Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor, but lying to pollsters is okay. .. Yogi Berra famously said, “It ain’t over until it’s over.” If Biden wins the election, I hope Trump can grin and Berra it. [Laurie Baron]
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Satire: Observations from the Election Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
The Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America (YAAANA) is opening registration for its “Not Your Usual Intensive Winter Yiddish Language and Culture Program.” The first Yiddish winter intensive program in the San Diego area, it will run from December 6-20, 2020 virtually over Zoom. The winter intensive will include language and conversation (shmues) courses, as well as a cultural program, including Yiddish yoga, four different song workshops, and a special event by San Diego’s favorite klezmer musician, Yale Strom. YAAANA hoped to host this program in person, but in keeping with safety guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it moved the programming online. The organization expects that the virtual element to its winter intensive will make it possible for those from all around the world to take advantage of its offerings this winter. The teachers live both locally, in San Diego, and abroad, with instructors Zooming in from such cities as New York, Berlin, England, and Toronto. [YAAANA press release]
YAAANA offers courses on Yiddish language, songs Read More »
Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
President Donald Trump had it right in 2012 when he said that the Electoral College was “a disaster for democracy.”Under our odd system, the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote can still lose the presidency. It has happened five times in U.S. history: Andrew Jackson in 1824 (to John Quincy Adams); Samuel Tilden in
Editorial: Why America should do away with the Electoral College Read More »
USA
In this week’s portion the Torah continues the narrative of our righteous Patriarch, Avraham. When we study his devotion to G-d we are truly awestruck by his profound connection and his willingness to do ‘whatever it took’ to fulfill the desires of the Master of the Universe. Avraham became known to all subsequent generations because of the enormous tests that he successfully navigated. Put into modern American terms, “Avraham batted 1,000.” [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Effective Prayer 101 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Much remains uncertain in Tuesday’s election in the US, but for Israel, one thing is clear: It still has many friends in Congress from both parties.Leaders throughout Israel’s history have turned to Congress for support and for leverage when facing obstacles in promoting Israeli interests via the president. No prime minister has used that strategy
Bipartisan support for Israel is still alive despite ‘squad’ reelection Read More »
Middle East, USA
Twenty-five years ago this week, on Nov. 4, 1995, a right-wing extremist squeezed the trigger of a Beretta pistol and twice shot Israel’s prime minister, a war general turned practitioner of peace who had signed the 1993 Oslo Accords and Israel’s peace treaty with Jordan in 1994.Yigal Amir’s name lives in infamy. Yitzhak Rabin’s name
Editorial: Rabin’s children Read More »
Middle East
Jews in San Diego County and around the world are kneading and baking challah dough today (Thursday) in preparation for the celebration of worldwide Shabbat. [Donald H. Harrison]
Readying for Shabbat San Diego & Tapestry Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Va-Yera shows Abraham’s hospitality toward strangers, who turn out to be messengers of God. The messengers’ report that Sarah will have a child in a year. It also includesGod’s plan to destroy Sodom and Gemorrah; Abraham’s plea to save those cities if a small number of righteous persons lived there; the encounter of Lot with Sodomites while he hosted two visitors; the destruction of those cities and Lot’s escape with two virginal daughters; incest between the daughters and Lot; Abraham’s further travels and encounters with King Abimelech of Gerar; Sarah giving birth to Isaac; the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael from the family; the Akedah of Isaac; and lastly more genealogy of Abraham’s kin. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Comparing Torah (Va-Yera) with Ancient Practices Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East
This week’s Torah portion (Va-Yera) begins with three men stopping to visit Abraham and Sarah. They might have been messengers of God or even God’s angels, coming to tell Abraham that Sarah would give birth to a son within one year. Because they are old, Sarah laughs at this idea, but the messengers assure them both it will happen. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah For Children: Choose the right path Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
This is not an easy, light-hearted read. Far from it. It describes in harrowing detail the experiences of George Heisler, who is one of seven men who escaped from a prison camp somewhere in rural Germany. The year is 1935, and anyone suspected of opposing the Nazi regime is liable to be summoned by the Gestapo, arrested and sent to a prison camp. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Story of Nazi brutality published during WWII Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, InternationalFollowing are scholarly and popular programs on Jewish-interest subjects that may be accessed between Sunday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Nov.13, via the Internet. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 8-13) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
Marcia Tatz Wollner, the Western Regional Director of March of the Living, urges people to participate in the worldwide “Let There Be Light” project on the evening of Monday, Nov 9, through the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 10. The project commemorates the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, when the Nazi government ordered the destruction of synagogues and Jewish businesses throughout Germany and Austria. [VIDEO story by Sandi Masori]
Speaking out against hate during global Kristallnacht remembrance Nov. 9 Read More »
International, Jewish History, Marcia Tatz Wollner, San Diego County, Sandi Masori
Democrats and Republicans girded Wednesday for a legal showdown to decide the winner of the tight presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.After Trump declared overnight he was ready to go to the US Supreme Court to dispute the counting of votes, his campaign announced a demand for a recount in Wisconsin and lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania, three states which each side needs to win the presidency. [Agence France Presse]
US election heads to the courts Read More »
USA
My head swelled for awhile as Joe Biden, Donald Trump and their surrogates traversed Pennsylvania’s 46,000 square miles imploring us to vote for them. With Election Day past, the nation’s eyes are cast upon a handful of states to add up the remaining mail-in ballots. To think that the fate of the nation – and the world, for that matter – depends on the few, the Pennsylvanians, especially in my corner of the state, Philadelphia. If the former vice president takes Pennsylvania by one vote, and with it the election, I’m taking full credit. Doubtful, of course. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Pennsylvanians glory in their election role Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA