Live free in the present normal

That we are in a time of profound, extreme and for many, overwhelming transformation and adjustment, is unmistakable. Arianna Huffington, observed, “Transformative change rarely happens without a catalyst and a crisis,” in an article entitled, “We are Never Going Back.” No, we are, and never do, go back, despite our yearning for the “good old days,” that we erroneously believed were free of severe hardships and emotional turmoil. After all, it was Franklin Pierce Adams who said, “Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

Meet Maya Abed, IsraAID volunteer coordinator in San Diego

These are busy times for Maya Abed, who hopes that in her near future she will be even busier.

This weekend she graduates from California State University Long Beach, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in communications.  She also has signed up to learn Spanish this summer in an effort to add another language to her fluent English, Hebrew, and American Sign Language.  And, for the next several months, at least, she is working as an IsraAID volunteer coordinator with the Jewish Family Service food distribution program in San Diego County. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

A Word of Torah: Differences in how we say things

The beginning of this week’s portion deals with many of the laws directed to the Priestly class, known in Hebrew as Kohanim. The verbiage in the first passage is unique, which means it has profound lessons for all of us. The passage says multiple times to transmit information through ‘saying’ it to others. This, in and of itself, is not so unusual, but the words used Emor and Vi’Amarta, typifies a specific type of articulation. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]

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Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Is Iran going home?

Aside from the devastation of the Wuhan virus, Iraq closed its 1,000-mile southern border with Iran for “security reasons” after months of Iraqi protests against Iranian interference in its domestic affairs. Oil prices flirted with zero in the wake of the Russia-Saudi oil war, and demand dropped owing to the virus, further gutting Iran’s treasury. Iran harassed U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf, but according to Navy sources, the action was clearly for domestic consumption and posed no actual threat (although a mistake on either side could have had major repercussions, making President Trump’s warning more than reasonable). Germany, Tehran’s strongest defender in Europe, pulled the plug on Iran’s proxy army Hezb’allah. More than 390 members of the U.S. House of Representatives — including Ilhan Omar, not normally an opponent of the Iranian government — called for extending the international arms embargo against Iran, set to expire in October. [Shoshana Bryen]

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International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

1978 Israeli poem continues to encourage hope

Yehonatan Geffen’s 1978 Hebrew-language poem , which I’ve translated as, “It Will Be Good,” pays homage to the peace treaty negotiations between Egypt and Israel, and honors Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s visit in Israel. In support of Geffen’s positive message I want to share my take on the veracity of Geffen’s poem in today’s world, as there are many lines in this poem that are resonant with how lives are being lived during the current global health crisis, not least the refrain and title of the poem, “It will be good.” [Omer Zalmanowitz]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories

Einstein documentary includes historic San Diego footage

In the trailer above for the documentary Einstein: Still a Revolutionary, the children seen and heard chanting “Einstein! Einstein! Rah! Rah!” are San Diegans. Possibly some of them may be centenarians still alive today.  The full documentary briefly shows Einstein being greeted in San Diego by Mayor Harry C. Clark on December 31, 1930 as he disembarked here from the Belgenland. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A tollbooth in the desert of the mind

Heard any good negative predictions lately? No, of course you haven’t heard any good negative predictions lately.  That’s because there aren’t any good negative predictions.  There are only negative negative predictions.  That’s because there’s essentially nothing good about a negative prediction!  Negative predictions can only be negative. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

Ancient ideas about heaven and hell

Many people today, Christians, Muslims, and Jews, as well as people of other religions, are convinced that good people go to heaven when they die, while people who acted improperly go to Hell. But the notion that these places exist is pagan and entered Judaism only in the late second temple period, probably round 320 BCE. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

The Supreme Court and the Knesset

t was announced late last night that the Supreme Court decided not to interfere in the democratic process: (a) the prime minister was elected by Israelis who knew that he was under indictment, and (b) the coalition is being formed according to established parliamentary procedure. It is, therefore, not for the judiciary to tamper with democracy, even if the democracy is misguided in the eyes of many. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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Middle East

SDJW writer celebrates her seventh novel

Yes, it’s here at last! My latest book (my seventh), Friends, Neighbors, Traitors is now available as an ebook for $2.99 on Amazon. If you wait for 10th May,  it can be downloaded for free. I am currently in the process of preparing the paperback version of the book, which I hope will also be available on Amazon very soon. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

Ilhan Omar’s challenger is Antone Melton-Meaux

No “evil doings of Israel” for Antone Melton-Meaux, as Ilhan Omar once proclaimed. Rather, he argues that “Israel has long stood as a beacon of liberal democracy.” In backing a two-state solution, Melton-Meaux reflects: “The United States must be a partner in realizing a modern, prosperous Palestine. We need to renew our focus as an international leader in peace and help end this conflict.” [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA