By Sasha Ben-Ari JERUSALEM–The summer of 2011 marks twenty years since the fall of the Soviet Union and the beginning of a new era for Russian Jewry. For pain-filled decades, this was a population discriminated against, both in the practice of their religion and in pursuing educational and professional opportunities. Two decades later, the situation
Summer camp reaches to Russian Jewish youth Read More »
Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD SEA PRINCESS – There were some 3,000 passengers and crew aboard Sea Princess, and quite clearly Finnegan McNeil was the celebrity that a good percentage of them talked about. How tiny he was to be of such service! How cute! How did he like being on the high seas? His human
Cruise passengers trail in Finnegan’s wake Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Shoshana Bryen Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Events in Israel over the past week have a “back to the future” vibe. Terrorism from over the Egyptian border, renewed rocket attacks from Gaza, threats of violence from the Palestinian Authority and Hezbollah, continuing violence in Syria and shock waves in Jordan all are reminders that ultimate
Defensible Israeli borders the first Middle East priority Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — The latest Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flight bringing 360 new immigrants from North America last week included some Southern California olim who landed in thethick of the worst terror attacks in recent years. MarvinCouture, 65, and Tom Dimercurio, 58, making aliya to Beersheba, stood out among the scores of young members
Californians become new Israelis under Palestinian fire Read More »
Middle EastSAN DIEGO (Press Release)–The Board of Directors of Waters of Eden /San Diego Community Mikvah & Education Center has announced the appointment of Amy Bebchick as its first Executive Director. Bebchick has more than 15years of experience working in non-profit organizations. She has previously served as Executive Director of Hillel at Miami University, Assistant Director
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Congregation Beth Israel, Southern California’s oldest Jewish congregation, will celebrate its 150th anniversary year by creating a new Torah scroll, hosting seven of America’s most prominent Jewish scholars in a public speaker series, and sponsoring an elegant dinner and special performance by legendary entertainer Mandy Patinkin. Beth Israel’s roots date to
Numerous events to mark Congregation Beth Israel’s sesquicentennial Read More »
San Diego CountyWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) on Monday called upon the White House to communicate its expectation that Egypt’s ruling Supreme Military Council will act to secure the Sinai border with Israel and act to curb attacks on the pipeline supplying Israel and Jordan with natural gas. JINSA Executive Director Tom Neumann
U.S. should insist that Egypt police its Gaza and Israel borders–JINSA Read More »
Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD SEA PRINCESS – Up on Deck 12, aft section, (that’s the back of the ship) there are three domains for youngsters who are cruising with their parents or grandparents. One spot in the “Fun Zone”is for “Pelicans,” aged 3-7; another spot is for “Shockwaves,” the program for 8-to-12-year olds; and finally
Princess Cruise keeps kids busy with imaginative programming Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Gary Rotto Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — If you even casually follow sports in San Diego, you know the name Trevor Hoffman. Along with Tony Gwynn, Trevor has been one of the faces of the San Diego Padres. Sunday, one of the great personalities of San Diego was honored at Petco Park. He forever
Trevor Hoffman, a great reliever… and mensch Read More »
San Diego Calendar
By Carol Davis CORONADO, California–When Joanna McClelland Glass first met Judge Francis Biddle in 1967 she was in her early twenties and he was 81. She was on the morning side of her life and career he was at twilight of his. He had pretty much ‘done it all.’ She was from the Canadian
Plusses for ‘Trying’ at Lamb’s Players Theatre Read More »
Carol Davis, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Cynthia Citron Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES — There’s no denying that the role of Vivien Leigh is an acting tour de force for Judith Chapman. She looks like Leigh. She sounds like Leigh. And she goes dramatically nuts like Leigh. But the problem with Rick Foster’s play Vivien, now having its Los Angeles premiere
‘Vivien’ script assumes too much knowledge on part of the audience Read More »
Cynthia Citron
By Dan Bloom CHIAYI, Taiwan — Longtime observers of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have said, “The China question is open as long as the CCP rules China.” And as long as the gates of freedom in China remain closed, as long as theseungainly scars of gates are permitted to stand, it is not the
China, tear down those gates! Read More »
International
By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD SEA PRINCESS – Across from the glass-enclosed elevators on Deck Seven, the third level of Sea Princess’s atrium, is a piano mounted on a platform. In front of the piano and curving around half the atrium are 120 seats. They start filling up about an hour before the
Singer Goldstein converts cruise ship lounge into his ‘living room’ Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonBy Dan Bloom Danny Bloom TAIPEI — The Taiwanese just can’t seem to get enough of Steve Jobs, either in person or in the doppelganger department. Readers will remember news items earlier this year about a TV ad campaign in Taiwan that used an American expat named Brook Hall to play Jobs in a very
Have scammers done jobs on Taiwanese? Read More »
Travel and Food