Recently, the leader of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), Rabbi Rick Jacobs, termed the merging of parts of his organization with other Jewish denominations “a real possibility.” Last week, we learned that two iconic Reform temples in Brooklyn are considering a merger. The rest of the Jewish community should take notice. [Commentary by Beth Sirull]
OpEd: Jewish organizations should be open to mergers Read More »
San Diego County, USA
Impressed by the scope of the George Floyd Protests, I have found the slogans on signs carried by demonstrators are applicable to other aspects of American society. Here’s some examples. [Humor column by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Extrapolating the Slogans from the George Floyd Protests Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Notice how so many people are “re-ing” these days? They’re rewiring, rebooting, reorganizing, renewing, refreshing, reaffirming, reassessing, and readjusting. I suggest it’s time to recant. Yes, recant your can’t. “Why can’t things ever go right, just once in my life?” “I’m such a ________.” “I’ll never be as good as ___________.” “Why do things never go my way?” “Why can’t I ever succeed, just once?” “What’s the point of trying? I’ll fail again. I’m cursed!” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
How to Recant Your Can’t Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Is there anyone within range of this letter who doesn’t know the sad story of George Floyd?
Here, half a world away from Minneapolis, and with our own problems of disease and violence, we’ve seen the film of his murder in custody of Minneapolis police, with his neck under the knee of one officer, while three others were near by. We heard his call that he couldn’t breath, but that brought no relief. Apparently he was picked up for a minor offense, and then killed by an officer with his own record of several complaints for undue violence. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
The George Floyd case as seen from Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
Why is Israel bashing like hockey in Canada, drinking furniture stripper methanol in Russia or shooting in the US – why is it such a popular pastime? The media and politicians rarely miss a chance to rage against Israel, never seeming cognizant of the following facts and arguments: [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
The ‘Woke’ and the Left’s Israel Problem Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School on Sunday, June 7, celebrated the 57th anniversary of its founding in a Zoom gathering that highlighted the life of the late Eilene Cummins, a longtime volunteer and former board president for the Orthodox school at 3730 Afton Avenue, San Diego. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Hebrew Day School celebrates its 57th anniversary Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
The reality was very controversial — President Trump’s decision to visit a prominent Washington, D.C. church and pose for a photo outside it, holding a Bible (upside down.). [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]
Satire: Trump to pose with Bibles at synagogues Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire
While there have been Christian Bibles printed in English for many centuries, English editions of the Hebrew Bible have only been around for about a century and a half. Which of the following is an English edition of the Hebrew Bible? [Trivia column by Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia question: The Bible Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
In the summer issue of the online B’Yachad, published by the Jewish National Fund, attention is given to Israel’s desire to populate its northern “frontiers” — the Galilee to the north and the Negev Desert to the south. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
JNF aiding Negev communities including SD Jewish Federation’s sister region Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
Jews and non-Jews who want to know more about the Bible (the Tanakh) and such questions as why biblical figures acted as they did, could do no better that to read Professor Nechama Price’s Tribal Blueprints. This book is part of the excellent Maggid Tanakh Companion series. Maggid is part of Koren Press. The series uses an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates traditional rabbinic interpretations with secular scholarly literary techniques to explore biblical characters and themes. Professor Price is a senior lecturer in Bible and Judaic Studies at Stern College and Director of Yeshiva University’s Graduate Program in Advanced Talmud Studies. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
‘Tribal Blueprints’ examines Jacob, his wives, sons, and descendants Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Easing from online to in-person worship, Tifereth Israel Synagogue will hold an outdoor minyan at 7:15 a.m. Monday, June 8, as a first step towards resuming normal worship activities, Rabbi Josh Dorsch has announced. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Tifereth Israel eases into in-person worship Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
This week has been very tough. I saw THE video. I couldn’t believe my eyes; a man sworn to protect and serve kneeling nonchalantly upon another man’s neck. An officer of the law casually draining the life from another human being while the human being begged for breath. The perpetrator’s apparent boredom is at the same time chilling and boils the blood! [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
Racists beware: God will hold you to account Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
The Black Lives Matter announcement of a march in La Jolla at 1 p.m., Friday, June 12, reads, in part: “The protests cannot remain only in areas with likeminded people. La Jolla is a predominantly white and rich area desperate for awareness. They have the power to sway leaders and thus we must educate them. These minds cannot remain sheltered.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
La Jolla prepares to welcome BLM marchers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
This week, I tuned in to two live story broadcasts by local artists. The first was a picture book reading from YAAANA (Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America). The second was Read, Imagine, Create, a presentation of student works by Write Out Loud. [Eric George Tauber]
Stories under quarantine Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eric George Tauber, San Diego County