U.S. should remember Cold War lessons in dealing with Islamic Middle East

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

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Shoshana Bryen

The lessons to be drawn from Middle East interventions

By 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

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Michael Hopkins installed as CEO at Jewish Family Service

SAN 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.

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San Diego County

Drama, tension, suspense at ‘The Water’s Edge’

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

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Cynthia Citron

Even with addition of two Footes, play is no great feat

By 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

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Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Religion, not land-use politics, at heart of Mideast dispute

By 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.  

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Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion

Niso Shaham is Israel’s version of Eliot Ness

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

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East

Anti-Semitism in Diaspora perceived differently in Israel and elsewhere

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Negative campaigning isn’t new in the world. Just look at what the Republican presidential candidates are currently saying about each other in the United States But you can’t diminish an American by accusing him/her of being Jewish. On the contrary. It’s different in, say,Poland where being called a Jew is

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Middle East

Two teens to be featured at Lawrence Family JCC’s ‘Musicians in the Making’ program

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Two remarkable young men will be the next featured soloists on the January 29, Musicians in the Making program at 2 p.m. at the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. Pianist and bass-baritone Elliott Wulff, 17, is a senior at Rancho Bernardo High School

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Eileen Wingard