By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM–The exhibition currently on show at the Israel Museum reveals just a tiny fraction of the grandeur and ambition of King Herod, the Idumaean who once ruled Judea with some help from his Roman patrons. He was known mainly for his grandiose building projects throughout the region, most notably the Second Temple in […]
Israel Museum features exhibit on King Herod Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-VansonBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Barack Obama has said that Syrian use of chemical weapons is a “game changer.” According to the lead paragraphs in a New York Times article, the President said “he would respond “prudently” and “deliberately” to evidence that Syria had used chemical weapons, tamping down any expectations that he would take
U.S., Israel backing down on ‘red line’ rhetoric? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By David Ogul SAN DIEGO — I recently spent several days in rural Maryland with a group of men and women from around the country who are doing what they can to save Judaism. The facts are startling. While barely more than 1 of every 10 Jews who got hitched before 1970 was in an
Jews reach out to intermarried families Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish ReligionBy Steve Hofstetter FRESNO, California — One day in April everything changed. Just before noon, my wife Sara and I stopped in Modesto for lunch. I was driving us from San Francisco to Visalia, and couldn’t find a viable healthy restaurant on the way. Traveling with our dog, Bea Arthur, limited our choices to just those
A Jewish comedian’s serious dog story Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Donald H. Harrison LA MESA, California–A character in Linda Goodman’s The Daughters of the Appalachians comforts herself with a bit of her family’s wisdom which teaches that some people are like paper mache: very pretty on the outside, but nothing but dirty old newspaper on the inside. Sara Jane–currently being interpreted by Michelle Burkhart
Appalachian stories delight at reopened Lamplighters Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Having studied and taught about the Holocaust for 37 years, I realize that many stories from of it remain untold because their participants died while it was occurring or remained silent to rebuild their lives and avoid traumatizing their children. When spelunker Chris Nicola journeyed to the Ukraine in
The Wandering Review: ‘No Place on Earth’ Read More »
Lawrence Baron
By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross wrote of the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. She attributed these to people dealing with their own imminent deaths. The popular media seized these stages and attributed them to people grieving the death of a loved one. This is
Defining the states of grief Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — After several days of stuttering about a lack of proof and not wanting to rely on the intelligence of a foreign country, the US Secretary of Defense has admitted that it appears Syria has used a few chemical weapons. Thus the US comes into line with Israeli and European intelligence
World will watch U.S. action on Syria’s chemical use Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–One morning the revered Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zt”l, was about to enter Mesivta Torah Vodaath, when a teenager sprinted forward to open the door for him. The boy was holding his own Tefillin while also holding the door open for him to enter. Rav Yaakov stopped at the
Who goes through the synagogue door first? Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — The Torah says in parashat Emor: “You shall have one standard for the stranger and citizen alike: for I the Lord am your God.” As I hope you know, I think hachnasat orchim, welcoming visitors, is one of the most important mitzvot that members of a congregation can
Tifereth Israel to host Ron Wolfson for weekend Read More »
Jewish Religion
Holocaust denial cases up 77 percent in Canada (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Anti-Semitic incidents in Canada rose by 3.7 percent in 2012, and Holocaust denial rose 77 percent, an annual audit revealed. The report released by the League for Human Rights of B’nai B’rith Canada showed that there were 1,345 anti-Semitic incidents in Canada in
JNS news briefs: April 26, 2013 Read More »
InternationalJERUSALEM (Press Release) — A delegation led by the Governor of the State of Maryland, Martin O’Malley, pledged cooperation with The Hebrew University’s Faculty of Medicine during a visit to The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine on Tuesday, April 23. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Hebrew University president, Prof. Menahem
U of Maryland, Hebrew U join research hands Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–As a teenager growing up in her native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Myrna Cohen was already soloing with the Conservative Synagogue Choir where her mother, Goldie, an opera singer, was a hired professional. Myrna was the soloist at her confirmation and went on to teach music at religious schools and Jewish camps. The
Temple Emanu-El to salute singer Myrna Cohen May 4 Read More »
Eileen Wingard, San Diego County
Michelle Guefen will star in J*Company’s upcoming production of Hello, Dolly! at the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, May 3-12. For tickets and information go to www.sdcjc.org/jcompany. By Michelle Guefen LA JOLLA, California — This May, I will be embodying the role of Dolly Levi in J*Company’s production of Hello, Dolly! It is the
Well, hello, Michelle — er, Dolly! Read More »
Travel and Food