As a little Jewish boy in the streets of Baghdad
I was looked upon by Arab boys my age as inferior.
I became accustomed to it as if it were a natural phenomenon
which I could do little to change. … [Alon Ben-Meir, PhD]
I Want My American Dream Back Read More »
Travel and Food
Speaking in 2013, Joe Biden said of the Jewish people, “You make up 11 percent of the seats in the United States Congress. You make up one-third of all Nobel laureates. So many notions that are embraced by this nation that particularly emanate from over 5,000 years of Jewish history, tradition and culture: independence, individualism, fairness, decency, justice, charity.” He concluded by saying what? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: Joe Biden, Jr. Read More »
Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
PETACH TIKVAH, Israel — Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of the United Kingdom, recently told the National Security Strategy Committee in London that “it’s unlikely we will end up with a truly sterilizing vaccine, something that completely stops infection.”As daunting as this estimate is, chances are that Vallance is underestimating the impact of the virus. The more likely scenario is that the virus will spread from humans to the animal kingdom, to plants, and from there back to people. It will be impossible to defeat it using regular methods. Our only option is to revolutionize our way of life. [Michael Laitman, Ph.D]
Love each other as if your life depends upon it Read More »
International, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share
The third year at camp, since I was the oldest and most experienced scout, by default became the leader of our troop. In a secret ballot we voted to elect anyone we thought worthy to become a member of the Order of the Arrow. This is a coveted honor service society that recently had its 100-year anniversary. Its lore is based on an enchanting heroic Indian story. [Ira Spector]
An induction into the Order of the Arrow Read More »
Lifestyles, USA
Sarah Golembsky and her family hoped to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah with a trip to Israel, but like many other B’nai Mitzvah, the pandemic made it impossible for her celebration to go as planned. She had to get creative. Sara and her family didn’t want to miss out on the Israel experience, so they did the next best thing: a live tour to Jerusalem and the Kotel through StandWithUs Discover. Virtual tours of Israel are one of the many educational opportunities offered to B’nai Mitzvah as part of a new StandWithUs B’nai Mitzvah Project initiative. [StandWithUs]
For Bat Mitzvah, she traveled to Israel virtually Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
Why would Muslims continue to vote Republican? It’s a question that has puzzled pollsters for years.For the majority of Muslim-American voters, the Republican Party – which led the war in Iraq, instituted the Muslim travel ban, and relocated the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem – does not represent them.However, a growing and significant minority
Why some American Muslims are choosing to vote Republican in the 2020 US election Read More »
Middle East, USA
The vision of Israel’s innovators brings tomorrow’s dreams much closer to today’s world. This week’s newsletter includes visual innovations such as an eye-tracking app to reduce stress; facial analysis to warn of a stroke, plus new bio-markers and telemedicine to highlight diseases optically. Israeli technology enhances websites to benefit the visually impaired, removes toxic algae infesting clear blue lakes and helps our US allies to see in the dark. Far-sighted Israelis are kickstarting sport for children, and boosting training for adults in athletics as well as in the hi-tech arena. Many of Israel’s other achievements can only be described as “out of sight”! [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (Nov. 1, 2020) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA
November 1, 2020: The beginning of the Holiday shopping season. … November 3, 2020: Election Day. Forget about Halloween; this will be the scariest night of the year when Trump declares victory and confiscates all uncounted ballots 1 hour after the polls close on the West Coast. He holds big victory party in the White House. [Laurie Baron, PhD}
Satire: Nightmare November 2020 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Every year around Halloween, many Americans watch various monster movies about creatures who are often “undead.” Let’s be honest; nothing is appealing about zombies. They lack the sexiness of vampires; they lack the glamor and good manners. At least vampires know how to blend in society. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Some underlying reasons for zombies’ popularity Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Theatre, Film & BroadcastHe was only known as Klimo. No other name. I employed him occasionally, and I once fired him twice in one day. I paid him in cash, the small employer’s magic fairy dust that eliminates the need to pay taxes for employer and employee alike. [Ira Spector]
Klimo, an unforgettable part-time artist Read More »
Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyIsrael, the land that was meant to host the ingathering of the exiles and reunite the Jewish people, is tearing at the seams. There has never been real unity in Israeli society, but we always knew how to rise above our partisan interests in the moment of truth. We cannot do this anymore; hatred and division have taken over. It seems as though we are going to split into myriad groups and clans, and many will seek asylum elsewhere, and I am not sure they will be welcome anywhere. [Michael Laitman, PhD]
From Ingathering Exiles to Escaping Clans Read More »
Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle EastThere is hardly a day that passes when I don’t marvel at an individua’s power and ability to move mountains and change history. Our current presidential election underscores the importance of one vote and a single individual’s power to bring about change in society. The same could be said concerning Abraham. Abraham believed he could change and transform the world. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Abraham exemplified the power of an individual Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
I just made a contribution to the NAACP after being mesmerized listening to the audible edition of Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Perhaps my contribution is a guilt offering. No matter, it is never too late to step up to the plate and take a swing against profound racial injustice in our country. [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]
Caste: A Mind-Opening Book Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l
In the third and final part of our Jewish Halloween series, seen above, Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Congregation Ohr Shalom shares with us how you can have a meaningful Halloween in a Jewish way. Some of his suggestions involve kosher candy, keeping Shabbat, and tzedakah. [Sandi Masori]
Jewish connections to Halloween, Part III Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, USA