The concept of BC and AD was apparently invented by a monk around the year 533 who thought Jesus was born 533 years before the day he invented the system. BC stood for “before Christ” and AD for the Latin “anno domini.” the year of our Lord. He was mistaken. [Rabbi Israel Drazin]
‘B.C.’; ‘New’ Testament and Other Historic Mistakes Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
If this was a formal trial under America’s legal standards, a fair and reasonable jury would likely reach a verdict of not guilty. Jurors could not be certain if an Israeli soldier shot her and, beyond that, if an Israeli soldier intentionally targeted her. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Media, As Usual, Presumes Israel Guilty in Abu Akleh Death Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East
September 23, 1940, German bombs smashed into a residential pub in Manor Park, Newham, a few blocks from where Lewis was stationed. Beneath the pub was a bomb shelter with 60 people trapped inside. The building burning, collapsing. A water main burst. The basement shelter was flooding, threatening to drown any survivors.
Lewis and a colleague ran to the site. [Jerry Klinger]
King George VI Personally Pinned Medal on Jewish Air Raid Warden Read More »
International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History
Try as we might, we cannot turn back the hands of time. But there are a few things we can do. We can face the world with our eyes open, and never allow ourselves to become accomplices by apathy again. [Rabbi Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
Prayers for Ukrainians and an Appeal to President Zelensky Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
Carly Gammill, founding Director of the StandWithUs Center for Combating Antisemitism, will address the Beth Israel Men’s Club via Zoom at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 20. [SDJW}
StandWithUs Expert on Antisemitism Addresses Beth Israel July 20 Read More »
California, San Diego County, USA
Congenital heart disease is not rare and affects 1 in 110 babies with varying degrees of severity. Treatment options offered to Sarah and Matt Hammitt were compassionate care, a full heart transplant, or three surgeries intended to extend Bowen’s life. A documentary, feature-length film, Bowen’s Heart, reveals the challenges, fears, and hopes of Bowen, his three siblings, and his parents. The Hammitt family and the co-directors of the film, Lexi and Zach Read, sought to develop awareness, empathy and support for families living with chronic illness. Their goal was most certainly achieved. [Eva Trieger]
The Saga of a Boy with a Congenitally Broken Heart Read More »
Eva Trieger, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Two hundred guests came to this FUN-D-Raiser to meet, support and provide help for local Ukrainian refugees. Present were a number of Ukrainian mothers and their children. Most of the husbands were left behind to fight the Russian invasion. It was a happy event, with authentic Ukrainian food, catered by Pomegranate Restaurant, and joyous entertainment by Big Boss Bubeleh. Vlady, a native of Ukraine, sang Ukrainian songs, while Yael sang in a variety of languages. [Eileen Wingard]
San Diegans Step Up for Ukrainian Refugees Read More »
Eileen Wingard, International, San Diego County
Sidney’s life changed in the theater of New York. The specialist, Dr. Emil Loch, a renowned dermatologist, reported him to the authorities as a leper. The police swept up Sidney, almost overnight. With a small suitcase that contained his life, he was sent secretly, swiftly and with as little human contact as possible to vanish into the interior of America. He was shipped to the very isolated world of Carville, Louisiana on the banks of the Mississippi River. Carville was the continental United States’ concentration camp for victims of Leprosy. Standing naked before a board of medical examiners in Carville, Sidney Maurice Levyson was assigned a number that he was to be known forever more as, patient #746. [Jerry Klinger]
Searching for Stanley Stein Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
What was James Caan once asked that led him to respond, “They would have gotten punched in the face.” [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: James Caan, z”l Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire
apid’s first words were his call for national unity. That hardly fits the image of a divided Israel, but it may work. The election is several months away, on November 1st, and that’s a long time in politics. Meanwhile, there’s been testimony about Netanyahu receiving and demanding gifts, especially cigars and champagne, worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. Despite that, there’s a poll published by Ma’ariv, showing Bibi with 61 seats in the Knesset for him and his allies. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Lapid new PM, Netanyahu First in Poll as Biden Visit Approaches Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
What can we expect from the impending garbanzo gap between demand and supply? Filming of the sequel to You Can’t Mess with the Zohan will be cancelled. Chickpea cartels will replace drug cartels. [Satire by Laurie Baron]
Satire: Future Falafel Famine and Hummus Hardships Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
We learn in Choshen Mishpat 137, “Behold, the first ‘good’ in the Torah was based on sight. And from this Rabbi Eliezer learned that the general way to achieve goodness is ‘ayin tova.’” Indeed, in Bereshit, we see that the first verse in the Torah using the word “good” is in relation to sight: “And G-d saw the light and it was good…” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Parashat Balak: Opening Our Eyes to Goodness Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
The government created the Building Construction Index to protect all parties’ interests. When someone purchases an apartment in a project under construction, the unpaid portion of the price becomes linked to the BCI. Parenthetically, buyers who are risk averse can often accelerate their payment schedule and prepay the lion’s share of the purchase price, thus limiting their inflation risk. [Gedaliah Borvick].
Inflation Index Adds to Cost of Buying Homes in Israel Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Middle East
Members of the Jewish community who have served on the Port Commission since its creation in 1962 were Harvey Furgatch (appointed 1969), Milton “Mickey” Fredman (1970), Ben Cohen (1977) and Louis Wolfsheimer (1979), all of whom had passed away prior to my undertaking this book, and Robert Penner (1988), Lynn Schenk (1990), Stephen Cushman (1998) and Laurie Black (2007), all of whom I had the opportunity to interview. All these Jewish Port Commissioners represented the City of San Diego, except for Penner and Cohen, who were appointed by Chula Vista and Coronado respectively. [Donald H. Harrison]
Four Jews Who Served as Port Commissioners Tell of Their Tenures Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA