Growth of Jewish Communities Promoted in the Early 20th Century

The headline in the adjoining news clipping is hype. “May” is not “will” or “shall.” Booster describes real estate developers, hucksters and visionaries who wanted to profit from growing communities and increases in real estate prices. Saul Voorsanger, who emigrated from Holland with his wife Sarah in 1893, promoted the growth of the Jewish population. He was a salesman and publicist and the brother of Temple Emanu-El’s Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger. The rabbi started Emanu-El, San Francisco’s weekly Jewish newspaper in 1895 and died in 1908. Sol, Saul or S. became editor. During 1912 several newspapers reported Voorsanger’s visiting chambers of commerce in San Diego, Visalia, Fresno, Modesto, Kings, San Joaquin, and Dinuba. He solicited advertising for a special 75,000 copy edition of Emanu-El to recruit better-off Russian Jews to buy and farm California land, a chimera. [Oliver B. Pollak]

Growth of Jewish Communities Promoted in the Early 20th Century Read More »

Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USA

Good News from Israel (August 23, 2021)

NETANYA, Israel — In the August 23, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Israeli scientists have printed an active tumor for testing cancer therapies.
–An Israeli charity is saving Arab children from dying in car crashes.
–Israelis again aid victims of another massive deadly earthquake in Haiti.
–Israelis are developing a flying sports car.
–The rate of Israel’s economic recovery is one of the fastest in the world.
–Israel’s “no-fear” children enjoy a thrilling adventure trail in Jerusalem. [Michael Ordman]

Good News from Israel (August 23, 2021) Read More »

International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Conservative Movement Groups Respond to Child Sex Abuse Allegations

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and United Synagogue Youth (USY) today released the following statement in response to recently reported allegations of child sex abuse: For all of us at USY and USCJ, the past several weeks have been deeply painful.  We are very saddened by the heartbreaking

Conservative Movement Groups Respond to Child Sex Abuse Allegations Read More »

USA

Israel finds COVID-19 vaccine booster significantly lowers infection risk

Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A third dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people aged 60 and older in Israel compared with those who received two shots, findings published by the Health Ministry showed on Sunday. The data were presented at a meeting of a

Israel finds COVID-19 vaccine booster significantly lowers infection risk Read More »

Middle East

Putting the ‘Community’ in Jewish Community Day at Petco Park

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — I’ll never forget my first baseball game. My father brought me to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on the last day of the regular season in 1993, as we watched the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers, 2-1. Even as my interest in America’s Pastime has waned

Putting the ‘Community’ in Jewish Community Day at Petco Park Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Sports & Competitions, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Governor Ron DeSantis

By Mark D. Zimmerman Following the lead of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida State Board of Education has threatened to withhold funds from the school boards in Broward and Alachua counties, where local officials want to enforce mask requirements for their students. DeSantis has stated that mask wearing should be an individual choice, and even

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Governor Ron DeSantis Read More »

Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Historical Marker for Holocaust Hero Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds Finally Dedicated

By Jerry Klinger KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — At-risk to his own life, Roddie Edmonds saved approximately 200 Jewish POW G.I.s during the Holocaust. He is the only American G.I. honored by Yad Vashem as a Righteous Among the Nations. East Tennessee is part of the Republican flyover country to the coastal elitists. Images of the Beverly

Historical Marker for Holocaust Hero Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds Finally Dedicated Read More »

Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, USA

Israel’s Coronavirus Mess

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The cases of coronavirus continue to spike in Israel. By some professional predictions, we might reach 12,000 new cases sometime next week. However, the incidence of seriously ill, hospitalized, and deaths may have peaked, and begun a downturn. Presumably due to the increasing incidence of people getting their booster shot.

Israel’s Coronavirus Mess Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Rosh Hashanah Practices: Not Biblical, But Still Important

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — None of the practices associated today with Rosh Hashanah are biblical. Yet they should be observed for they are very helpful. Sin The concepts of sin and repentance as a religious experience are not in the Bible; they are post-biblical. “Sin,” a prime element in Christian

Rosh Hashanah Practices: Not Biblical, But Still Important Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

‘Rosie the Riveter’ Theme of National Park

Shortly after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, the United States went into full war mobilization mode. While many men were drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces, others were needed to staff the shipyards, aircraft factories, and munition plants on the home front. It soon became apparent that there were more positions to be filled than available male workers and so the U.S. began to recruit women to work in these war industries at jobs for which they never before had been eligible. [Donald H. Harrison]

‘Rosie the Riveter’ Theme of National Park Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Israel opens new visitor route through the tunnel of the Western Wall

Published by DPA A newly developed visitor route through the Western Wall tunnel has opened to visitors in Jerusalem, as part of hopes that Israel’s tourism industry will come back to life with the help of its leading vaccination figures. The new tour offers insight into, among other things, a magnificent public building from the

Israel opens new visitor route through the tunnel of the Western Wall Read More »

Middle East

Botanic Burgers: Creative Kosher Treats, with a Kick

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — In recent years, the advent of the Impossible and Beyond vegan burger brands has helped fulfill a seemingly impossible dream for the kosher consumer: the taste of an authentic cheeseburger. And that’s exactly what set the stage for my visit this week to Botanic Burgers, the new kosher

Botanic Burgers: Creative Kosher Treats, with a Kick Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, Travel and Food