Anthology personalizes racism, oppression, loss

In my continuing quest to learn the stories of other peoples – in what you might call independent ethnic studies for a Jewish septuagenarian—I picked up Reclaiming Our Stories 2 and was intrigued by one of the fellows pictured on the cover.  He was wearing a shirt with the slogan, “Peace for Palestine.”  I wondered what kind of peace he had in mind. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

Fiction: Velvl and the Vanishing Chicken

Once upon a time, there was a sleepy Russian village named Mushpushshushnia. That’s my village. Once upon a time, there was a charming, bright, kind, but misunderstood and underappreciated 12-year-old boy named Velvl. That’s me. Once upon a time, Papa told me to fetch a chicken to slaughter. And that’s where the story begins. [Michael Ginsberg]

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Jewish Fiction, Michael Ginsberg, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Fashion: What your clothing says about you

As a Jewish young professional new to town, I have the chance to reinvent myself. New cities bring new beginnings. Like many women, I have a love-hate relationship with my closet. Stuffed to the brim with tops, bottoms, dresses, and more, I am often faced with a host of options juxtaposing the infamous “I have nothing to wear” syndrome. With so many pieces to coordinate for outfits—combined with being in a new place—I began to wonder what type of image I wanted to project. [Teresa Konopka]

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Lifestyles, Teresa_Konopka

Streaming Jewish Programs (Sept. 6-11)          

Laurie Baron, Ph.D, rounds up streaming programs of Jewish interest for scholars and lay people, from Sunday, Sept. 6 through Friday, Sept. 11

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USA

Kushner’s snarkiness hampered Black-Jewish relations

Perhaps Jared Kushner could not resist. When the NBA shut down last week, Kushner told CNBC. “The NBA players are very fortunate that they have the financial position where they’re able to take a night off from work without having to have the consequences to themselves financially. So they have that luxury, which is great.” [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Sports & Competitions, USA

Father-son reflections before the High Holy Days

If we want to keep Yiddishkeit alive, if we want to make Bubbie and Zeide in heaven shep nachas and be proud, if we want to feel the Presence of Gd in our lives and know Gd has our back, then we must show some enthusiasm about Gd and Jewish life. I would like to read to you a series of email letters that a father from Atlanta, writes to his son in Los Angeles that brilliantly illustrates this. Let me first tell you that the letters are a complete figment of my imagination, yet I see much of myself in them. Maybe you too, will see reflections of your own life in these very private and intimate letters. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]

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Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Jewish Religion

‘Hearts of Gold’ gala to honor Seacrest’s workers

Cindy Bloch and Jean Gaylis will co-chair a Feb. 21 virtual “Hearts of Gold” gala honoring the front line workers  “who are ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the residents of Seacrest Village, while providing love and compassion during these challenging times,” according to Anna L. Johnston, events manager of the Seacrest Foundation.   [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA

Golf and the Art of the Double Deal

During an interview with Laura Ingraham, President Trump compared the actions of the Kenosha policeman who shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times to a professional golfer who chokes when trying to make 3-foot putt in a tournament. Though leftwing commentators thought this was an insensitive analogy, Trump views politics from the lens of golf as the following comments edited out of the Ingraham interview indicate. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

A High Holy Day guide for children

Rosh Hashanah and Yon Kippur are almost here. This year’s celebration will definitely be different from those of past years. There will be services to be watched from the safety of our homes, both for adults and for kids. But how will children be involved by watching without interacting? PJ Library has come up with the perfect solution. They have assembled a fifty-page packet of information, crafts, recipes and conversation starters to engage children of all ages and encourage interaction between all family members. [Marcia Berneger]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Marcia Berneger

Doing mitzvot with joy or with oy?

Couldn’t we all use some genuine happiness about now? This week’s parasha may be just the thing that can bring it. Do you encounter your Judaism as a “get to” or a “have to” experience? This week’s Torah reading, Ki Tavo, asks us to consider how we serve Hashem, with joy…or with oy,“…because you did not serve the Lord, your God, with happiness and with gladness of heart, when [you had an] abundance of everything…you will serve your enemies.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Palestinians should quickly negotiate with Israelis

The fact that the UAE conditioned its recognition of Israel on freezing any further annexation is considerably important. It offers the Palestinians the opportunity to move forward and enter into unconditional negotiations now, while there will be no further annexation of Palestinian land. Even though Prime Minister Netanyahu said the halt on further annexation is temporary, once the Palestinians agree to negotiate in good faith, they will make it impossible for any Israeli government to annex any territory without risking normalization of relations with other Arab states. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East

National director of Ta’amod settles in San Diego

Ta’amod encourages and guides Jewish organizations to hold themselves to a higher standard, thereby ensuring that every individual experiences a safe, respectful workplace, regardless of whether that employee identifies as Jewish or not and no matter where they identify in Jewish practice and beliefs. [Eva Trieger]

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Business & Finance, Eva Trieger, San Diego County, USA