By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –There is a lesson in the reports of Barack Obama’s visit with the President of Afghanistan a year after bin Laden’s killing. As reported by the BBC: “US President Barack Obama has pledged to ‘finish the job’ and end the Afghan war, addressing the US public live from a military base […]
Under diplomatic cover, U.S. will abandon Afghanistan Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK– It was a year when the holidays fell on the same days of the week as they do this year. The first day of Passover was on a Saturday, a Shabbat, so that Shavuot fell on a Sunday. Saturday night was the beginning of Shavuot. That calendar quirk
How we can distinguish among levels of holiness Read More »
Jewish Religion-Staff report- SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — The two Jewish candidates in the four-person San Diego mayoral contest campaigned on Tuesday by announcing endorsements and urging national action to improve the ports. One of those mayoral candidates, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, was lauded by former Democratic Congresswoman Lynn Schenk, who said of the Republican law enforcement
Campaign 2012: Dumanis and Filner press mayoral candidacies Read More »
Travel and Food
COMMACK, N.Y (Press Release). –Joanna Sue Zeiger, a 2000 Olympian and 2008 World Champion in triathlon and Ph.D. in genetic epidemiology, was inducted with eight other sports figures April 29 into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame located at the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center here.. Zeiger, a native San Diegan now residing in
Joanna Zeiger inducted into Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — At one time, a mantra of American politics was that politics stops at the water’s edge. Then there was Vietnam. Long before Vietnam there was considerable dispute about entering World War I. Irish immigrants were prominent among those not wanting to risk themselves for Great Britain. When the next
Neither for U.S., Israel does partisanship end at water’s edge Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –What some seem to regard as bad news for Israel may, in fact, bode well for its future. I’m referring to the uproar in the country and abroad following the very public criticism by Yuval Diskin, the former head of internal security, when he spoke of the “messianic” scaremongering about
Three items of good news for Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — As a child, I used to love reading the golem stories attributed to Rabbi Judah Lowe, a.k.a., the famous “Maharal of Prague” (1525-1609). Since my father came from Czechoslovakia, I grew up hearing many family tales about the golem. These stories were especially delightful since my
May a golem count towards a minyan? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — It is no surprise that one reads in today’s international headlines: “Leading candidate in Egypt presidential race calls Israel peace accord ‘dead and buried.’” [The New York Times]. Amr Moussa, running ahead in the polls, spoke to a large rally in southern Egypt. He took the opportunity
British trade union council’s anti-Semitism ‘Cristal-clear’ Read More »
International
By Sandy Golden SAN DIEGO — Where else but in Israel can you find an entire wall made of Jerusalem stone, a replica of the Dead Sea Scrolls on permanent display, and information about Israel’s 2500-year history and also its modern rebirth and amazing achievements during the past 63 years? It’s hard to believe, but
Sequel to Israel festival planned at House of Israel Read More »
Middle East, San Diego CalendarSAN DIEGO (Press Release) – As part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diversity and responsible banking, and in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, Union Bank has partnered with KPBS to honor two extraordinary San Diegans for the 2012 Local Heroes program. The year-long campaign is designed to celebrate and pay tribute to exemplary
Jill Spitzer, Gussie Zaks named local heroes by KPBS, Union Bank Read More »
San Diego County
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Have you ever wondered about what the Talmud says about investing? The following Q&A may be instructive. Q: Does the Talmud provide guidance on investing? A: Actually, yes. According to the Talmud, “Let every man divide his money into three parts, and invest a third in land, a third
Money Maven: The Talmud and Investing Read More »
Sheryl Rowling, Travel and FoodBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 37th anniversary of the fall of Saigon today is a good time to review the utility of American security promises — including those purchased with American blood — to countries fighting ideologically based insurgencies. There were 540,000 Americans in Vietnam at the peak of the U.S. part of
Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan… is there a pattern here? Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Harbour of Hope is a new documentary by the Swedish filmmaker Magnus Gertten. It describes how, in the last days of World War II, his country rescued thousands of inmates from Nazi concentration camps. The opening scene shows old footage of a girl looking into the camera. It’s my
Film depicts time when Malmo could be proud of itself Read More »
Travel and Food
By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — In the last few weeks, two enormous scandals shook a usually nonchalant and numb populace and even the politicians Right and Left. We will call them “The GSA extravagance in Las Vegas” and “The Secret Service debauchery in Cartagena.” The GSA, whose very existence was hitherto known
Scandals demonstrate arrogance of power in federal government Read More »
USA