By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–It is not possible to find a more left-wing, large circulation media outlet in Israel than Ha’aretz. It is as close as anything Israeli comes to the New York Times: not in the quality or extent of its coverage, but in having as its readers the intellectual, political, and economic elites of
Obama, Clinton, and Mideast realities Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—My grandson Sky Masori, recently celebrated his third birthday with his first haircut—a Jewish tradition called an “upsherin” that is being revived across the denominational spectrum. The tradition is based on Leviticus 19:23 in which we are enjoined when coming into a new land not to partake of the
Enjoying third birthday and third grade field trip for grandsons Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Sandi Masori, Shor M. Masori
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The Japanese community of San Diego held a cherry blossom festival last weekend at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. It was an event for all the senses. The colorful costumes of the children and the koi in the pond pleased the eye. Japanese music gratified
Japanese-style books make reading to children even more fun Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar, USA
By Marissa Palin SAN DIEGO–Daniel Pearl’s last words were “My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish.” These words were spoken on a video filmed by his captors, a Pakistani militant group, stating their demands. Eight years and three days after Daniel’s death, on February 24, 2010, Dr. Judea Pearl explained the
What did Daniel Pearl's declaration of being Jewish really mean? Read More »
Travel and Food
By Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California –What the heck is the Hurva, and what is its current role in Israel-Palestinian and Israel-US tensions? The Hurva (“ruin” or “wreck” in Hebrew) has become a target for the Palestinian campaign to denigrate Israel’s Jewish heritage, and the Obama administration is cooperating. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is trying to
Havya heard of the Hurva? Read More »
Middle East
By Lloyd Levy LONDON–They say that “turkeys don’t vote for Thanksgiving”- how wrong they are. It was hard to believe at the time of the Election, that the vast majority of Jews in USA voted for Barack Obama as President. Well (to mix a metaphor) the birds have come home to roost, and their support
Why did American Jews vote for Obama? Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle East, USA
Last in a series By Donald H. Harrison MANTA, Ecuador—There’s a San Diego feel about this city near the equator. The same tuna companies – Van Camp, Bumblebee—that once made San Diego their homes now have canneries here. Although it recently closed, a U.S. Air Force base here that monitored possible drug traffickers in nearby
Boom times in Manta reminiscent of San Diego last century Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Seventh in a series By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM – Not really conscious that I was doing so, I turned this Holland America cruise ship into a digital Noah’s Ark while voyaging from Lima, Peru, to San Diego, USA. In port after port, I photographed whatever seemed interesting that crossed in front of
Compiling a digital menagerie on Holland America cruise Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar
Sixth in a Series By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM—From the earliest days of the conquest of Latin America to the years of liberation, our cruise ship sped us through some of the most dramatic moments in Spanish colonial history. For us, a recent voyage aboard MS Rotterdam began in Callao, the port serving
Cruising through Latin American history Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar, USA
Fifth in a series By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM—The first cruise ship joke I ever heard was about the captain of the famous large ocean liner who had the unusual custom of retreating to his cabin at exactly 12 noon every day, opening his desk drawer, looking at something therein, mumbling to
Fourth in a series By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM—In the National Yiddish Theatre in New York, he starred in the title role in the musical based on Isaac Bashevis Singer’s Gimpel Tam (Gimpel the Fool). In a touring national children’s theatre production, he played Mudge, a big, joyful, sloppy dog based on the
Versatile Adam Shapiro plays many roles during cruise ship gig Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonThird in a series By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD M.S. ROTTERDAM—Two men on being introduced to each other automatically shook hands. “Ooops, sorry about that” said the first one. “Yes, “ said the second, “force of habit, it seems.” They walked to a nearby hand sanitizer on board the cruise ship MS Rotterdam and squirted
Fighting a stubborn virus at sea Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Lifeboat maneuvers to floating object in Pacific during recovery operation. Photos: Donald H. Harrison ___________________________________________________ By Donald H. Harrison -Second in a series– ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM –Recovering the body of a man who threw himself overboard and avoiding a possible tsunami in the wake of a large Chilean earthquake were unscheduled and unforgettable events during
‘Man Overboard!’– Drama aboard MS Rotterdam not to be forgotten Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
_____________________________________________________________________________________ First in a series By Donald H. Harrison LIMA, Peru—Were it not for cruise ships like the one we embarked upon here in the wee hours of Monday, Feb. 22, I believe I’d be ready to consign my leisure travel to the lazy boy chair in front of the television in my home. I’d