By Cynthia Citron Cynthia Citron WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — Diary of a Madman is considered one of Nikolai Gogol’s greatest short stories. As an 80-minute monologue, however, it’s a bit much. But the version running now at The Actors Circle Theater in West Hollywood is as good as it gets. Russian-born actor Ilia Volok is […]
‘Diary of a Madman’ tends to get tedious Read More »
Cynthia CitronWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release) — The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Friday released an analysis of support for Israel broken down by political affiliation that reveals a clear “Israel Gap” between the parties. Republican support for Israel is 25 points higher than Democratic support, and according to Gallup, only a bare majority, 53% of Democrats, express
RJC says Republicans more favorable than Democrats to Israel Read More »
USASAN DIEGO (Press Release) – District Attorney and San Diego Mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis on Saturday pledged to restore city funding that has been cut to the San Dieguito River Valley Regional Open Space Park. Dumanis made the announcement during the dedication of the San Dieguito Lagoon Trail in the park Saturday morning. “Part of preserving San Diego’s
Dumanis pledges funding of San Dieguito River Valley project Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It should be no surprise that the excitment of the American presidential campaign deals with domestic issues. The American voter is not responsible for his or her country being the most prominent in the world, with its hands almost everywhere. They are concerned that jobs, housing, and other needs are more
World depends on U.S.; yet elections decided on domestic issues Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Donald H. Harrison LA MESA, California — For those who try to link Israel to the old apartheid regime of South Africa, artist Atara-Baker, who has lived in both countries, offers an emotional rejoinder, not in her words, but in her art. Yes, the art seems to say, there is a link
Artist combines themes of Israel and southern Africa Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Cynthia Citron WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — “A really good actor knows something the writer doesn’t know,” Ilia Volok says. “The actor brings his life –the life of a human spirit — to the stage, and a great actor elevates it.” Ukrainian-born actor Volok cites Kevin Kline as one of the greats. “He delivers with passion,”
Volok and Lazarev, friends from Russia, team in Hollywood Read More »
Cynthia CitronSAN DIEGO (Press Release) — District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced on Friday a jury has found Carlsbad school shooter Brendan O’Rourke sane at the time he shot children seriously injuring two girls at Kelly Elementary School in October 2010. “The community was deeply shaken by this school shooting and today’s verdict means the defendant will be held accountable for
Carlsbad shooter ‘will be held accountable’ – Dumanis Read More »
Travel and Food
TECATE, California — Holocaust concentration camp survivor Rose Schindler traveled from her home in San Diego to Tecate, a town that sits on the U.S-Mexico border in the eastern portion of San Diego County, on Thursday, March 8 to share her experiences with students at the Tecate Christian School. “She was amazing and touched many hearts, both
Christian students tell reactions to Survivor’s talk Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — There is a genre of movie that brings a new teacher to a distressed high school, and through the force of his or her caring, students who formerly were indifferent or even hostile to learning are turned around and propelled into brighter futures. To Sir With Love and
‘Detachment’: a jeremiad against child abuse and neglect Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel SAN DIEGO — At our downtown TBS Jewish business ethics class, we discussed an interesting subject dealing with the problem of suspicion. The beginning of Parshat Pikudei (Vyakhale-Pikudei), Moses presents a complete inventory of all the items that he and the priests collected for the Tabernacle (Exod. 38:21) Moses gives
Mishnah could teach TSA a lesson about dignity Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was to address a mixed U.S.-Afghan audience at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan only weeks after six American solders were killed by Afghan soldiers, and days after an American soldier allegedly killed 16 Afghan civilians. That circumstance alone would ensure a tense atmosphere, but the decision
Panetta disrespected Marines fighting in Afghanistan Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Saul Singer is the author, together with his brother-in-law Dan Senor, of the widely acclaimed, Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle. I’m pretty sure that he hasn’t read of my book, Beyond Survival or even heard of it. Nevertheless, he almost quotes from it. Hence these reflections.
Another kind of Holocaust denial: denying that it’s over Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Does the end ever justify the means? Not according to the Torah. One may not fulfill a religious obligation (a mitzvah) through unethical or immoral action. Our sages called this a mitzvah ha-ba’ah ba-aveirah, a mitzvah that is performed through a sinful act. One of the places our
Mitzvot must be fulfilled through honest, ethical action Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Fifteen years ago there was a family from New York who lost their father. Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel ztl, Rosh Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, had a particularly fond relationship with the deceased father and took it upon himself to ensure that his orphans would have a fatherly figure
The rabbi’s second family Read More »
Jewish Religion