By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–The former Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, is credited with rescuing 30,000 people from the Nazi terror by means of issuing them visas to live in neutral Portugal, even though he had no authorization to do so. After the Germans invaded France in 1940, he signed […]
Rescued as a child, he lectures on Sousa Mendes 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 special
Purim and the Nazi Julius Streicher Read More »
Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
BETHESDA, Maryland (Press Release) — Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, on Friday, March 14, praised the Jewish Council for Public Affairs for having “unanimously passed this resolution (see below) for the inclusion of people with disabilities.” “As you know, we have been fighting for equality for some
JCPA plank on disability wins plaudits Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – The Senate passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) to award Israeli President Shimon Peres with a Congressional Gold Medal. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and now awaits passage by the House of Representatives. If the bill is enacted, President Peres would
Senate adopts bill to award medal to Shimon Peres Read More »
Middle East, USA
SAN DIEGO — Abbe Wolfsheimer – Stutz, 75, a former member of the San Diego City Council, died Thursday, March 13, at her home in La Jolla. Her son, Marc Wolfsheimer, who announced her death, described her as “a critical thinker – someone who would analyze, investigate and educate herself on matters before making decisions.
Abbe Wolfsheimer-Stutz, former S.D. City Councilwoman Read More »
San Diego County
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice” — Martin Luther King Jr. NEW YORK (Press Release)–The following is a statement by Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc Jewish Action on President Obama’s order to review the administration’s enforcement of deportations. “We applaud President Obama for ordering a review
Immigration review applauded by Bend the Arc Read More »
USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Israelis in the southern part of the country have taken to shelters and safe rooms under a barrage of more than 60 (and counting) rockets from the Gaza Strip, and as the Israeli General Staff considers a response, it is worth a look at the just-released EU Heads
EU’s report on Gaza gets a few things right Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Are all jokes about Jews inherently anti-Semitic? I suppose to some extent that depends upon who is telling them. When Jews tell derogatory jokes about Jews, it is from the perspective of insiders poking fun at themselves. However, when a non-Jew tells the same joke it is offensive and racist.
Some Purim thoughts on anti- Semitism Read More »
Jewish Religion
ENCINITAS, California (Press Release) – Music, in some form or another, is one of few true culture universals. Granted, the preferred music of one country may not be the darling of another, but given the many shared interests between Israelis and Americans, it shouldn’t be too surprising that our penchant for country, bluegrass and old-time
Leichtag Family Foundation ‘fiddles’ with int’l friendship Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — In a current television commercial lacking any wit, originality, or reverence, an actor playing Abraham Lincoln is seen chomping on a so-called “ballpark frank.” The obvious goal of this advertisement is to sell hot dogs. Lincoln is seen standing around amongst sundry contemporary, gleefully ingesting Americans, all citizen-caricatures,
Hot dog commercial degrades Lincoln’s memory Read More »
USARequesting Jewish state recognition a ‘mistake,’ Kerry says (JNS.org) Secretary of State John Kerry called it a “mistake” to continue to ask for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state in efforts to reach a peace agreement. “I think it’s a mistake for some people to be raising it again and again as the
JNS news briefs: March 14, 2014 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Let’s admit the unpleasant reality. Israel is a pariah in the Middle East and a nuisance for the West. The status of pariah is most apparent in the response of ranking Jordanians, as well as the mobs on its streets, to the killing of a young (30-something) Jordanian lower court judge during
Israel carries burden of being unpopular Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Attention Family Historians: If you would like a JPG photo copy from the Southwestern Jewish Press of any “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” article that has been reprinted on the San Diego Jewish World website, simply copy the website address of the article, and send it along with the article’s headline, with a $5
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, December 27, 1957, Part 1 Read More »
Travel and Food