By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I’ve tried to convince my American friends how out of step they are on firearms. Being number one in gun ownership and number one in murder does not seem to impress them. Perhaps it stimulates their pride in being different. Everyone else must be off kilter, insofar as individual freedom
An immodest proposal: A gun ghetto, perhaps Texas Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — “What are you doing for Christmas?” people ask one another, naturally, often affectionately. (Let me quickly remonstrate that I not one of those Jews who is either offended by this kind question or by someone greeting or saying good-bye to me with the expression, “Merry Christmas!” Such an
On arriving in Israel at Christmas Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –What many feared and others hoped for may be about to happen: the Obama administration in its second term will be much tougher on the Netanyahu government than it was in the first four years. The appointment of John Kerry as the next US Secretary of State and the anticipated
Will Kerry put more pressure on Israel to negotiate? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Thirty-four parties are running in Israel’s election, but there are fewer real contenders. Prominent are Likud a bit to the right of center, and Labor a bit to the left of center. There are parties further to the right and the left, each for their true believers, plus two ultra-Orthodox
See the candidates stumble in Israeli elections Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Despite the clouds formed by the sharpening election campaign, a new star can be clearly discerned on Israel’s political firmament. His name is Naftali Bennet, the new leader of the nationalist (modern) Orthodox party, Habayit Hayehudi (the Jewish home) that can trace its origins to the once moderate National Religious Party.
The rising stardom of Naftali Bennet Read More »
Middle East
SAN DIEGO – Notices of various events of Jewish interest in San Diego cross our desk. We have posted them below in chronological order, with the type of event labeled in bold face type. We hope you will find some items of interest: Last updated: July 21 * Saturday, September 21 — POW/MIA –A 1
Continuously updated calendar of local Jewish events Read More »
San Diego CalendarBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — As Hershey Felder entered the café across from the Birch North Park Theatre, I thought the slim man in sneakers was just another college student. But he immediately recognized me, thanks to the description I gave his publicist, and, finding a spot farthest from the loudspeaker’s rock music, we
Doctor who treated Lincoln subject of Felder’s newest musical Read More »
Eileen WingardBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — In this week’s parsha we conclude the trilogy of the Joseph narrative; the biblical narrator was especially skilled in creating a sense of drama and suspense. To summarize, Joseph has created new circumstances to see whether his brothers’ attitude has really changed over the last 22
The rope, the bucket and the gun Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — One of the nice things about living in Japan and Taiwan over the past 20 years is that there is no gun culture, no gun violence, no guns blazing. So whenever I read about the increasing gun violence in America, I cringe. I recently read a news story
Hollywood should cut down on gun violence Read More »
USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Fictional agents Ziva David of NCIS and Eyal Lavin of Covert Affairs are unlikely to be assigned to a case together, if only because their shows are on different networks, respectively CBS and USA. But I would be fascinated by the prospect of a joint interview of actress
The TV spies who burnish Israelis’ images Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Yaakov Lappin Israel’s weeklong air campaign against Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza last month helped establish a successful anti-rocket/missile combat doctrine, which was well-designed for that particular conflict, but which will not be applicable against Hezbollah. Despite the triumphalist cries and unceasing flow of belligerent threats coming out of Gaza, Hamas’ leadership is
Israel would not use Gaza strategy against Lebanon Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Yosef and all his brothers had a lot of conflict, but in the end, they were a family and truly loved one another, in addition to sharing a tremendous reverence for their father. Overcoming family friction and honoring parents makes everyone’s life better and richer as the following
The mother who showed off her ‘son the doctor’ Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — There are many points of disagreement between Fatah and Hamas; so many that they fought an ugly civil war in 2007, leaving Hamas in control of Gaza and Fatah in control of the West Bank. It is a mistake, however, to conclude from their often violent enmity, that Fatah,
Hamas and Fatah have same goal: Israel’s elimination Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Starting with Abraham’s expulsion of Ishmael, the Torah’s patriarchal stories reflect a multi-generational family in distress. Each generation transmits its dysfunction to the next, where it continues to do damage before propagating forward. Abraham expelled his son, Ishmael, in favor of Isaac, only to end up traumatizing him
Mass shootings indicate USA becoming more dysfunctional Read More »
Jewish Religion