By Danny Bloom CHIAYI, Taiwan — Movies about food fetishes, chefs and food bloggers make for popular fare worldwide, from Mexico to Manhattan. And when Julie & Julia hit the silver screen last year, foodies across the globe were in some kind of Seventh Heaven. And as everyone knows, as the old saw goes, you
Food critics, don’t pan the beef noodles in Taiwan Read More »
Travel and Food
By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — A bird’s nest, a wolf’s den, a bear’s cave, a dog’s kennel or cardboard box, a person’s room or house or apartment or castle–these are the sanctuaries, the safe places where one retreats to bear and raise one’s young, to hide from predators, to seek refuge from
Our Homes, Our Sanctuaries Read More »
Natasha JosefowitzBy Dan Bloom HUALIEN, Taiwan — For 60-something Grandpa Ba-Su, riding around this seaside town on his advertising tricycle touting his original “mouse bagels” at the local Mud Cafe he runs in the downtown area, is just part of his busy, colorful day here. Sometimes he sports a pair of Groucho Marx glasses and accompanying
Hole-grain treat: the ‘mouse bagel’ of Hualien Read More »
International
By Sheryl Rowling Dear Money Maven, I’m hearing a lot about annuities lately. Should I consider buying an annuity? Confused * Dear Confused, Since the economic downturn, annuities are being touted morethan ever as a magical protection against investment losses. Here’swhat I say about annuities: Ninetypercent of the people who buy an annuity don’t understand
Money Maven: The evils of annuities Read More »
Sheryl RowlingBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s been my good fortune to spend adult life as an academic at decent or distinguished institutions. The work has been challenging and satisfying, with colleagues and students from the better classes of both. Compared to a physician’s career, or an attorney’s, the vast majority of my clients have been
Here is ‘Footnote’ in a headline Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Danny Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — There I was, minding my own business, as usual, working not out of my wireless cave that day, but in my local internet cafe, since I don’t own a computer and do all my email and surfing chores at the rent-a-computer cafe down the street from the place
This will captcha your imagination: Did computer recognize Hebrew speaker in Taiwan? Read More »
International
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the Flag & General Officers Program in Israel, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) asked the Israeli government why it gives Hamas a “free ride” from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). We wrote, “You let/enable/assist the Red Cross in doing its humanitarian work in the
Red Cross takes a stand on Shalit; CNN, NYT taking sides for Gaza Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—I believe that Alan Bersin, a member of our Jewish community who served as a U.S. Attorney in San Diego and later as San Diego Unified School District superintendent, may have shown me a way to persuade my wife that we should get another dog. We had one dog that
At last, maybe, a pathway to a new dog! Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, I’m in Therapy! is a stand-up comedy act in which comedian Ron Tobin gets to sit down at a piano bench and in an arm chair—supposedly located in the empty office of a psychiatrist—while performing his shtick. And it’s good that this script
Multicultural shtick in ‘My Mother’s Italian My Father’s Jewish…’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — A common reason shared by non-Jews considering conversion to Judaism is that their former religious traditions discourage questioning. Judaism, on the other hand, encourages questions and even allows us to question God. Jews are the Children of Israel and Israel means “One who struggles with God.” Abraham, the
Yes, Cain, we are our brothers’ keepers Read More »
Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO– On Thursday, Sivan 28, 5764, June 17, 2004; Rebbetzin Pesha Leibowitz, a”h, returned her soul to her creator. “The Rebbetzin” as we called her, was at the same time very simple and very complex. I was privileged to be able to fly in from San Diego for the levaya
Remembering Rebbetzin Pesha Leibowitz Read More »
Jewish ReligionWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– Congressman Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, submitted the following remarks to the Congressional Record drawing attention to the link between Iran and Syria’s violent repression of the Syrian people. Congressman Berman is working to keep the pressure on the regimes in Damascus and Tehran, and
Berman draws Congress’ attention to Iran’s role in Syria crackdowns Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — In 1966 Senator George Aiken (R Vt) said that America should declare victory and leave Vietnam. What he actually said was more nuanced, but the press simplified it in a way that did not distort his message. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Aiken Between 1966 and the final US pullout marked by the
Obama’s Afghanistan conclusions mirror Israel’s in Mideast Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–Last Sunday afternoon, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, TICO presented a cleverly conceived concert inspired by celestial bodies in space. The music was accompanied by fascinating screen projections assembled by George Varga, astronomy volunteer at Mission Trails Regional Park. I sat next to the editor of sdjewishworld.com and his ten-year-old grandson, who
TICO’s ‘Star Trek’ concert lures next generation Read More »
Eileen Wingard