashon Ha-rah, literally “bad tongue” is usually defined as saying or writing things which defame or slander one’s neighbor. However, what if one speaks the truth? If one’s neighbor has done something bad or unkind, is it still lashon ha-rah if you repeat it? Judaism says “yes.” If
Is evil speech okay if it’s true? Read More »
Jewish Religion