My Bargain with God: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Lou Dunst, by Ben Kamin. Sunbelt Publishing, Inc., El Cajon, California, 2014. By David Strom SAN DIEGO — San Diegan Lou Dunst has had at least three lives. Family love gave Lou the foundation and core of who he is today. Growing up as the youngest
Biography of Lou Dunst tells of his three lives Read More »
Jewish HistoryNEW YORK (Press Release)– Despite many universities and colleges being closed for the holiday/winter break, 55 have already issued statements rejecting the American Studies Association’s call for a boycott of Israeli universities. More are expected in the coming days as they learn of the ASA action. Robert G. Sugarman, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice
More rejections for ASA’s academic boycott of Israel Read More »
USA
By Laurie Baron NORTH POLE― Unbeknownst to the public, this Christmas was Santa’s last. The rotund elderly man realizes he can no longer compete with modern technology and world capitalism. He is eager to slow down and collect Social Security and Medicare. The reindeer and sleigh are quaint, but way too slow and small compared
Humoring the Headlines: December 27, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Rabbi Dow Mamur JERUSALEM–One of my favorite legends is about the biblical Abraham who on his way to Mount Moriah – believing that God had commanded him to sacrifice his son Isaac there – meets Satan who, of course, always asks very clever questions. This time he says to Abraham: If you carry out
Is the Pew Report worth worrying about? Read More »
USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2,000-year-old Jobar Synagogue in Damascus is said to be the site where the prophet Elijah concealed himself from persecution and anointed his successor, Elisha. It was a UNESCO World Heritage Site until last March when someone appeared to have blown it up. The Syrian government and the rebels
Jobar Synagogue treasures belong to the Jewish community Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
Natan Sharansky a possible candidate for Israeli president (JNS.org) Natan Sharansky, chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, is a possible candidate to run for Israeli president in June 2014, Israel Hayom reported. Habayit Hayehudi party Chairman Naftali Bennett has reportedly thrown his support behind Sharansky’s candidacy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor
JNS news briefs: December 27, 2013 Read More »
International
By Steve Kramer SHUNI FORTRESS, Israel — Ephraim, originally from Wisconsin, and his sabra wife, Rimona, bought a lovely home on a building lot in Aviel last year. Aviel is a small, pastoral moshav (agricultural cooperative) near the towns of Zichron Yaacov and Binyamina. Our good friends and former neighbors love being in the country,
Archaeology, art, history await at Shuni Fortress Read More »
Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — After some reluctance, I decided it was important for me to weigh in on the Duck Dynasty controversy involving Phil Robertson and his off-the-cuff remarks regarding gays and African Americans. Robertson’s equation of homosexuality to bestiality is incorrect. The biblical passages dealing with homosexuality pertain to
A Voltairian view of the Duck Dynasty controversy Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Until a few months ago, my daughter Sandi Masori was known principally as an e-book author, video teacher and practitioner in the balloon entertainment and decór community. As a result of her concern about the possible impact of a helium shortage, she increasingly has become a television spokesperson
Sandi Masori, balloon artist, makes her magic on ‘Today’ show Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –Zalman left the small village of his youth, to seek his fortune in the big city. It was a very rough and lonely trek. The city can be a harsh place for a newcomer. The pace is much quicker and there is always someone out there looking to swindle
Shabbat: More than a day of rest Read More »
Jewish ReligionTurkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened by corruption scandal (JNS.org) Turkey’s Islamist Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing an increasing pressure on his rule amid a corruption scandal that has already forced three of his top ministers to resign. The corruption probe, revealed by prosecutors on Dec. 17, targeted the resigned minister’s sons with
JNS news briefs: December 26, 2013 Read More »
International
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM–Israel’s Knesset held a special session on Wednesday, Dec. 25, marking Jonathan Pollard’s 29th year of incarceration in an American prison after being convicted of espionage for Israel in 1987. The session was attended by a huge majority of house members from across the political spectrum, including Arab MK’s. Forty Knesset members
106 MK’s to Obama: Release Pollard Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Meyer Lansky and Jonathan Pollard are both significant for what they say about US-Israel relations. Lansky was a gangster, a good American, and a good Zionist. He worked his underworld connections in behalf of US efforts in World War II, the movement of refugees from Europe to Israel, and arms shipments
Pollard case perplexes Israelis and Americans Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO–What a wonderful world we live in — if only we would take the time to appreciate it! * San Diego Jewish World thanks Amnon Markusfeld for forwarding the above video to us.
A paean to biodiversity Read More »
The World We Share