By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — One of the most conspicuous signs of a Jewish home is the mezuza on the doorpost. While sometimes people think that the essence of the mitzva is affixing the decorative case on the doorpost, the important part of the mezuza is what’s inside: a small scroll with the
Building a parapet around our roofs and our hearts Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Personally, I have never been one for reality television shows. Life is much too interesting to “observe” from afar. When I was growing up in the sixties and seventies, I remember “The Dating Game.” This show would pit a number of contestants who would compete for
The suicide of a contestant on ‘The Bachelor’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Carol Miller She was tiny, as perfectly proportioned as the doll she appeared to be, and as she walked toward me I could see she was also beautifully outfitted in a two-piece short-sleeved Thai silk dress of reserved color in a conservative Western design, with a gold-and-pearl brooch at the neck, and unobtrusive gold
What’s a Nice Jewish Girl Doing, With Ganesh in Bangkok? Read More »
Travel and Food
By David Amos SAN DIEGO — After having attended hundreds, if not thousands of concerts, and personally participated in as many as a performer, I have become somewhat choosy in the programs to which I am invited. There are many interesting approaches to my opening sentence, but here are a few insights of my own
Some concerts are musical disasters, but win applause Read More »
Travel and Food
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — President Obama denounced the violent repression of Muslim Brotherhood protestors in Egypt by the military government. Fearing that new democratic elections might bring the Muslim Brotherhood back to power, he suggested that new elections be monitored by the North Carolina Electoral Board to guarantee that a wealthy white Christian
Humoring the headlines: August 15,2013 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — While the loss of life in Cairo over the past two days is deeply to be regretted, President Obama’s tepid statement on the “cycle of violence” in Egypt and cancellation of the biannual U.S.-Egypt Bright Star military exercise evidence a lack of strategic awareness. The result is increasing American
U.S. becoming increasingly irrelevant in Egypt Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenJERUSALEM — The present stage of discussions between Israelis and Palestinians, is occurring with loud noises of complaint from both parties, with Americans also squawking, more often in one of the Palestinian choruses than in an Israeli chorus. There are multiple sources of noise from all sides. “Moderate” Palestinians criticize Israel for proceeding with the
In a volatile region, just talking is valuable Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Cantor: Peace requires Palestinian ‘cultural mind-shift’ (JNS.org) U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), the House Majority Leader, said while leading a trip of 28 congressmen to Israel that he doesn’t envision progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict until there is a Palestinian “cultural mind-shift.” “Until that point comes, I don’t think that there will be much
JNS news briefs: August 15, 2013 Read More »
InternationalJohn Kerry, ‘capitalizing’ on Netanyahu ‘anxiety,’ warns Israel may face increased isolation (JNS.org) Secretary of State John Kerry, “capitalizing” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “anxiety” about Israel facing increased isolation, recently warned Netanyahu that the Jewish state might soon face an international delegitimization campaign “on steroids,” columnist Jeffrey Goldberg reported for Bloomberg View. “There
JNS news briefs: August 14, 2013 Read More »
InternationalSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — The 15-year-old San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir is releasing “Heritage,” its first CD, with a preview of two of it songs to be performed Aug. 25 on the Chabad Telethon at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. The group also will perform some selections from the album at a Chanukah
S.D. Jewish Men’s Choir to release CD, host concert Read More »
San Diego CountyBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There was a three-minute item tucked into the middle of Tuesday’s Channel 2 prime time news that would provide ample justification for the Israeli government to suspend negotiations with the Palestinians, if they chose to do so. By scrolling, you can find it in the 17 to the 20 minute
Palestinians continue anti-Israel incitement amid ‘peace’ talks Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — There is a phrase that one hears quite commonly nowadays: “It is what it is.” There is something that has always disturbed me about that phrase. To me, the phrase seems to be stating that things will remain as they are and that there is no possibility
Torah considers the actual and the potential Read More »
Jewish ReligionTEL AVIV (Press Release) — Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common disorder that impairs fertility by impacting menstruation, ovulation, hormones, and more, is closely related to insulin levels. Women with the disorder are typically “insulin resistant” — their bodies produce an overabundance of insulin to deliver glucose from the blood into the muscles. The excess
Timing of meals may be key to pregnancy Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Jeffrey F. Barken and Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org HAIFA—Jay Ruderman has observed for years that when American Jewish leaders visit Israel or when Israeli leaders visit the United States, the conversation is “always about Israel” and how the Jewish state relates to Iran, Syria, the Palestinians, and others. “What’s happening in the American Jewish community?” and
Haifa University to offer American Jewish Studies Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, USA