So do we have free will or don’t we?

Determinism or Free Will by Chapman Cohen; Literary Licensing LLC, Whitefish, MT; ISBN 978-1-2581-2881-4 ©2012 reprint of a book published in 1919, $25.95, p. 127 Free Will by Sam Harris; Free Press, New York ISBN 978-1-4516-8347-0 ©2012, $9.99, p. 81, including notes and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California–Judaism provides no help in settling

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Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Whose example do you follow?

By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK–Except for the saints among us, we all boast. Sometimes we boast about our own natural endowments, our good looks, or our athletic prowess. Often we boast about our achievements, social or professional. There is one type of boasting that seems to be unique to the traditional Jewish community.

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Jewish Religion

‘Man Who Came to Dinner’ is delicious fun

  By Carol Davis  CORONADO, California—If you are in the mood for some good old-fashioned fun, the Coronado Playhouse is mounting the riotous George Kaufman/Moss Hart comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner. It’s one of those classic oldies (1939) but goodies that, for some reason don’t get produced very often. Thanks to director Ruff

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Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Weighing the greater good

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Bilaam possessed powers not only equaling but exceeding Moshe. We learn from Bilaam’s sad story that it is not about the gifts you  possess, but how you use them, or in some cases, how you don’t use them as the following true stories illustrate: Rabbi Avrohom Ginzburg ztl,

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Travel and Food

Edzant on the rise as a musical theatre talent

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Jonathan Edzant, 18, a recent graduate of Canyon Crest Academy,  won a $1,000 award and, perhaps more importantly for his future stage career,  had the opportunity over three rounds of judging to demonstrate his capabilities as a singer to regional theatre decision-makers. Edzant will enter UC Irvine’s theatre arts program

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Donald H. Harrison

Compulsory service for Arabs, haredi continues to simmer

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Lots of politics, brought about by the high intensity squabbles over what to do about the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim), and to some extent the Arabs. Animosity toward the Haredim and a somewhat different concern about Arabs is always present, along with whatever else is happening. Feelings about the Haredim peaked some

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Jordan bars Syrian refugees of Palestinian descent

By Zachary Fisher WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to a report released Wednesday by Human Rights Watch, Jordan recently turned away Syrians of Palestinian heritage seeking refuge in the Hashemite Kingdom, while threatening to deport Syrian Palestinians who arrived within the past year. Meanwhile, Jordan has laudably admitted 140,000 Syrian refugees into its country and given

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Middle East