Israel readies official response to Goldstone Report

JERUSALEM (WJC)–The Israeli government has reportedly completed its response to the controversial Goldstone report into its conduct during the Gaza war. The document is expected to be handed over to the United Nations later this week, the ‘Jerusalem Post’ reports, and is to include photographic evidence that contradicts the war crimes charges leveled against Israel. […]

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Middle East

Single parents and their children get a jump on Tu b’Shevat at Mission Trails Regional Park

  By Donald H. Harrison   SAN DIEGO – On a perfect, sunny Sunday, a day after the rainstorms, Jewish single parents and their children got a five-day head start on Tu B’Shevat by planting three blue elderberry bushes near the Visitor Center at Mission Trails Regional Park. One of the fathers, Elisha Blatt, pronounced

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar

San Diego Jewish World headlines~January 24, 2010

Middle East Israel/ Palestinian Territories Has U.S. eliminated Israel’s qualitative edge over possible Arab foes? Hamas politician hints of possible change in attitude towards Israel Greek deputy prime minister accuses Israel of practicing Nazi-style mass punishment University of Haifa creates new hearing research center Sleepless in Jerusalem over whether Israel is becoming as bad as any other nation … by

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Travel and Food

My Shtetele California: 19th Century proposal to make Baja California the Jewish homeland

By Rabbi Will Kramer (December 24, 1971) Not long ago, we reviewed Sam J. Lee’s Moses of the New World the story of the life and work of Baron de Hirsch. It made us de Hirsch-conscious. In 1896, Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger of San Francisco admired Hirsch’s success in South America and hoped that Baja California

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Travel and Food

Letter to the Editor: Mikvaot in San Diego

Editor, San Diego Jewish World In your article “Community Mikvah to locate on Tifereth Israel grounds” (September 22, 2009) you write “Although there are three mikvaot operated under Orthodox auspices in San Diego, none are available for conversions by the other movements. This means that many people who convert to Judaism under Conservative auspices, for

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Donald H. Harrison, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, March 19, 1954, Part II

Compiled by Gail Umeham Personals Southwestern Jewish Press March 19, 1954 Page 2 Home From College–Nelson Olf and a classmate of Oregon State College Edward Elliott, will arrive in town March 22, for a short stay with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Olf.  Enroute to San Diego, Nelson and Edward, both Midshipmen at O.S.C.

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Adventures in SD History, Middle East, USA

Sexual abuse of children in the Jewish community: difficult but important to face

Tempest  in the Temple:  Jewish Communities & Child Sex Scandals edited by Amy Neustein, Brandeis University Press, 2009, 272 pages, $35. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—This is a difficult book to read, not only because it primarily is written for other academics, but because of the subject matter itself.  While we are cognizant that

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Amy Neustein, Donald H. Harrison

In first year, Obama's promise eclipsed his performance

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Barack Obama is one dramatic guy. His rhetoric is world class. His life story adds to the magic. Inauguration as president, aspirations for economic stability, engagement with the world, peace in the Middle East, reform of health care for the unhealthiest of the wealthy countries, and a Nobel Prize were his highlights

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Middle East, USA

Looking at who wrote the Bible — from the scribes' viewpoints

Scribal Culture and the Making of the Hebrew Bible By Karel van der Toorn, Harvard University Press, Cambridge ISBN 978-0-674-03254-5, $18.95,  265 pages  plus 125 pages of notes and selected bibliography By Fred Reiss, Ed.D WINCHESTER, California — Who wrote the Hebrew Bible, that is, the so-called Old Testament? Jewish tradition says that Moses wrote

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Fred Reiss, EdD