By Cynthia Citron PASADENA, California — Like In the Heights, the recent happy musical set in New York’s Washington Heights, South Street, the new musical that had its world premiere this week at the Pasadena Playhouse, also glorifies a neighborhood. The setting is Philadelphia, home of the Phillies, the cheesesteak sandwich, and Sammy’s Place. This […]
Meet them at ‘South Street’; Hurry on Down Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — Religion is on the front-burner for many, particularly in the Jewish community, as we celebrate the birthday of creation through Rosh Hashanah, and then the more severe interlude of introspection and soul-cleansing of Yom Kippur. Religion doesn’t always work, but these days it is definitely working. And people
Which of the 10 Commandments is the most important? Read More »
Jewish ReligionBy Arlene and Joel Moskowitz LA JOLLA, California — This time of the year, in conjunction with seasonal holidays, San Diegans have the opportunity to ‘enjoy’ The Del Mar Fairgrounds Scream Zone: This authors will attempt to explore some of the religious and psychodynamic concerns which draw to and cause some to avoid these thrill
Trick or Traif? Halloween and Purim compared Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education
SAN DIEGO — We’re always pleased when we see Hebrew names on personalized license plates. Recently our license-plate-spotter-in-chief, Melanie Rubin, noticed two on California plates: Aryeh 1 and Avivaa. The latter also incorporates a heart.
Two travelling Hebrew names Read More »
Jewish Religion, Melanie RubinBy Danny Bloom CHIAYI, Taiwan — To make a long story short, after the San Diego Jewish World ran a story about a convenience store chain in Taiwan selling cartoonish images modelled after what appeared to be a Hitler face and armband, although modified as a parody and not designed to promote Nazi thinking, the
7-Eleven chain store in Taiwan recalls Hitler key chain, doll Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Sheryl L. Rowling SAN DIEGO — Dear Money Maven, I’ve heard that there are new cost basis rules. What does this mean to me? Sincerely, Confused Dear Confused, Essentially, these rules require custodians – like Schwab and Fidelity – to report the cost basis of any securities sold. This way, the IRS can check
Money Maven: New cost-basis rules Read More »
Sheryl Rowling, Travel and FoodBy Yaakov Lappin WASHINGTON, D.C. _ A fierce debate is gripping Israel’s defense and intelligence community over fateful questions that have arisen from the recent period of Middle Eastern turmoil. The first, most basic question concerning defense officials is: Can stable states eventually emerge around Israel from the chaos and uncertainty that has replaced the
Arab Spring could turn into an Islamic winter Read More »
Middle EastBy Harold Karpin MELBOURNE — On Sunday, Oct. 9 the Victorian Association of Jewish Ex- Servicemen and Servicewomen, will meet at the Brighton Cemetary to remember one of Australia’s greatest military icons, General Sir John Monash GCMG KCB VD. The sevice will be in the form of Yartzeit on the 80th Anniversary of his death.
Australian Jews will mark Sir John Monash’s 80th yahrzeit Read More »
Travel and Food
By Danny Bloom CHIAYI, Taiwan — New Hitler lookalike dolls are for sale at 7-ELEVEN convenience stores in Taiwan today. Seems as if images of Adolph Hitler, the German Nazi dictator, have a special place in the marketing hearts of Asian advertising agencies and PR mavens. From Japan to India, from Taiwan to Vietnam, images
Hitler toys being sold in Taiwan convenience stores Read More »
Travel and Food
97 Orchard by Jane Ziegelman, Smithsonian Books, $25,99 By Marc Yaffe BETHESDA, Maryland — If you were raised in New York City, are well passed the mid-century mark, and are Jewish, you can’t help but harbor your own special memories involving the Lower East Side, in its day the largest Jewish enclave in this country.
Immigrant life (and recipes) revisited in ’97 Orchard’ Read More »
Travel and FoodBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A friend forwarded to me a sermon that Rabbi Schlomo Lewis of Atlanta delivered a year ago on Rosh Hashana. A bit of Googling showed that the sermon has circulated widely. It is as strong a statement as I have seen comparing Radical Islam to Nazism, and comparing the widespread
Moderates are the radicals of Muslim world Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—At a recent ceremony marking the beginning of a year-long celebration of Congregation Beth Israel’s sesquicentennial, Rob Levi shared with me a copy of his book about his great-grandfather, Adolph Levi, one of the founders of the Reform congregation. Although he researched and published the book primarily for family use—and
The Levis’ personal Jewish history of San Diego Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryBy Cynthia Citron PASADENA, California –“I started out in college in pre-med, but I couldn’t hack the chemistry. Then I switched to pre-law, but I found it boring. Then I went to see a production of Georges Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear, and it hit me like a ton of bricks — ‘That’s what
What little girls playing ‘dress up’ can lead to Read More »
Cynthia CitronBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Nothing new or dramatic in the highly touted speeches by Abbas and Netanyahu, and nothing promising or threatening in the prodding to negotiations announced after the speeches by the Quartet of minders: US, UN, Russia, European Union. Abbas repeated himself time and again, and Netanyahu seemed tired and off the
Neither Bibi nor Abbas very surprising at U.N. Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East