More than 220,000 Americans have died of Covid19. One of them was Steve Silverman, 71, my college roommate and friend for 55 years. An active sportsman, a successful and compassionate doctor, he had suffered for three weeks, alone and hooked up to a respirator. His wife, two grown children, grandchildren and friends “attended” the funeral and shiva on Zoom. [Michael Ginsberg]
Judaism’s response to Covid19 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Ginsberg
By the time ten generations had passed Noah lived in a world where people were constantly at each other’s throats. Raping, pillaging, murder were all abundantly prevalent. The profound immorality had even penetrated the animal kingdom, where there were ubiquitous instances of cross-species breeding, something which goes against nature itself.
Noah and his clan were different. The Torah attests that he was a Tzaddik / a saintly person in his generation. They stood on an island of virtue in a sea of depravity. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Noah’s Flood Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Charley could draw and paint imaginatively with incredible realism He also created innumerable bas-relief sand cast murals that still hang in libraries, banks, corporate offices, government buildings, and the San Diego Airport. It was my good fortune to have known him. He taught me, on the telephone, how to make sand castings [Ira Spector]
Artist Charley Faust helped struggling firm win a contract Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
Former Vice President Joe Biden compared the U.S. relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un today to America’s “good relationship with Hitler before he, in fact, invaded Europe — the rest of Europe.”
The comparison came during one of many sharp exchanges Thursday night between Biden, the Democratic nominee for President, and President Donald J. Trump, the Republican, in their second and last debate before the Nov. 3 election. [Donald H. Harrison)
Biden likens North Korea to pre-war Nazi Germany Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
I wanted to use my newly minted social work skills and found a job teaching the principles of case work, which had never been taught in the local school of social work. It was a professional school not affiliated with the university. Students stood up whenever I entered the classroom, and they were to be called by their last names preceded by mademoiselle or monsieur. I translated all my class notes from Columbia into French. Case work is the presentation of a problem which students need to find the best way to help the client to resolve. It was challenging to teach this method, which included starting where the client is and including him or her in finding a solution. Swiss students were raised in a more authoritarian culture [Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D, ACSW]
My New Life in Switzerland, 1965 Read More »
International, Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, Science, Medicine, & Education
Sam Glaser’s The Joy of Judaism contains 407 pages of very interesting insights into Jewish practices offered to readers by a very accomplished communicator in a clear, often humorous, always insightful and inspiring way. Glaser’s book covers virtually all aspects of Judaism. He shows readers how they can enjoy Jewish practices. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Humor, song lyrics, and Jewish practice Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Ever walk down the boardwalk in Pacific Beach or downtown at the Embarcadero on a beautiful sunny afternoon day and notice raggedly dressed individuals sleeping on park benches? They look as if they have not showered in years and if you got close enough your nose would tell you that you were probably right. [Ben Dishman, PharmD]
Days in the lives of mentally ill homeless people Read More »
Ben Dishman, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
This week’s Parshah has two stories. The first is the story of Noah and the big flood. God tells Noah of the plan to “put an end to all flesh” because the earth is filled with lawlessness. God instructs Noah to build an ark and bring aboard his family and two of every animal on Earth, plus enough food to feed everyone. You’re probably familiar with the story. [Marcia Berneger]
Torah for Children: Be a Friend Read More »
Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger
The disgusting advertisement jumps out at you from page 9 of The Jewish Journal covering south Florida: “If You’re Jewish WHY are you Still Voting Democrat?” The ad goes downhill from there. A Jewish Orlando, Fla., woman posts on Facebook: “If you’re JEWISH and Haven’t Voted Yet: PLEASE STOP and THINK! How Can A JEWISH Person Vote For Hitler!” [Bruce S. Ticker]
Studies in Horrific Election Rhetoric Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
Scholarly programs on diverse Jewish subjects, compiled by Laurie Baron, Ph.D.
Streaming Jewish Programs (Oct. 25-30) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
Turkey’s President Erdogan is becoming ever more dangerous as he continues to ravage his own country and destabilize scores of states in the Middle East, the Balkans, and North Africa, while cozying up to the West’s foremost adversaries. Sadly, there seems to be no appetite for most EU member states to challenge Erdogan and put him on notice that he can no longer pursue his authoritarianism at home and his adventurous meddling abroad with impunity. [Alon Ben-Meir, PhD]
Erdogan’s Calamitous Authoritarianism Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA
There are over 500 collected non-Biblical flood stories from around the globe. The most famous is contained within the epic legend of Gilgamesh. He may have actually been a historical person, a wise Sumerian king on an adventure to win fame. He encountered Utnapishtim, the actual flood figure, who survived in a vessel, a Great Deluge that destroyed mankind. Gilgamesh learned the details from Utnapishtim. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Ancient Flood Stories and The Tower of Babel Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food
A vertical construct
making a line
upward to the sky –
the Tower of Babel –
it was meant
to unite all humanity …
(Poem by Jeremy Friedman)
Our New Tower of Babel? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion
If you are part of my generation, you’re familiar with Harry Chapin, the singer-songwriter. But he was so much more than that! He used his musical gifts to fight hunger and poverty with a passion. This documentary tells the story along with a plethora of fine Harry Chapin music. [Sheryl Rowling]
Film Review: Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sheryl Rowling, Theatre, Film & Broadcast