By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Oy gevalt! Evictions, pleading to “let My people go,” magic staffs, plagues, hardened hearts…read all this and enjoy a peaceful Shabbat? By now we’ve learned that whatever happens in our lives always happens for our benefits. Let’s look at the lessons in this week’s Torah reading, the 14th […]
Parashat Va’eira: Facing Life’s Challenges Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Oliver B. Pollak TETON VILLAGE, Wyoming — I watched The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film on Amazon Prime. There were four of us in the living room, that cut it down to $5 each. I had no intention of writing about it. I got a birthday gift in November, Paul Newman, The Extraordinary Life
Books and Films – Paul Newman, Steven Spielberg, and the Second World War Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Celebrities, Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
(JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told cabinet ministers that Israel will experience a massive increase in Aliyah (immigration) from Western countries, including the U.S. Netanyahu said that Israel’s future entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, combined with Israel’s strengthening economy, will attract more Jewish American immigrants. “Israel’s economy is getting stronger; we will
Netanyahu Predicts Massive Increase in Western Aliyah Read More »
Israel, USA
By Mike Wagenheim (JNS) The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to hear a case involving religious accommodations in the workplace. An appeal in the case of Groff v. Dejoy was filed by Gerald Groff, an Evangelical postal worker who refused to work on Sundays, his sabbath, going so far as to offer to work
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case on Sabbath Observance Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
By Jerry Klinger National Public Radio reported a story that was frankly, flabbergasting, a big word meaning — you have got to be kidding. An office within the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work says it is removing the term “field” from its curriculum because it may have racist connotations related to slavery.
Woke Intolerance and the Canceling of the Father of the Georgia Peach Industry Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, USA
By Chris Jennewein Times of San Diego LA JOLLA, California — Top lawmakers and Jewish community leaders celebrated the official opening Sunday of a Hillel center adjacent to UC San Diego following 23 years of struggle. The $18.7 million Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center, built on previously vacant land across La Jolla Village Drive
UCSD Jewish Students ‘Finally Getting Their Due’ as Long-Awaited Hillel Opens Read More »
Chris Jennewein, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Published by Reuters UK GAZA (Reuters) – Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas released a video on Tuesday showing what they said was an Israeli citizen being held captive in the Gaza Strip. The unverified images of the man are the first since his capture in the area in 2014. The undated video shows a man
Hamas Releases Video it Says is of Israeli Man Captured in Gaza in 2014 Read More »
Israel
By Mark D. Zimmerman Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the classified documents found in Joe Biden’s garage and office. While there are significant differences between this situation and that of Donald Trump and the documents found at Mar a Lago, at the very least this has created
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Classified Documents Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Key members of Israel’s establishment have taken aim at reforms indicated by ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. According to the Times of Israel, Supreme Court President Esther Hayut denounced the new government’s plan, as proposed by Justice Minister Yair Levin, as radically overhauling Israel’s judicial and legal
The Angry Voices of the Right-Wing Ideologues Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion
Published by IntelliNews By bne IntelIiNews Russian Su-35 fighter jets ordered from the Kremlin by Tehran should arrive in Iran at the start of the next Persian calendar year (starts March 21), Shahriyar Heydari, a lawmaker who is a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis), has informed
Iran Expects Russia to Deliver Su-35 Fighter Jets in Two Months Read More »
Middle East
Published by Reuters UK By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s president warned on Sunday that the country faced a constitutional crisis over a contested plan to rein in the judiciary and said he was mediating between parties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now in his sixth term, wants to put controls on the Supreme Court,
Israel’s Herzog Seeks to Avert Crisis Over Judicial Shakeup Plan Read More »
Israel
This book is billed as one for women, but in fact the issues it discusses apply equally to the genders. In her memoir, Laura Black tells of her struggles with weight and her recognition that because of it, her parents were embarrassed by her. To demonstrate her worth, she threw herself first into business and secondly into the law, eventually combining the two to create an agency to supply lawyers on a temporary basis to law firms that were crushed with work. Her career won her recognition and plaudits, but did not erase her negative self-image. [Donald H. Harrison]
Finding Meaning in the Last Part of Your Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles
By Doron Krakow What is it about those group experiences? How is it that so many of the people most important in our lives are the same ones with whom we briefly shared something special that became something lasting, something transformative? For many of us, it’s the people with whom we went to camp, those
By Heidi Gantwerk JERUSALEM — Shabbat greetings from Jerusalem, where my team and I are working on the itinerary for Federation’s CommUNITY Trip in May. I am struggling to find words for all that we have already seen and experienced. Beyond the endless food, the beauty of winter light in Jerusalem, the (ahem) excitement of
The Impact You Have in Israel Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County