By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — On a shelf in the Music Library of the Levinsky Teachers College in Tel Aviv, sits my master’s thesis, “Music Education in Israel,” dated January, 1954. Curious to see my work in an Israeli library, my daughter, Tamara, and I went to Tel Aviv to visit the Levinsky College
An American manuscript enters Israel’s archives Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Sharing is a difficult concept for young children to understand and embrace. “Mine!” When my older grandson was around 18 months old, I brought him to our Shekhter Playground while preschool was in session. He made a beeline for one of the toy trucks. When another toddler eagerly
The spiritual battle between Jacob and Esau Read More »
Jewish ReligionHamas terror tunnel detonated by IDF (JNS.org) The Israel Defense Forces detonated part of a Hamas terror tunnel near the Gaza border in the Khan Yunis area overnight Thursday. During the operation, a Hamas explosion injured five Israeli soldiers, and one Hamas terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire. An ensuing Israeli airstrike in
JNS news briefs: November 1, 2013 Read More »
International
By Anav Silverman A group of popular Instagram photographers hailing from Turkey, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Russia and the United States recently visited Israel on a nine-day trip, capturing breathtaking images of the country that they shared with millions of viewers via their Instagram accounts. “This is our first visit to Israel,” said Ciler Gecici,
Instagrammers tour and picture Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO―Canadian director Naomi Jaye recalls her grandmother telling her how much she feared being buried alive and demanded that her son, Naomi’s father, promise to prick her in the hand with a pin to make sure she was dead before interring her body. The film The Pin is built around this
The Wandering Review: ‘The Pin’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO– Yitzchak, son of Rav Shlomo, Rabbi of Vienna, was once walking in a forest park on the outskirts of Vienna. He was immersed in thought, mentally reviewing his Talmud studies. He enjoyed these walks so that he could concentrate and clarify the finer points of his lessons. On this
Was this shidduch made in heaven? Read More »
Jewish ReligionSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — The second annual San Diego Arab Film Festival will be held at the Museum of Photographic Arts, in Balboa Park. The festival will start on November 15 and run through November 17th. San Diego is one of five California cities that are expanding the 17-year history of the Arab Film
Israeli-Palestinian conflict dominates Arab Film Festival Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Jewish history provides reasons to expect that the Jews of America and Israel have grown apart, and that different experiences will compete with what they share by way of faith and culture. Most American Jews are five or more generations from European roots. Those of Israel are only two generations
Polls reveal differences among Israeli and American Jews Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO– Melinda Wilkes, director of volunteer engagement at Jewish Family Service, will address Beth Israel’s Men’s Club at A 6:30 p.m. deli dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Her topic will be the “Embrace a Family” program. She plans to discuss the needs of 500 low income families at this time of year, how the
How can we help during this Holiday season? Read More »
San Diego CountyReports link Israel Air Force with strike on Syrian military base (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Media outlets in Syria and Lebanon have linked Israel with a loud explosion heard on Wednesday night at a Syrian military base near the Mediterranean coastal city of Latakia. A Syrian news agency reported that naval vessels bombarded the base
JNS news briefs: October 31, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California –A 2009 Coen brothers movie, A Serious Man, would have no premise whatsoever without its extended opening, supernatural sequence featuring a “dybbuk” (an evil spirit in the form of a recently deceased person) visiting an unfortunate and hapless couple. Bad luck and spooky things then plague the family for
Who says Halloween isn’t Jewish? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D LA JOLLA, California — The world is in a tohu-bohu, in dangerous confusion, and the US Congress and the US president are politicking and shutting the government. Our enemies are regaining confidence and power over the greatest country on earth, now in their eyes “a paper tiger,” that inspires no fear
Obama’s political health is in need of care Read More »
USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel ENCINITAS, California — Naomi Ragen is an unusual Ba’alat Teshuva (returnee to Orthodox Judaism). One might think that Orthodox Jewish women are quiescent and tend to their homes. Ragen is different. She is multifaceted leader and bestselling author. In Israel, Ragen has been one of the most important Orthodox feminists in
Naomi Ragen: An unusual Ba’alat Teshuva. Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO―Embarrassed over leaks that the NSA monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone, President Obama called her on a secure line to apologize. The next day he received a briefing from the NSA citing his conversation with Merkel verbatim and reminding him, “Espionage means you never have to say you’re sorry.”
Humoring the headlines: October 30, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire