By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Here are the questions on Syria: what is the American obligation? What is the American interest? What is the American capability? There is no obligation. Where there is a treaty, the United States has an obligation to spend American blood and treasure. The seriousness of the commitment is why […]
No up-side for U.S. to become involved in Syria Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Carol Davis CORONADO, California–When John Patrick Shanley’s wrote Doubt: A Parable for the stage in 2004 I doubt many knew that Moonstruck, the movie was his work as well. Or if they made the connection that he had written Joe Verses the Volcano (also a movie) in 1990, or that he would later go
‘Joe versus the Volcano’ fizzles on stage Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Cynthia Citron SANTA MONICA, California — There were a lot of f-words in the Oscar-winning movie Sideways. And I’m not talking alliteration here. But the words were somehow mitigated by the dazzling scenery of the California wine country and the luminous performances of Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. In Sideways The Play, however,
‘Sideways The Play’ overburdened with the f-word. Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Isaac Yetiv , Ph. D. LA JOLLA, California — I recently reported critically on the US Chief Executive interfering with a co-equal branch of the government, the Judiciary. A few days later, President Obama actually encroached on the third co-equal branch, the Legislative. He announced that ” effective immediately, ” a whole group of
Obama’s immigration fiat an act of chutzpah Read More »
USA
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –Muhammad al-Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, has become president of Egypt. But what does it mean to be president of Egypt? That’s the current question. Let me divide the discussion into two parts: What does this tell about “us” and what does this tell about Egypt and its future? First,
Al Mursi’s anti-Westernism ignored by lockstep left-wingers in U.S. Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansksy JERUSALEM — The blaze that spread through the forest on Mt Carmel in December, 2010 was distinctive among the fires that occur frequently in the dry brush and forests of Israel after the long hot summer. It spread into several villages and destroyed homes, and caused 44 deaths. Most were prison guard
Finger-pointing after the Carmel Fire’s 44 deaths Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel There are a number of books that have been recently written concerning the weekly Torah portion. Some are better than others. I am recommending the books according to a four-star rating. The Lion Cub of Prague: Thought Kabbala, Hashkafa from Gur Aryeh—The Maharal of Prague by Dr. Moshe David Kuhr; Gefen
Rating four new books on Torah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiSAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Jewish Family Service has earned the coveted STAR Recognition Award from the Beverly Foundation, a non-profit organization that researches, develops technical materials, and assists with facilitation of mobility and transportation for older adults. Jewish Family Service was selected as one of eight organizations nationwide to receive the 2012 STAR Special Recognition
JFS wins STAR billing Read More »
San Diego CountyBy Carol Davis SAN DIEGO—Wicked is back in town for another run and it is still rocking the house down because it’s just Pop-u-lar! The Tony Award Winning Broadway musical Wicked is back by popular demand at the Civic Theatre in downtown San Diego. Brought to us by Broadway/San Diego, it is expected to fill
‘Wicked’ is deliciously so Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Joel A Moskowitz, M.D. SAN DIEGO — Lou Dunst is a Holocaust survivor. He is much sought after for his lucid ability to describe, despite the horrors of his experience, his continuing faith in G-d. Does he have the answer? There have been studies to attempt to correlate prayer and healing. “Anecdotal evidence”
A Holocaust survivor again demonstrates his faith Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
SAN DIEGO — We think Melanie Rubin put a hand over one eye when she read this license plate. She spotted it near one of our local Jewish institutions and interpreted FRMIDOC to mean “frum eye doctor,” that is a religiously observant opthamalogist. She may be right. Or perhaps, the message is a bit simpler. The car might be a
A Jewish plate? FRMIDOC Read More »
Melanie Rubin
By Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — Jews are sometimes referred to as “people of the book,” and from Jewish word mavens like William Safire and Leo Rosten to Jewish language sleuths like Ben Zimmer and Arnold Zwicky, it does seem that some “people of the book” enjoy not only playing with words, but also
Who’s afraid of some silly ‘scare’ quotes? Read More »
Travel and Food
By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort CARLSBAD, California — In the late 1970’s I sat in my classroom in the local Jewish day school watching as Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat warmly shook hands with President Jimmy Carter smiling broadly behind them. I was overjoyed. Peace was at hand, finally! When I noticed the long faces around
Arabs don’t want peace; land bribes won’t change that Read More »
Middle East, Yeruchem Eilfort-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –When George Orwell wrote his famous 1984, I doubt even he could have anticipated Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal to ban large supersized beverages in New York’s food service restaurants and establishments. Obesity is certainly a problem for young people, but is it correct to assume that it’s
Bloomberg has a super-sized bad idea Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA