A Hebrew saying has it that a man is known by his kisso, kosso and ka’asso, his tipping, tipple and temper. I have never read anything about Prime Minister Netanyahu’s drinking habits or his temper, but we read a lot about his attitude to money. Part of his trial, due to start next month, is about taking bribes. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Netanyahu receives a large tax break Read More »
Middle East
Being of mixed racial background and also Jewish often feels like no matter what group you are with, you are perceived as the “other,” sometimes prompting doubts if there is any group with which you truly belong. Such was the thrust of comments made by Jessica Lemoine and Jenni Asher during an Internet forum on Sunday sponsored by the San Diego Outreach Synagogue and moderated by Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss and her husband Dan Weiss. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
On being Black and Jewish Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Ruth Poniarski is a painter and the author of Journey of the Self: Memoir of an Artist (Warren Publishing, 2020), in which she tells the story of her decade long struggle with mental illness, a “spiraling malady” which led her into a “pattern of psychosis.” I recently had the opportunity to talk with Poniarski about her life and work, and how she eventually overcame her demons. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
A conversation with artist Ruth Poniarski Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir
My dues went up for my synagogue. Do we really need as big a building that can sit 500 with three rabbis, a cantor, ten office staff, security, and more? My grandson’s bar mitzvah was canceled. I don’t count a 23-car caravan circling the house as his Aliyah is called by Zoom from the front porch as quite the right experience. [Satire by Jerry Klinger]
Satire: Kvetching in Boynton Beach, Florida Read More »
Jerry Klinger, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Barry Jagoda, a retired communications director for UC San Diego, has had a storied media career. He was a producer at various times for CBS and NBC, coordinating coverage for such historic events as Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon; and the unfolding Watergate crisis and resignation of Richard M. Nixon. With his media savvy, he went on to become a special assistant to Jimmy Carter, initially on the campaign trail and later in the White House. Many of the stars of his era in television media — Walter Cronkite, Ed Bradley, Dan Rather, for example — were on first-name basis with him. As you might imagine, Jagoda has a lot of stories to tell. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Barry Jagoda recalls life at the Carter White House Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
As a retired history professor, I wonder how and what I’d be teaching in the age of Trump. Although I rank him below Andrew Johnson on the worst presidents list, I discern the implications of what he says and does for my pedagogy if I ever resumed my career. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Lessons from a leader Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Science, Medicine, & Education, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
As everywhere, people are worried in Australia about coronavirus. The number of cases and deaths in Australia is much lower compared with the USA. Partly it is because of our geography, party because of measures implemented by the Government, in particular, border closure. Because of it Chinese officials call us racists. They cancelled several trade deals and told their youths to abandon Australian universities where large numbers of Chinese students studied prior to the pandemic. [Alex Glikin]
Australia also feels the impact of coronavirus, BLM movement Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA
Celebrating its 75th year of service to the community, Camp Jaycee opened last Monday, June 22, at the Lawrence Family JCC and at Congregation Beth Am in Carmel Valley, the first of several locations where satellite camps will be conducted in the county. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Modified Camp Jaycee underway at JCC and Beth Am Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
A ‘sacrifice zone,’ American novelist Roger S. Gottlieb tells us, is “a place so polluted it can never be cleaned up.” It is also the title of a highly original, deeply moving new novel from Gottlieb — a prolific philosophy professor at Worcester Polytechnic University (WPI) in Massachusetts. He also has written dozens of non-fiction books on everything from Marxism and contemporary spirituality to the Holocaust and religious environmentalism.[Dan Bloom]
‘The Sacrifice Zone’ and worst cases of pollution Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories
Back in the day, when my children were young, I would sometimes join them when they watched certain programs on Children’s TV. One of these was Zehu-Zeh (That’s It), which tried to amuse, entertain and educate by means of little skits, songs and quizzes. Let’s face it, most of the programs on Children’s TV were noisy, gaudy American imports, with little or no educational content, though of course Sesame Street was the exception that proved the rule. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
‘Zehu-Zeh’ revival brings much needed humor to Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Congregation Adat Yeshurun of La Jolla is embarking on a campaign to write a Torah scroll which will be gifted to Rabbi Jeff Wohlgelernter and his wife Shoshie Wohlgelernter in honor of their 33 years of service. [Jacob Kamaras]
33 years later, Adat Yeshurun’s founding rabbi to retire July 1 Read More »
International, Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
During the time of coronavirus pandemic, the people can’t go to theatre, symphonic, or opera performances, or even to an art museum because of the need for social distancing. So, instead, the performing and visual arts are coming to the people, via Zoom, Facebook, and other Internet channels. While art organizations are doing so, they are becoming increasingly innovative. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
How the Arts are changing during the pandemic Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Korach can be considered the antithesis of Moses, although ironically they both hailed from the Tribe of Levi, and were therefore cousins. If Moses was the paradigm of humility, Korach represents conceit. If Moses was the epitome of selflessness, Korach stood for selfishness. Yet, as is often the case with charlatans, Korach accused Moses of precisely the sins of which he himself was guilty. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Moses and Korach were polar opposites Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Thanks to the twisting dynamics of Colorado politics, a Jewish candidate could be key to returning the Senate to Democratic control. In the process, developments in Tuesday’s sharp-elbows Democratic primary could produce some intriguing ironies. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Andrew Romanoff may be key to a Democratic U.S. Senate Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA