By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–When a child becomes Bar or Bat Mitzvah, one of the first mitzvot for which they assume responsibility is tefillin. One of the verses which the rabbis say refers to the mitzvah of tefillin is in parashat Bo: “And this shall serve as a sign on your hand and as […]
Why there are four tefillin compartments for the head but only one for the arm Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — There’s new statistical evidence that when Israelis say that they’re secular, it doesn’t mean that they’re non-believers. Thus though 46% of Jewish Israelis describe themselves as secular, 80% say that they believe in God and 65% believe that the Torah is God-given in one way or another. When it
Israelis more ‘religious’ than they think they are Read More »
Middle East
By Carol Davis VISTA, California–Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap began as a radio play in 1947. In 1952 the play opened in the West End in London and never really closed. 25,000 performances later it’s made it’s way across the ocean, across the continent to Vista where the Avo Theatre, with director Jason Heil at the
The Avo built a better ‘Mousetrap’ and theatre goers are flocking there to see it Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO –The celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has become a national day of service in many communities. For Congregation Dor Hadash, a very activist congregation, it’s difficult to pick one cause. The congregation creates an annual experience in song and action. In announcing the program, Dr.
Filner’s ‘Freedom Rides’ a family response to seeing Nazi concentration camps Read More »
USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Egyptian Parliament re-opened this week with the Muslim Brotherhood in charge and the Salafists in second place. Googling liberals were far behind. It is not surprising as the vast majority of Egyptians are rural, poor, and religious, but since majority rule should never be confused with democracy, the
U.S. should remember Cold War lessons in dealing with Islamic Middle East Read More »
Shoshana BryenBy Yael Rotlevy PETACH TIKVAH, Israel — I am a woman, mother, daughter, sister, pre-school teacher – and a victim of cancer. Anyone spotting me in a crowd would never guess. He surely would think to himself – a young mother, hair cut into a stylish, short bob, spending the summer vacation with her husband
The love that sustains a cancer patient Read More »
Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Hopefully, Iraq and Afghanistan will be the Lebanon War of the United States. Israel learned from the massive invasion and long occupation of Lebanon (1982-2000) that too much force is frustrating, does not accomplish announced goals, and may be self-defeating. Its second Lebanon war of July-August, 2006 demonstrated the lesson: only
The lessons to be drawn from Middle East interventions Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO (Press Release)–Michael Hopkins was officially installed as Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Family Service by the Board of Directors at its monthly meeting Jan. 24. Retiring CEO Jill Borg Spitzer will continue her connection to the JFS family as a consultant, helping to facilitate the transition with the many programs, services, and community relationships.
Michael Hopkins installed as CEO at Jewish Family Service Read More »
San Diego County
By Cynthia Citron NORTH HOLLYWOOD, California– As Winston Churchill might describe it, Theresa Rebeck’s play The Water’s Edge is “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” There re more mixed emotions, contradictions, outright lies, duplicity, passion, and chills in this dramatic masterpiece than in any play you’re likely to see in this decade. The
Drama, tension, suspense at ‘The Water’s Edge’ Read More »
Cynthia CitronBy Carol Davis SAN DIEGO–When it comes to dividing up the family estate between brothers and sisters, any amount of civility goes unnoticed in playwright Horton Foote’s last comedy/drama. In Dividing the Estate the three adult Gordon siblings (Lucille, Lewis, called Brother and Mary Jo) who assemble at their childhood home, for a supposed dinner
Even with addition of two Footes, play is no great feat Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Yaakov Lappin JERUSALEM–A virtual conflict is developing in the Middle East, involving high speed internet connections and keyboards rather than missiles and tanks. It has been a victimless affair so far, though it carries the potential for more serious harm in the future, and serves as a wakeup call for the Israeli private
Cyber-War heats up in Middle East Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSAELM–We are never far from a reminder that the Israel-Palestinian conflict has a strong element of religious animosity. Those who aspire to solve this with a simple agreement about lines on a map will be better off refereeing a football match (American or European). The Middle East is not for them.
Religion, not land-use politics, at heart of Mideast dispute Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish ReligionBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– The Prime Minister of Israel is suffering at the moment with migro-aine, which in this part of the world might be called the mother of all headaches. Whereas a conventional migraine can often be treated with medication, this one can only be controlled by an artful combination of political savvy and,
Migron provides mother of all migraines for Netanyahu Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The 1930s are one of the most famous periods of early 20th century American history. Most of us of the Baby boom era grew up watching The Untouchables television series. Chicago, 1930, is best remembered for Al Capone, America’s most successful gangster, who made organized crime into
Niso Shaham is Israel’s version of Eliot Ness Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East