I will freely admit that I am unequal to a large portion of this book. Having not read some of the works that author Ruth R. Wisse subjects to her literary criticism, I have no idea whatsoever if her opinions are on target or off the mark. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Free as a Jew’ is an Intellectual and Political Memoir Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
There are voices, in the here-and-now, that are heard, but not listened to, and seemingly ignored and unheeded. One of those voices flows from Rabbi Dr. Michael Lerner, some menschkatz and psychotherapist philosopher with licensing letters succeeding his surname. He is an old and wise hippy who was inspired by the dreams of the 1960s and -70s, fought the good fight, survived that fight, learned from the mistakes of that era, and who, to this day, continues to learn from and educate others. [John E. Finley]
Book Review: All You Need is Revolutionary Love Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, The World We Share, USA
Maimonides’ understanding of the Book of Exodus ought to have great relevance to people who study the weekly Torah portion. Although he did not write an exposition on this book of the Torah, he writes about it profusely in his Mishneh Torah and his Guide for the Perplexed; the same may be said about his other voluminous writings. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Maimonides on the Morality of Our Choices and Behavior Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
On the anniversary of the insurrection he incited, Donald Trump instructs a mob to storm the Supreme Court to prevent the transfer of his papers to the January 6 Commission. No charges are filed against them because justice is blind, but only in the right eye. … [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: New Year’s Devolutions Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
I think that most of us have a complicated relationship with Christmas. The lights are pretty, the food is tasty and many of the songs are catchy, but it’s just not our holiday. The über-orthodox just ignore it as it’s no more relevant to them than Diwali, Eid or Buddha’s Birthday, but the vast majority of us don’t live in such an ethno-cultural bubble. When you’re a professional entertainer, this relationship is heightened as it behooves you to own some Santa-themed costume pieces and know the words to Christmas carols. [Eric George Tauber]
Tales of a Jewish Santa Claus Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Published by BANG Showbiz English Scarlett Johansson is struggling to find a buyer for her New York penthouse. The 37-year-old actress initially put the plush pad on the market 18 months ago for $2.3 million, but she’s now reportedly slashed the asking price to $1.86 million. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence was first listed on the
Scarlett Johansson seeks a buyer for her New York penthouse Read More »
Jewish Celebrities
Shlichim (plural of shaliach or shlicha, the feminine form of the word) are emissaries who are trained and sent from Israel to be equal parts teacher, ombudsman, and friend to myriad kids, staff, and community members with whom they come in contact over the course of a shlichut (literally, a “mission”) that typically lasts between two and three years. Those years are spent far from home and as a time-out from career pursuits, but with a vitally important purpose: to bring Israel to life for Jews throughout the Diaspora. [Doron Krakow]
Getting to Know a Shaliach from Israel Can Be Life Changing Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
In 2000 a natural gas field was discovered in Israel’s offshore waters near Ashkelon, and amid great rejoicing commercial production started in 2004. An offshore rig can be seen from the coast, which doesn’t do much to improve the beauty of the scenery but certainly helps Israel’s energy-starved economy. Till then Israel relied on imported coal and oil to fuel its power stations, as well as on its only natural resource – ample sunshine – to heat water by means of solar panels on the roofs of houses. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
OpEd: Israel’s Energy Muddle Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky of Beth Jacob Congregation has announced via email that he has “tested positive for Covid-19.” [Beth Jacob Congregation]
Rabbi Bogopulsky Tells of Experiencing ‘Light’ Covid Symptoms Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Published by BANG Showbiz English Sandra Bernhard has claimed her friendship with Madonna ended because the singer’s relationships “just don’t last”. The 66-year-old comedian was good friends with the ‘Material Girl’ hitmaker until the 1990s, and she has admitted there were certain pressures that came with their friendship. She said: “I didn’t really like that
Sandra Bernhard reveals why her friendship with Madonna ended Read More »
Jewish Celebrities
Much has been written about the Jewish community in Kiryat Arba and Hebron, but I would like to share three personal memories of Rabbi Eliezer Waldman, of blessed memory, who was among the founders of the renewed Jewish community in the city of our forefathers, who passed away on December 18th. [Toby Klein Greenwald]
Rabbi Eliezer Waldman, Hebron-Based Rabbi Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein Greenwald
Titian: Women, Myth & Power at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum consists of only six paintings, yet this one-room exhibition feels more like a six-course banquet. So overwhelming, immense and entrancing are the monumental canvases that upon entering the room one must literally catch one’s breath. Titian, greatest of the Venetian Renaissance masters, referred to these paintings, commissioned by King Philip II of Spain, as poesie (poems) and each depicts a different scene from stories in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Poems in Paint: Titian at the Gardner Museum Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir
Instead of blaming Sen. Jon Manchin III for the uncertain status of the Build Back Better bill, perhaps we should direct our wrath at the ghost of William Paterson. New Jersey’s one-time governor might well be disgusted with himself if he were alive to witness the suspension of the $1.7 trillion social policy legislation. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Majority-Rule Advocates Should Restructure the Senate Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
These mainly poetic passages come from two separate parts of Isaiah I’s writings. Most are commonly dated ca. 730s BCE, but there are some earlier and many later contributors’ insertions. This has muddled previous date assignments of these materials. Modern scholars now think a good bit arose from the time of the fall of the Babylonian empire to Persia in 539 BCE. It is arguable that some of what are called predictions actually were formulated ‘after the events.’ [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah for December 25, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion