The holidays have passed, and we’re back to work. More or less. Bibi has used up almost half of the time allotted him to form a government, and still no results. Smotrich remains adamant about not relying on an Arab party, and without that Bibi remains short of a Knesset majority. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Israel’s Government, Policies Adrift Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Blindspot Collective in San Diego is known for its shows for young audiences, tackling difficult topics such as mental illness, the bullying of immigrants and the tribulations of the transgendered. They specialize in “forum theatre” in which audience members actually get to step into the show and give the actors do-overs with better outcomes. But, like all of us, the current situation has forced them to rethink how they do things. And so, they have created Lit: A Virtual Musical, written and directed by Desha Crownover of SD Junior Theatre with book and lyrics by Blake McCarty and Music by Ian Brandon. [Eric George Tauber]
‘Lit’ warms the Heart Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
To commemorate Yom Hashoah, Ohr Shalom Synagogue screened the premiere of the documentary, We Are the Tree of Life: Carry On. The Zoom screening was introduced by former Ohr Shalom president, Susie Meltzer. Many participants in the film were in the Zoom audience, including Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. [Eileen Wingard]
‘We Are the Tree of Life’ debuts in San Diego Read More »
Eileen Wingard, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
When my father had back surgery, he shopped around to nearly every top orthopedic surgeon in L.A. until he found one willing to cut into his ailing eighty-five-year-old frame and repair three levels of his lumbar vertebrae. We were overjoyed to see him recover from the spine operation but soon thereafter he needed a knee replacement. Oy vey! For all his health issues, he still maintains his Dodger and Laker season tickets, trades on the stock market and teaches a monthly Jewish history class. But his pleasure in life is sharply curtailed in what seems to be a cruel downward spiral of Job-like proportions. [Sam Glaser]
Caring for Aging Parents and Beyond Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Sam Glaser
At the end of last month, we ran an article by Korean-American Kelsey Kloza about what she described as “Asian fetishization” by which American males tend to construe any Asian woman as an “exotic and erotic two-dimensional object designed only for tempting male characters into forbidden pleasures.” [Donald H. Harrison]
On Asian fetishization and the humanity of migrants Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, USA
In the April 18, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–3 Israeli research breakthroughs into cancer, aging and obesity.
–NASA names two asteroids after their Israeli-Arab student discoverer.
–Japan praises Israel for its help on the 10th anniversary of the tsunami.
–A hi-tech Israeli competitor to zoom.
–Investment in Israeli startups breaks three all-time records.
–Israelis once again were able to properly celebrate the nation’s birthday. (Michael Ordman)
Good News from Israel (April 18, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
By Jerry Klinger BOYNTON BEACH, Florida — Our little dog, Norman, died this week. He was 13. He loved us, and we definitely loved him. He was more than a family pet whose life had run its course. Norman was the forgotten soul of Israel. He had passed. But because of little Norman, a process
A dog, memorials, and Herzl’s last descendant Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jerry Klinger
Bernie Madoff died in prison this week. In accordance with his will, his tombstone will be shaped like a pyramid. … {Laurie Baron, Ph.D}
Satire: Short Takes Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Almost Havana: A Collection of Short Stories by F.W Belland and Chris Belland; Whiz Bang LLC, 2014; ISBN 9780692-378885; 192 pages; $14.95; Available on Amazon Amazon.com : almost havana By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Brothers Fred and Chris Belland each contributed ten stories to this well-written collection. While reading older brother Fred’s stories,
The Brothers Belland Team on Short Stories Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Hank Azaria’s recent apology for voicing the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian-born convenience store clerk on “The Simpsons,” has launched some fascinating discussions that touch on, but also transcend, the role of pop culture in shaping the world we all share. Azaria’s Apu has long come under fire for its stereotypical portrayal of Indian Americans.
Tzarat was a consequence of numerous sins, most prominent of them was Lashon Harah – evil gossip. Interestingly, the person suffering from Tzarat was placed into quarantine, not so that the disease wouldn’t spread, but instead to demonstrate to the person with the disease that his anti-social behavior resulted in an anti-social situation. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
Receiving Direct Feedback from Hashem Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
(Reuters) – Washington state lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday setting a target to stop sales of gasoline-fueled vehicles there beginning in 2030, five years sooner than California. The target is not a firm mandate and is contingent on the state adopting a tax on vehicle miles traveled, a measure to help pay for new
Washington state passes bill with goal to phase out gasoline cars Read More »
USA
AUSTIN, Texas — Split irrevocably along party lines, the Texas Senate on Thursday approved legislation banning transgender student athletes from competing in sports within their gender identity. All 18 Republicans voted for Senate Bill 29, which would require athletes in Texas public high schools and grade schools to compete in sports based on the “biological
Texas Senate approves limits on transgender student athletes Read More »
USA
A Concise Guide to the Sages is made up of five parts. The first 271 pages of the 511-page volume focuses on the more than fifty weekly biblical portions of the Five Books of Moses which Jews read in synagogues and which many Jews study at home. Virtually all of the sayings of the Sages quoted in this section are midrashic (ideas derived from the biblical text which are not explicit in the text). {Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin}
Steinsaltz’s Sage Book on the Sages Read More »
Jewish Religion