By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Who says religious people aren’t funny? Where is Jay Leno when you need him? The world of the Ultra-Orthodox (a.k.a. “Haredi” and “Hasidim”) never fail to evoke laughter and irony. In their quest for personal piety, they will go to extremes to keep themselves away from
Some forms of haredi piety are really OCD Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Editor’s Note: The following article will introduce a new Tel Aviv correspondent who will be writing for San Diego Jewish World. By Candice Mervis TEL AVIV– Two and a half years ago I made Aliyah from Sydney Australia, and although the decision came as a surprise to most people, for me it had been burning
Olah hadash from Australia tells of her aliyah Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO –I was appalled by one of the comments that I heard repeatedly in the wake of the murderous rampage at a Milwaukee Sikh temple last Sunday: the white supremacist shooter who attacked it probably mistook it for an Islamic house of worship. As if that is any kind of
Attack on ANY religious group is an outrage Read More »
USA
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Rashi teaches us that not only do we need to be careful about the ‘big’ mitzvos, we have to be diligent with regards to performance of the ‘small’ mitzvos – the mitzvos that are commonly ignored and ‘trampled’. No one of us would ever think of robbing a
Learning 2 halachos per day may keep troubles at bay Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, TAIWAN — Based in Taiwan, I nevertheless receive a lot of newsletters and news tips in my email inbox from around the world, and a few months ago, I got a very interesting newsletter missive from Rabbi David Wolpe at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. The rabbi was writing about various
Rabbi Wolpe floats ‘helium parenting’ idea Read More »
Travel and Food
By Mimi Pollack SPOKANE, Washington — Rabbi Tamar Malino is full of hope and optimism. She has started a new life in Spokane after leaving San Diego in 2008. She still has fond memories of her former congregation in Poway where she was both assistant rabbi and rabbi at Temple Adat-Shalom. In 2008, Rabbi Tamar
Former Poway rabbi building community in Spokane Read More »
Mimi Pollack, San Diego CalendarEnfold Me: A Novel of Post Israel by Steven Greenberg; 2012; ISBN 978-0-9856873-1-1; 280 pages; price unlisted By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — This brutal, shockingly violent novel imagines a high intensity earthquake that leaves Israel defenseless against an opportunistic strike by Iran and its Arab allies. When the smoke and dust clear,
Violent novel depicts Israel after its fall Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Editor’s Note: None of these letters come from actual celebrities. By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO–Dear Money Maven, I’m an attorney. Can I deduct the cost of my business suits? Hopefully, Helen Dear Helen, Unfortunately, no. To be deductible as a business expense, clothing must be required as a condition of the job and must not
Money Maven: Can I deduct that? Read More »
Sheryl Rowling, Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky OSLO, Norway — This city is one of Europe’s historic cities, having begun about the time William sailed to England. And a cool and damp respite from Jerusalem’s summer, where midday is only for mad dogs and Englishmen. This trip is part of my on-going project to compare other old cities with
A success story from the Oslo peace process Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By David Amos SAN DIEGO –Just for having been involved in serious music making for practically all my life, I have encountered many well-meaning people who recognize me, and share some of their musical thoughts after concerts I have attended or conducted. Sometimes, their comments are based on mis-information, and preconceived notions about music and
What some misinformed people say about music Read More »
Travel and Food
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — The Ken Cinema (4061 Adams Avenue) will reprise Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive (2011) for the midnight shows this Friday and Saturday. The film which earned Refn the award for best director at Cannes is filled with gory killings that will repel squeamish viewers. For those who can stomach the
The Wandering Review: ‘Drive’ Read More »
Lawrence Baron
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb NEW YORK — As a parent, grandparent, and psychologist, I am often considered to be something of an expert on parenting and child-rearing. In that capacity, I have frequently been asked to review or give an opinion about any of the plethora of books on the subject of raising one’s
Discipline means setting goals as well as limits Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO –Some folks enjoy the easy, racially-tinged declaration, after viewing an African American man on the television news being indicted or sentenced for some gruesome crime: “Well, of course.” The assumption, the throw-away epithet, is simple, coarse, and poorly-informed. It is driven by the insipid racism of too many people
What color is terror? Read More »
USA
By Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES –Remember when “mutually assured destruction” meant maintaining détente with Russia—or else? As the threat of nuclear war hung like a mushroom cloud over all our heads, the thought that nobody would survive kept everybody from pushing the button. Oh, for the good old days. But wait, there seems to
‘Mutually Assured Destruction’ is a suburban tale Read More »
Cynthia Citron