The relation of this Haftorah to the Torah parasha Balak is that in the parasha, we read of Balak, king of Moab, designing a plot against Moses and the Israelites; in the Haftorah Micah recalls that story. [Irv Jacobs, M.D.]
Haftorah Reading for June 26, 2021 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
When it comes to the Exodus from Egypt, there are countless references—both implicit and explicit—that add depth beyond the plain meaning of the text. Take for instance the exchange between Moses and Pharaoh where Moses asks to sacrifice in a distant land. [Teresa Konopka]
Some Forgotten Background to Biblical Episodes Read More »
Jewish Religion, Teresa_Konopka
I introduced Judy Bloom, Elizabeth Enright and Norton Juster to my summer hangouts, and they in turn, took me to places I’d never visited. The experience of gobbling up all of the library’s offerings seemed limitless and thrilling. And now, thanks to the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, summer reading is back! [Eva Trieger]
LFJCC Summer Reading Program Features Jewish Authors and Topics Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, San Diego County
Published by New York Daily News “Sesame Street” featured two gay dads and their daughter in a groundbreaking episode celebrating diversity and inclusion. In an episode entitled “Family Day,” which premiered last week on HBO Max and YouTube, the beloved children’s show has a scene in which Nina (Suki Lopez) introduces her brother Dave (Chris
‘Sesame Street’ celebrates inclusion with episode featuring 2 gay dads Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Published by Reuters By Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday for the first time since taking a lead role in immigration issues, her office said, bowing to pressure that she make the high-profile trip. Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas, on Friday and will
Vice President Kamala Harris to visit U.S.-Mexico border on Friday Read More »
USA
Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favor of a Pennsylvania teenager who sued after a profane social media post got her banished from her high school’s cheerleading squad in a closely watched free speech case, but it declined to outright ban public schools from regulating off-campus
Cheerleader prevails at U.S. Supreme Court in free speech case Read More »
USA
Advocates for the Palestinians exerted their terrorism talents in or near two prominent American cities 3,000 miles apart in recent weeks. First they prevented a privately-owned Israeli ship from unloading its cargo in Oakland, California, across the bay from San Francisco. On Sunday, they succeeded in canceling a food festival in the Kensington section of Philadelphia because the organizers dared to allow an Israeli food truck to participate. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Anti-Israel Forces Block Ship in Oakland, Food Festival in Philadelphia Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Business & Finance, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA
Written by Rabbi Shimshon Meir Frankel, a clinical psychologist living in Zichron Yaakov, Israel, who also practices as a marriage and family therapist, with more than 25 years of experience, his book stands out with its Torah-driven, short-term, solution-oriented focus anchored in ancient wisdom. It puts the reader in the driver’s seat with very concentrated tools to live free of foreign, unhelpful thoughts, “antagonists,” and unhealthy behaviors – it is soul focused and value grounded. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Book Review: The Wisdom of Getting Unstuck Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Gershon is sitting on the bus with two baskets brim full of purchases from the open- air market at his feet, one basket crowding his legs, the other half in the aisle, a traditional arrangement on Jerusalem’s buses as they aren’t designed for ample purchases. Jerusalemites like to purchase in bulk. They have large families. Besides, at any time someone or many someones may “drop in.” Gershon’s wife, Rachelah, who was not blessed with children, likes people to drop in. She is fond of quoting Gershon who quotes from the Mishna: ‘Let your house be open wide.’ [Larry Lefkowitz]
Short Story: Gershon’s Bus Ride Read More »
Jewish Fiction, Middle East
In sports, which can serve as a microcosm of our society, we saw over the past few days the ugly and the beautiful.
The ugly came following a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) regional championship basketball game between Coronado High School of the City of Coronado and Orange Glen High School of the City of Escondido. At the end of the hard-fought game, which Coronado narrowly won, some of its players “celebrated” by tossing packages of tortillas at the Orange Glen team, whose players are predominantly Mexican-American. Coronado High School, in contrast, is predominantly White. [Donald H. Harrison]
Demonstrations of the Ugly and the Beautiful in Sports Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, USA
Talking donkeys can teach us a great deal about who really offers blessings and curses, that is, only Hashem. And more than this, talking donkeys can teach us to inclusively, with ahavat yisroel, open our eyes and see the good in everyone else in the world. It says in the parasha three times, “And G-d opened the eyes of Bilam and he saw…” Some people, like Bilaam, may need continuous lessons to see the presence of Hashem. We benefit from similar reminders to see every other person with understanding, with the benefit of the doubt, with love, through ayin tova. Our eyes are lenses through which we see the world. Too often shmutz clouds what we see in terms of negative thinking. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Talking Donkey Teaches Us To See the Good in One Another Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Iris and Matthew Strauss, longtime supporters of cancer research and patient care at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, have given $2 million to establish the Iris and Matthew Strauss Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Head and Neck Surgery to support excellence in research, education and clinical care. [UC San Diego Health Sciences photo]
Matthew and Iris Strauss Endow UC San Diego Chair for Head and Neck Surgery Read More »
San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
The Jewish Agency for Israel and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington on Tuesday announced their collaboration to bring former Member of Knesset Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh (Yesh Atid/Blue and White), the first female Druze member of Israel’s Parliament, to Washington, DC as a senior shlicha (Israeli emissary). She will also support Israel engagement efforts on North American college campuses working closely with Hillel International. [Jewish Agency for Israel news release]
Former Druze MK New Shlicha from Israel Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Published by Reuters By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Rami Ayyub GAZA/TEL AVIV (Reuters) – Israel allowed a limited resumption of commercial exports from the Gaza Strip on Monday in what it called a “conditional” measure, one month after a truce halted 11 days of fighting with the Palestinian enclave’s Hamas rulers. But following a meeting with
Israel allows some Gaza exports, Hamas demands more amid fragile truce Read More »
Middle East