By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–As the center of the Jewish religious world, you would think that Jerusalem would have hosted a kosher wine festival before–but no, the first Jerusalem Kosher Wine Exhibit took place just this week at the Binyanei HaUma convention center. With a steep entry price of 70NIS per person (my press card
Jerusalem hosts its first kosher wine exhibit Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Are you an entrepreneur? You might be a maven in your own business, but have you considered transition issues? The primary points to consider include: Shalom: Financial Independence & Peace of Mind L’Dor v’ Dor: Estate Plan Updated & Completed Seykhl: Business Plan Geared to Build Value Macher: Management
Are family business owners prepared for transition? Read More »
Sheryl Rowling, Travel and Food
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO—The next time you ask someone for a recommendation, you’d better ask the right person; one whose connected, is dependable and knows almost everything about you. Asking one who is connected can open doors. Asking one who is dependable will assure you get the recommendation. Asking one who knows almost
A positive recommendation for ‘The Recommendation’ Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The New York Times describes Sheldon Adelson as a poor boy who made himself rich, not especially attracted to Jewish affairs or Israel until middle age, now a major contributor to things Jewish, American, and Israeli. His most recent prominence comes from $10 million contributed by him and his
Adelson is a major right-wing factor in U.S., Israeli politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS — The mandate by the Obama administration that contraception must be provided by religious hospitals even if contrary to their religious doctrine may influence the Supreme Court’s decisions on ObamaCare. On a fundamental level, the mandate exhibits the intrusiveness of Obamacare into aspects of private belief, its practice, and freedom
Mandatory contraception provision may upend national health care law Read More »
USA
By Donald H. Harrison LA JOLLA, California — San Diego State University History Prof. Lawrence Baron was greeted with a full house Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Warwick’s Bookstore for his talk about The Modern Jewish Experience in World Cinema, an anthology he edited of movie analyses by 49 authors, including three from San Diego: himself,
Movies tell more than one version of Jewish history Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Matthew RJ Brodsky WASHINGTON, D.C. — Conventional wisdom in Washington and in European capitals is that the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Asad is doomed. The protests that have spread across the country since March of 2011 and claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people appear to be progressing by their own inertia. Secure
U.S. needs to take more activist role in Syria Read More »
International
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Over a year has passed since the terrible Arizona shooting, when a gunman opened fire, killing six people and wounding 13 others. Gabrielle Giffords, a conservative Democrat representing Arizona’s Eighth District, was among those wounded. She remained in critical condition after she survived a single gunshot to
Reasonable restrictions necessary on who can buy a gun Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–In this week’s Likud party primaries Binyamin Netanyahu got some 75% of the votes cast by card-carrying members. The rest went to Moshe Feiglin, an extremist with considerable nuisance value but, mercifully, not much political clout. Even though more credible contenders and reputed critics within the party didn’t stand against him,
Netanyahu’s continuation as Likud’s leader may lead to increasing isolation for Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last month, Victor Davis Hanson published a fascinating article on why Iran might nevertheless decide to start a war it can’t win. In it, he analyzed several cases in which countries did exactly that, including the Korean War in 1950, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1982 Falklands War and
Are Egypt’s domestic problems so bad that war with Israel will be a welcome distraction? Read More »
Middle EastBy Carol Davis SAN DIEGO– Overall, I consider myself one lucky gal. How many of us can boast of seeing endless hours of theatre; some good, some bad and some ugly and then having the privilege of sharing that experience by writing about it? And just to carry that theme a bit further, how lucky can
Headless in Judea; handless in Spokane Read More »
Carol Davis, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The usual complaints about the inadequacy of democratic governance are about the majority that disenfranchises a minority. InIsrael, it seems to be the other way around. Often it’s relatively small groups that hold the rest to ransom – democratically. Today’s examples: two minority groups, the settlers (probably around 5%
Is Israel giving up its right to be called democratic? Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Kingston, Ontario was once a quiet peaceful community. That all changed when Mohammad Shafia, his wife, and son decided to murder the girls of their family. When he discovered his daughters sending pictures of themselves posing in bras and panties to their boyfriends, he said,
Misogyny may be found in doctrines of some Muslims, some Jews Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The headlines are about a couple of issues roiling close to the Prime Minister. They do not concern the big stuff that will attract people around the world who look to Israel for the excitement of threat, promise, personal or collective salvation. Insofar as the Prime Minister is the Prime Minister, however,
PM’s administrator accused of harrassing woman on staff Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East