This week we read a double portion, Acharay Mot / Kiddoshim, which translates as After (the) Death / Be Holy. The first of the two portions picks up the narrative which was discussed two weeks ago in the portion of Shmini – The Eighth (Day). [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A word of Torah: God wants us to be holy Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
A culinary worker at Seacrest Village Retirement Community “has tested positive and is quarantined at home,” Pam Ferris, president and CEO of the Jewish-community-run home for senior citizens reported to residents and their families on Thursday evening. “We are currently following the ‘Criteria for Return to Work for Health Care Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected Covid-19’ guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Coronavirus case reported at Seacrest Village Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
“It’s so tough these days,” “I don’t know how much longer I can take this terrible pressure of being cooped up at home,” “I’m filled with so much anxiety and sadness.” “I just feel lost and like nothing is in my control anymore.” Sound familiar? [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Formidable thoughts for daunting times Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Since many governors and the president are rushing to reopen the economy even before the White House guidelines for reopening have been met, job seekers looking for safe work should apply for these positions. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Help wanted after a safe reopening Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
This novel, written from the point of view of Orly, a young girl who we watch grow into adulthood, is about a Jewish family that fled Austria after its merger with Nazi Germany and settled in La Paz, Bolivia, a city that was starkly different from Vienna in almost every way. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]
‘Exile Music’ plays expertly on readers’ emotions Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
What Helen Auerbach’s youngest daughter initially mistook for costume jewelry was in fact a 137-carat diamond, none other than the Florentine Diamond that had been missing since the end of the Habsburg Dynasty. Helen left it to her youngest granddaughter Beck, skipping over her daughter Deborah Miller, as well as her other grandchildren Ashley and Jake. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]
Sudden fortune challenges Jewish family Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Mark Twain is often credited with saying, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” As American Jews, we grew up hearing how “America is andrish,” the Yiddish word for “different.” We thought we would never hear new libels accusing the Jew of being a carrier of disease and pandemics. But now the plague is here again, we’re beginning to hear that same old rhyme again. We thought these libels were behind us; it turns out we were wrong. This is very hard for Jews because we want to believe that human nature is essentially good. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The Coronavirus and the Jewish Problem Read More »
International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA
Aharot Mot/Kedoshim Leviticus Chapters 16-20 deals with multiple topics including specified rituals for Aaron, notably about a sin offering. It involved a bull plus two he-goats, one for a sacrificial sin offering, the other to be loaded with community sins and sent off to the wilderness. This ceremony is identified with Yom Kippur. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Ancient practices: scapegoats, charity, hybrids Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
We might be tempted to give New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio the benefit of the doubt. It was a thoughtless moment. In haste he tweeted: “My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.” [Bruce S. Ticker]
Giving Bill de Blasio the benefit of the doubt? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, USANobody I know desired to attract COVID-19 into her/his life, and yet here it is. The famed Law of Attraction tells us that we all have the ability to pull into our lives whatever we focus on. Mahatma Gandhi noted, “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” So why aren’t we inviting a beautiful state of love, joy, playfulness, gratitude, healing, positivity and an end to this pandemic, something we are all certainly centered on? We are longing for these, aren’t we? [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
What pandemic are you attracting? Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
In a webcast sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday, panelists Deborah Lipstadt of Emory University and Jonathan Sarna of Brandeis University were asked if a cure for coronavirus were to be discovered by a Jew, would that reduce anti-Semitism? The two academicians, appearing alongside ADL’s president and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, responded in the negative. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
ADL panel weighs coronavirus and anti-Semitism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
When the Lawrence Family JCC needed to close because of the Coronavirus and all programs were cancelled, it seemed obvious that the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices program, scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, at 7 p.m. would not take place. However, Melanie Rubin, the JCC’s innovative Director of Senior Activities and the Astor Judaica Library, and her assistant, Sarah Mattis, suggested that we could have the program after all, by doing it on the internet through Zoom. [Eileen Wingard]
Jewish Poets-Jewish Voices to be carried May 5 on Zoom Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, Melanie Rubin, San Diego County
President Trump sent a congratulatory letter to Israeli President Rivlin on Israeli Independence Day. In that letter, President Trump expressed his “tremendous pride that the United States was the first country to recognize the newly re-established Jewish State in 1948. He also signed a proclamation declaring May to be Jewish-American Heritage Month in the U.S. [Press release from ‘Jews Choose Trump’ campaign organization]
Trump salutes Israel’s 72nd birthday, declares May as Jewish-American Heritage Month Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Ancient Groove: International Sephardi Music Festival in Cordoba … Brave Old World: Song of the Lodz Ghetto … Chava Alberstein … [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish music Read More »
Judaism, Lawrence Baron, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts