While attending the Catholic Saint Augustine High School, it never occurred to Phil Lorang that many years later he would be serving as president of the Men’s Club at Tifereth Israel Synagogue as well as a member of the Conservative Jewish congregation’s Board of Directors. [Donald H. Harrison]
Phil Lorang Honored at Tifereth Israel Synagogue Read More »
Travel and Food
Envoy Hochstein, in the tradition of American negotiators in Israel’s sphere, has proposed that it accept 100% of Lebanon’s demands in the Eastern Mediterranean, with some minor concessions to Israel. In any event, Hezbollah rejects the entire agreement, adding additional requirements. Acting Prime Minister Lapid had immediately commented favorably on the proposed deal, although the opposition vehemently disagrees. (Steve Kramer]
US Fumbles Israel’s Marine Border Negotiations with Lebanon Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
The Americans were given the task of producing a draft agreement, and the man they chose for doing the deal is a Jew, a former Israeli, and veteran of the IDF, who subsequently moved to Washington and joined the State Department. Amos Hochstein expresses the mix of Israeli and American identities. He’s produced something that seems reasonable, especially given Israel’s economic strength and Lebanon’s economic desperation. [Ira Sharkansky]
Offshore Gas Deal Seems Fair, Though Ill-Timed Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, USA
By Mark D. Zimmerman Jews around the world are celebrating Sukkot this week. The most significant preparation is the building of a sukkah, a temporary outdoor structure, by many synagogues, schools, Jewish organizations, and individuals. The sukkah symbolizes the huts in which the Israelites lived during the Exodus, and also represents the structures that farmers
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Sukkah Symbols Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — How often have you heard people say that someone is spiritual? I always wonder what they mean exactly; when asked, no one has ever given me a satisfactory explanation. Current studies include a variety of definitions. There is still no widely agreed on definition of spirituality
How Attuned Are You to the Three Components of Spirituality? Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz
This novel follows a Jewish family through nearly four decades of American history, starting with the couple’s chance meeting at Roosevelt Field on May 20, 1927, while watching Charles Lindbergh begin his solo flight across the Atlantic, and extending through the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Summer Lightning’ and the Sudden Strikes of Love Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
LOS ANGELES — (Press Release) The Simon Wiesenthal Center has urged the San Dieguito Union High School District to take proactive action regarding Carmel Valley Middle School where Adolf Hitler’s portrait was placed alongside inspirational historical leaders including U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, U.S President John F. Kennedy, British Prime Minister
By Rafael Medoff The latest film from Ken Burns, “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” has aroused controversy with its claim that President Franklin D. Roosevelt did his best to help save Jews from the Nazis. As Donald Harrison notes in his October 5 column, filmmakers Burns, Sarah Botstein, and Lynn Novick contend that “FDR would
Getting it Wrong on FDR and the Holocaust Read More »
Holocaust, International, Opinion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — During the last few years, I have been spending part of the summer in France, supposedly to avoid the summer heat of Israel. That has come to be something of a joke, as the summers in France have been as hot as — or even hotter than —
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Judaism has dozens of meaningful customs and ceremonies, but most people, even Jews, do not know all of them, their origins and their rationale. Rabbi Abraham Chill (1912-2004) gives readers of his book The Minhagim, Hebrew for customs and ceremonies, a very readable discussion of many
Questions About Sukkot Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Nearly four years after 11 congregants were slain at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Dr. Mehmet Oz is demonizing his Pennsylvania Senate rival from nearby Braddock for seeking the release of more convicts from prison. In the process, Oz unwittingly triggers thoughts of an advanced approach to
Gun-Violence Accomplices, in Congress? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Opinion, USA
By Laurie Baron Worried about all the legal problems his father-in-law is facing, Jared Kushner persuaded him to attend Yom Kippur services to atone for his sins. Donald agreed only on the condition that he didn’t have to fast and could call DoorDash to deliver him a Big Mac, fries, and diet Coke at lunch
Satire: Donald Trump’s Yom Kippur Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — How’s your hearing lately? Are you listening? Ha’azinu is one of the seven songs in Tanakh and is one of the shortest parshiot in the Torah with just 52 verses, filled with a treasure of information and striking imagery. It is written in two narrow columns. This is
Parashat Ha’azinu: Personal Accountability and Responsibility Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Many readers of San Diego Jewish World know Baron via his political satire columns, but I asked my colleague to put his hat back on as a Holocaust scholar to assess how well Burns’ documentary had covered the subject.[Donald H. Harrison]
Pros and Cons of Ken Burns’ Holocaust Documentary Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA