The boy greeted every passenger who got on the bus with either, “Please make sure your mask stays on properly. I don’t want my Saba and Safta (grandfather and grandmother) to get sick,” or “Thank you for wearing a mask. Because of you, my Saba and Safta hopefully won’t get sick.” [Barry Shaw]
Boy campaigns in Israel to save lives Read More »
Barry Shaw, Lifestyles, Middle East
To me, the Holocaust is much more than a tragic event in Jewish and World history. To me, it was a wake-up call. In the pre-Holocaust era, European Jewry was rapidly looking to assimilate. Jews were holding some of the most prestigious positions in society, ranging from doctors to musicians to professors and even politicians, some Jews were so wrapped up in their social ranks that they did not even identify with their Judaism anymore. It’s said that the Jewish Germans were Germans first then Jews. They were more loyal to their country than their G-d. [Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg]
Jews must remain a special, chosen people Read More »
Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, USA
The Remember Us The Holocaust (RUTH) exhibit at the Chula Vista Heritage Museum, located in Chula Vista’s main library, was barely a fourth of the way into its anticipated year-long run, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced it closure. Sandra Scheller, the exhibit’s curator and daughter of the late Ruth Sax, a Holocaust survivor, remained undaunted. She slowly but thoroughly transformed the exhibit into a virtual experience. {Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
A Holocaust exhibit takes to webcasting Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
A short while ago, I visited a third world country. Visas were no longer necessary, but that may change after the next election. The country’s name is South-Eastern Florida. I was there to reunite with long lost Jewish friends of fifty years ago from the New York City area. We had scattered to all corners of the United States seeking fortune, fame, and families. I found some of my comrades via the Internet. I also sought out several cousins who had relocated to this sun-drenched nation. [Ira Spector]
Humor: NY retiree to California examines Florida brethren Read More »
Lifestyles, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
With Covid-19 causing many people to cancel their travel plans, especially visits to countries that have imposed a quarantine, some people tune in to YouTube or the Travel Channel to get their “travel fix,” albeit virtually. We decided we could do better while remaining home in California. We went to the San Diego Zoo. [Shor M. Masori and Kenede Pratt-McCloud]
S.D. Zoo enables world travel for those staying home Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, The World We Share, Travel and Food
Although I have never relieved myself on the White House lawn, I think the Golden Deceiver recently stepped into a pile of dog poop there. He has become about as popular as an unleashed Pitbull is to a mail carrier. In my capacity as man’s best friend, here’s some advice for him. [Elona Baron as told to Laurie Baron]
Satire: Advice for the Golden Deceiver Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatirePresident Donald J. Trump’s policies toward foreign students are “extreme,” “unnecessary,” and “cruel,” said Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) in leading 136 members of Congress to urge the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to rescind a decision to deport foreign students who during the coronavirus pandemic take courses on-line rather than in person. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Congresswoman Davis protests ICE’s plan for foreign students Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
When my brother Bill Harrison and I were growing up in New Rochelle, New York, we shared a room. As you walked in, his bed was against the wall on the right, and mine was against the wall on the left. Bill, who was five years older than I am, grew tired of me crossing over to his side of the room where I would inspect his things, and sometimes play with his “grown-up” stuff. So he did what any big brother might do, he banned me from his side of the room. [Donald H. Harrison]
Bill Harrison, z”l, has a place of his own Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials
Rabbi Michael Hattin’s new 207-page book Judges has 19 chapters, two less than the biblical Book of Judges. Judges is part of a series of Maggid Books, a division of Koren Publishers Jerusalem, that uses an interdisciplinary approach incorporating traditional rabbinic interpretations with scholarly literary techniques to explore the characters, themes, and text of the Hebrew Bible. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Judges in Book of Judges did not judge Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
I have chosen three passages from the parasha for comparison with ancient non-Israelite practices concerning divinely appointed priests and poliical leaders; and the inheritance rights of daughters. (Irv Jacobs, M.D.)
Ancient practices: Divinely appointed priests, leaders; inheritances of daughters Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
The summer of 1965, I was not quite 17, not quite 5-foot-7, and not quite a college freshman. I was also broke, and I was convinced that I held the school record for number of crushes on girls who couldn’t quite remember who I was when I called for a date. I couldn’t do anything about my age or height, but I decided to solve my other two problems with a summer job at a Catskill Mountains hotel, piling up tips and meeting girls – Jewish preferred, but not required. [Michael Ginsberg]
Short story: Dirty Dishes Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Michael Ginsberg, USA
In December 2001, I was semi-kidnapped by a taxi driver in the state of Karnataka, a remote area in Southeast India. Although scary at the time, it ended being one of many adventures/ stories that happened during the three weeks I was in India, studying with His Holiness (HH) the Dalai Lama. [Mimi Pollack]
Adventures of a Jewish Buddhist Read More »
International, Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Travel and Food
This week when thinking about these catastrophes I couldn’t help but think about the triumph of one particular segment of the Jewish people; Jewish women. The major failures that come to mind include the story of the Golden Calf, the Spies, the Rebellion of Korach and his cohorts, and consorting with the Midianites. The lack of participation by the Jewish women is in stark contrast to their Jewish brethren. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Strong women of Judaism Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Laurie Baron, PhD, collates a list of streaming lectures on Jewish topics for Sunday, July 12 through Thursday, July 16
Streaming Jewish lectures: July 12-16 Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast