By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — In 1621, a tragedy befell England’s Fortune Theatre as it caught fire. However, just two years later, it rose from the ashes, but the actors became known as the Poor Companions. Award-winning actor, director, and producer Richard Baird took on the mantle of Artistic Director of Poor Players Theatre
‘As You Like It’ Brings a Rare Treat to Life Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Sandi Masori SAN DIEGO — Most people recognize the title Pretty Woman from the 1990 film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Or they may know the song by Roy Orbison. But there’s a new Pretty Woman in town, and it’s a musical! Based on the movie, this Broadway adaptation at the San Diego
There’s a New Pretty Woman in Town — And It’s a Musical Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — I recently received an email from Dr. Dilip Jeste stating that after serving 36 years at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), including nearly two decades as director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging (SIRA), he was retiring from the university. In this
Identifying the Various Social Determinants of Mental Health Read More »
Natasha Josefowitz, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — It’s been a while since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade, and a bit less time since the same Court invalidated New York’s law against concealed weapons. But enough time for states’ actions to take their own course. A number of states — mostly in the
The Not-So United States Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Opinion, USA
This book is a fictionalized account of Jacqueline Semha Gmach’s life in Tunisia and Canada before settling in San Diego where her store of cultural knowledge for many years defined programming at the Lawrence Family JCC. It is also a love story, travelogue, and collection of photos that are dear to Gmach. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Scroll of Ancient Music that Leads to a Romance Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County
By Teresa Konopka SAN DIEGO — Why do we believe what we do? Is our religion any better than others? Street epistemology aims to find out. In contrast to evangelism where one tries to convert another to a belief, street epistemology is quite different in that it does not aim to sway anyone. It is
Does Your Faith Stand Up to the Test? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Opinion, Teresa_Konopka
By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — In the first episode of season three of The Kominsky Method (2021), there is a funeral service for Michael Douglas’ character’s lifelong friend Norman Newlander (played by Alan Arkin). By far the most inconsolable mourner to give a eulogy is Newlander’s personal assistant of 22 years who, amid a hyperbolical
Sleep No More: Capitalism and Insomnia Read More »
Opinion, Sam Ben-Meir, USA
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Samuel A. Alito Jr. tells “We the People:” “No support in American law for a constitutional right to obtain an abortion.” Not quite, Mr. Justice. True, our pre-amendment Constitution specifies no civil rights save a brief clause barring a “religious test” to hold public office. However, the Constitution’s Preamble
Justice Alito Overlooks the Preamble to the Constitution Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Opinion, USA
By Rabbi Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — The mistreatment by too-many rabbis of women is inexcusable. Many alterations were made in biblical marriage and divorce laws, but not for agunot. The Hebrew Bible gives few details about marriage and divorce. Deuteronomy 24:1 states: “If a man takes [yikach] a wife and has sex with
A Horrible Rabbinical Mistake! Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
“The Holocaust: Does Judaism Believe in Gilgul? Transmigration of Souls.” By Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg; Independently published; ISBN-13: 979-8448939662; 436 pages; $24.99. By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The author of The Holocaust: Does Judaism Believe in Gilgul? Transmigration of Souls begins with a wonderful quote from the famed psychologist
Unpacking the Transmission of Holocaust Trauma Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — The following is my summary of an excellent lecture by Haviv Rettig Gur, a well-known journalist for The Times of Israel. Gur’s lecture brings something new to the Arab-Israeli conundrum. It’s a wake-up call for Palestinian Arabs, explaining that their belief that Zionism is the ultimate reason for
The Palestinian Arabs’ False Impression of Zionism Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer
By Stephen Bryen (JNS) On Aug. 1, 1943 (29 Tammuz 5703) during the throes of World War II, a Jewish fighter pilot was shot down over Ukraine. She was Lydia Litvyak, Russia’s—and the world’s—first female fighter ace. The date of her death corresponds to the Hebrew calendar date of 29 Tammuz 5703, and July 28 will be her
Lydia Litvyak: World’s First Female Fighter Ace Read More »
International, Opinion, Stephen D. Bryen
Jennifer Wolf Kam wrote and Sally Walker illustrated Until the Blueberries Grow about a young boy named Ben who successfully delays his grandfather for a year from selling his home and moving to a retirement community (hopefully like our Seacrest Village in Encinitas). During the year of delay, Ben and his zayde have many adventures such as picking and eating blueberries together; eating jelly sandwiches in the sukkah; drinking hot chocolate by the light of the chanukiah; and secreting and finding afikomen outside in the lilac bushes. But after the year delay, zayde tells Ben he just doesn’t want to keep climbing the stairs to his second-floor bedroom. So, he moves to a retirement community, and when Ben visits him there, he brings a gift. Blueberries! [Donald H. Harrison]
Three Stories for Young Children from PJ Library Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction
By Rabbi Simcha Weiser (JNS) The Jewish future relies on the relevance that children find in what we Jewish teachers teach. Soon to be entering the new school year, we need thoughtful clarity for our teaching to remain relevant. As our Jewish educators prepare to “diligently teach our children,” we remind ourselves how privileged we
A Special Privilege to Teach Our Children Read More »
Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA