‘Mapmaker’s Daughter’ reconstructs 15th-century Iberia

Laurel Corona, The Mapmaker’s Daughter, Sourcebooks, (c) 2014, ISBN 978-1-4022-8649-0; 400 pages, $14.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– This novel relates the story of the fictional Amalia Cresque, daughter of a famous Converso mapmaker in 15th Century Spain, who has embraced his new Christian religion, notwithstanding the desire of his wife and daughter to […]

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Donald H. Harrison

ADL intercedes in behalf of mosque

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM) on Friday, Feb. 28, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit supporting a Muslim congregation in Bridgewater, New Jersey whose mosque construction was unlawfully blocked by a town ordinance.  ICOM was formed by the Anti-Defamation League in 2010 to

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USA

America’s Mideast reversal pays Russia dividends

By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — I’ve written several times about America’s shrinking international stature. President Obama is leading the charge in this direction, which is a product of the growing energy independence of North America and the growing inclination of Americans to withdraw from troublesome situations far from home. Obviously, this “pivot,” to

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International, Steve Kramer

‘Quenelle’ salute prompts 5-game suspension for Anelka

LONDON (Press Release) — England’s Football Association (FA) suspended French player Nicolas Anelka for five games and fined him the equivalent of US$ 133,400 for making the ‘quenelle’, which is widely considered as a Nazi salute in reverse, at a match of his West Brom team in December 2013. The ‘quenelle’ was made popular by

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International

Keeping non-profit groups honest

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–A local synagogue recently made the news for the worst reason. The congregation discovered that its former Executive Director had embezzled a sizeable amount of money from their restricted funds. The loss only came to light after a new Executive Director began reviewing their books. Judaism demands the highest level

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Jewish Religion

Women’s prayers more spiritual than men’s?

The Tefillah Revolution by Chaya Sara Lefkowitz; Menucha Publishers (Brooklyn, 2013); 184 pages; ISBN-10: 1614650950;$17.98. By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –In her beautifully attractive book, The Tefillah Revolution, Chaya Sara Lefkowitz begins her subject focusing on one of the most important problems regarding the prayer life of people: Why do we find it

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, November 1, 1957, Part 1

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

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Adventures in SD History

AJC calls Amnesty Int’l report ‘calculated bias’

NEW YORK (Press Release) –AJC (American Jewish Committee) sharply criticized Amnesty International for its new report on Israeli military activities in the West Bank. “Sadly but tellingly, starting with the title, this Amnesty International report has all the hallmarks of those groups that excel in lambasting, with what can only be described as calculated bias,

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Middle East

JAFI rallies to support of Hadassah

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Jewish Agency for Israel Board of Governors on Thursday, recognized Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, for its significant contributions to the State of Israel and its people, particularly its active role in the establishment of Israel’s medical infrastructure. Further, the Board of Governors called upon the Prime Minister, the

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Science, Medicine, & Education

State Dept. report on human rights in Israel, territories

Editor’s Note:  Here are the sections about human rights in  Israel and the Territories that were part of a larger report issued on Thursday, Feb. 27, by the U.S State Department evaluating human rights issues around the world. * Israel Israel is a multiparty parliamentary democracy. Although it has no constitution, the parliament, the unicameral

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Middle East, USA

ZOA: Limiting Israeli tourist visas part of Obama pattern

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has expressed concern at reports in the Israeli press that the Obama Administration is increasingly rejecting requests from Israeli citizens for visas to visit the United States. According to U.S. State Department records consulted by these reports, during 2013, 9.7% of Israelis who requested visas —

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USA