SAN DIEGO — On July 24th, 2013, my good friend Vivian Blackstone celebrated her 85th birthday. A woman in excellent health, she is someone who has lived an unconventional life with an artistic, bohemian and spiritual bent. That artistic side still continues as she is working on a film about Edmond Szekely [aka the professor],
Octogenarian artist plans Szekely documentary Read More »
Travel and Food
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Israel announced two contradictory policies on the eve of the second round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. It will release a group of Palestinian prisoners as a good will gesture, and build more settlements on the West Bank as a bad will gesture. As a compromise, the PLA demanded
Humoring the Headlines: August 12, 2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, USA
Western Wall superimposed with Palestinian Authority flag on Abbas Facebook page (JNS.org) In the midst of renewed Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations, the Facebook page of the Presidential Guard of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas recently featured a photo illustration with the PA flag superimposed on the Western Wall, Palestinian Media Watch reported. The
JNS news briefs: August 12, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM _- Is it possible to find an honest broker in the Middle East? In one recent newscast it was reported that the Palestinian negotiator criticized Israel for not living up to the spirit of negotiations, and complicating any possibility of agreement, by continuing to build over the 1967 line. That sounds
U.S. too pro-Palestinian to be honest broker Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — The Jewish Federation of San Diego County has appointed Jane Fantel as Manager of Israel Operations. This new position is designed to connect Federation’s Vision & Mission work with current and potential new partnering agencies in Israel. Living part-time in Israel, Jane will be a liaison establishing on-the-ground communication and
Jane Fantel named as Federation’s manager of Israel Operations Read More »
Travel and Food
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — When I read about the sun’s magnetic field reversing its polarity within the next several months, part of me felt a little nervous. How will the sun’s changes affect the earth? Does this mean that our earthly days are numbered? Actually, astronomers and meteorologists have indicated
Some amazing facts about the earth and sun Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & EducationENCINITAS, California (Press Release) – Guardians of San Diego’s 22nd Annual Golf & Tennis Tournament presented by the William Gumpert Foundation raised more than $167,000 this year. Proceeds from “Take a Swing for Seniors” held July 29 will benefit the Resident Assistance Fund at Seacrest Village Retirement Communities. Guardians of San Diego hosted over
Swinging Guardians raise $167,000 for Seacrest Villages Read More »
San Diego County
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California– Jonathan Biss, who had his debut recital during the 2000-2001 season at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, is the son of the celebrated Israeli violinist, Miriam Fried. His paternal grandmother was the famous cellist, Raya Garbousova, and his father, Paul Biss, is a well-known violist. It is
Biss’s all-Beethoven program pleased La Jolla audience Read More »
Travel and Food
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Time was when going away on vacation meant that one was cut off from one’s nearest and dearest for the duration, whether it was a week or two, or even longer. Gone are the postcards we used to send to relatives, friends and neighbours, to remind them of
The trouble with keeping in touch on vacation Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Travel and Food
By Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES — A distinguished looking man rises from the audience of well-wishers and friends to claim a prestigious award. It recognizes him for his exceptional contributions to surgery and to his country. The country is Israel and the man’s name is Amin Jaafari. In his deft acceptance speech he proudly mentions
‘The Attack’ is a thoughtful depiction of Arab-Israeli conflict Read More »
Travel and Food
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Two years since the heinous, unforgivable incident, the Miami Beach, Fla. police have still failed, ignominiously, to clear the air about the inexplicable street killing of motorist Raymond Herisse. Herisse, 22, was killed on a South Beach street in his vehicle in a barrage of firepower that entailed
Black men and police firing squads Read More »
USA
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — A few years ago, I was disappointed with what Broadway had to offer. Everything could have easily been titled: “Rehashed Nostalgia: The Musical!” Then I heard about In the Heights, a musical about life in Washington Heights in New York. The score is an eclectic mix of hip-hop,
In the Heights: A celebration of hope and community Read More »
Eric George TauberBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Recently, I spoke at length on the phone with Logan Jenkins, columnist for the Union-Tribune, about the travails of our Jewish Mayor Bob Filner. Jenkins was worried by whispers he has heard in the Jewish community: could the coverage of his newspaper and that of the media generally
Alfred, Leo and Bob Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Living in a Jewish country has its attractions. One of them is that you can enjoy being a Jew without being religious. Living in a Jewish country also has its problems. One of them is that you cannot avoid Judaism. Even outspoken Jewish atheists are surrounded by stimuli associated with
Israeli rabbinate grapples with homosexual sexploitation Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion