The nation’s Second Gentleman, Douglas Emhoff spoke at the ceremony lighting the National Menorah on Sunday evening, the first night of Chanukah. Following are a transcript of his remarks as released by the Office of the Vice President. [Doug Emhoff]
Douglas Emhoff Celebrates Chanukah with Lighting of National Menorah Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
This week’s parasha, Miketz, falls out during Chanukah. Yet, Chanukah isn’t mentioned even once in all of our Torah. Recall that in last week’s parasha, Vayeishev, Joseph was thrown into a pit. Joseph prayed and Hashem answered his prayers. This week, we read how his life changed, how Hashem saved his family and by extension, our lives as Jews as well, and how Joseph prayed prayers of thanksgiving…as do we, for Hashem delivering us miraculously as he did Joseph. Our endurance has little to do with military capacity or political perceptiveness, both clearly important, but rather from our own inner determination that is launched in our faith. This is the link between Miketz and Chanukah. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Joseph, Zechariah, the Maccabees, and modern-day Chanukah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Today, we speak of a largely forgotten ethnic cleansing largely unparalleled in the history of humanitarian abuses. Recall the coordinated international expulsion of some 850,000 Jews from Arab and Muslim lands, where they had lived peaceably for as long as 27 centuries. As some know, in 2014, the Israeli government set aside November 30 as a commemoration of this mass atrocity. It has had no real identity or name like “Kristallnacht.” But today, from this day forward, the day will be known as Yom HaGirush: “Expulsion Day.” [Edwin Black]
The Inside Story of Yom HaGirush (Expulsion Day) Read More »
Edwin Black, International, Middle East
Rabbis sometimes invent short stories or elaborate on Jewish folktales to amplify the readings in Jewish Scriptures. Such a tale is known as a midrash. With Comic-Con in town November 26-28 and my grandson Shor in attendance, I learned that comic book writers also engage in a bit of midrashim. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Midrash on Samson at Comic-Con Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Shor M. Masori
Amid a widespread rise in antisemitism in North America, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) has joined an unprecedented coalition of over 60 American and Canadian Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and corporations to launch Shine A Light, a comprehensive initiative to illuminate the dangers of antisemitism through education, community partnerships, workplace engagement, advocacy, and media. [Anti-Defamation League]
‘Shine A Light’ Campaign to Expose Antisemitism Read More »
USA
he Jewish Agency for Israel, The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Keren Hayesod applaud the decision Monday by the Government of Israel, led by Minister of Aliyah and Integration Pnina Tamano-Shata, to approve the continuation of Aliyah (immigration to Israel) from Ethiopia. These olim (immigrants) are among the thousands in Ethiopia waiting, some for over a decade, to be reunited with their family in Israel. The Jewish Agency is immediately commencing implementation of the groundwork needed to facilitate the Aliyah of these new immigrants, including preparing the olim for their new lives in Israel. [Jewish Agency for Israel]
Israel Authorizes More Immigration from Ethiopia Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
In the November 28, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–Two Israeli breakthroughs in cancer research.
–Two Israeli women “break the glass ceiling” – in innovation and IDF leadership.
–Two historic events uniting Israel and the UAE.
–Two more cool Israeli energy-saving innovations.
–Boost in Israel’s economic ties with Serbia and Morocco.
–Four more billion-dollar Israeli companies.
–Israeli wins at the Emmy awards and in the World jiu-jitsu championships.
–Two major Temple-era archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (November 28, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Brazilian-born San Diegan Carla Berg has issued a music video in Ladino, with English subtitles, in which she teaches that we can make our own Chanukah miracles by bringing light to other people’s lives. [Donald H. Harrison]
San Diegan Records Chanukah Music Video in Ladino Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
– Celebrating the Israel Philharmonic’s 85th anniversary, the Israel Philharmonic String Quartet is touring the United States. Their San Diego stop will be Wednesday evening, December 8 in the Baker-Baum Concert Hall at the Conrad, 7600 Fay St. in La Jolla. The hour-long concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and feature single movements from quartets by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and Haydn. There will be a Gala Reception prior to the concert, sponsored by Sharon and Richard Gabriel and a dessert following the concert.
Israeli Philharmonic String Quartet to Perform in La Jolla Dec. 8 Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
Opening statements Monday are set to launch the much-anticipated sex crimes trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite charged with recruiting and grooming underage girls for the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The 59-year-old daughter of the late newspaper baron Robert Maxwell faces an effective life sentence if convicted in New York of sex trafficking minors for Epstein, her former lover who killed himself in prison over two years ago. [Agence France Presse]
Epstein associate Maxwell goes on trial for sex crimes Read More »
Shanda File
Not long before a 19-year-old North County nursing student opened fire in a Poway synagogue, a hate crime that killed a congregant and wounded three others, he espoused ideology that alarmed his classmates. John T. Earnest shared white supremist material with at least two of his Cal State San Marcos classmates, according to a newly obtained court filing. He studied Hitler. He had a copy of the manifesto of the man who shot up two New Zealand mosques in March 2019 — and he liked it. [San Diego Union-Tribune]
College classmates raised concerns about Poway synagogue shooter before 2019 attack Read More »
San Diego County
This is a powerful book, a disguised memoir in the form of a novel, about a man who fought and loved fiercely, and the impact he had on the lives of his three sons. It seems obvious from the brief biographical sketch of author Stuart Z. Goldstein at the end of the book that he is the model for Zachary, Son Number Two of the fictitious Murray Goldman, who boxed under the name of “Moe Fields.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Memoir May Prompt Reflection about Your Own Father-Son Relationships Read More »
Travel and Food
Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Stephen Sondheim, the nonpareil Broadway composer whose decades-long career delivered brilliant musical productions from “West Side Story” to “Sweeney Todd” to “Into the Woods,” died Friday. The oft-honored songwriter was 91. His sudden death at his Roxbury, Connecticut, home, was announced by his friend and lawyer,
If your objective is silliness and hilarity, you will be unable to escape both at the Roustabouts return to LIVE theater with “For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls.” This collection of skits was penned by Christopher Durang, legendary playwright and Tony award winner. The brilliant cadre of actors could only be improved by being complimented by Artistic Director, Phil Johnson. [Eva Trieger]
Southern Belles Tolling Among Many Delightful Roustabouts Accents Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast