Mental Health Challenges During a Crisis

Barbara Bry, San Diego City Council’s President Pro Tem and candidate for mayor, hosted a one-hour webinar on Monday that included the following panelists: Physician Coach, and Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California, San Diego Dr. Helane Fronek; Associate Professor in Family Medicine, Public Health, and Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego Dr. Suzi Hong; Emeritus Professor in Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego Dr.David Janowsky; and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Health Mentor Marc Rosenberg

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, San Diego County

Jewish folk music for Yom Zikaron, Yom Ha’atzma’ut

In commemoration of Israel’s Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance) and Yom Ha’atzma’ut (Independence Day), I have selected my sister Zina Schiff’s recording, The Golden Dove.  Although the recording features composers of Russia’s Society for Jewish Folk Music, five of the composers on the recording — Engel, Weinberg, Rosowsky, Saminsky, and Achron — spent time in Palestine and influenced the early music of the pre-state Yishuv (Jewish settlement in Palestine). [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Israeli Memorial Day rites include Poway’s Lori Kaye

The name of slain Lori Gilbert Kaye, who died a year ago during a gunman’s attack on Chabad of Poway, was linked Monday in Latrun, Israel, to the names of Israel’s fallen soldiers during an annual Yom Hizakron (Day of Memory) ceremony. To view the entire ceremony on Facebook, click here. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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

Yesterday’s ‘duck and cover’ and today’s coronavirus

We wonder, “Did we really think hiding under our desk would protect us from a nuclear explosion?” Our teachers and parents realized that doing something, however minimal, might confer a degree of protection from a potential oncoming nuclear fireball that was likely to cause serious injury or death. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Refuse to be miserable during COVID-19

Are you ready to refuse to be miserable?  Are you prepared to make yourself happy at every chance you can despite sheltering-at-home?  While it may be silly and unreasonable to think that a brief article here can lead your feelings of happiness to become stronger while the world is filled with worry, anger, apprehension, I believe it isn’t that silly or unreasonable if you will stop doing one simple thing, demanding your way through COVID-19, and indeed, life. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

EU misrepresents Israeli ‘annexation’ issue

European Union foreign-policy chief Josip Borrell put forward a surprise resolution on Israel’s new government that included the following: “The E.U. does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. The E.U. reiterates that any annexation would constitute a serious violation of international law.” But E.U. statements have to be unanimous, and Borrell was thwarted by members of his own club. The details aren’t clear yet, but Hungary and Austria were definitely opposed, and an Israeli diplomat noted that the largest number of E.U. delegates to date opposed a resolution aimed at Israel. [Shoshana Bryen]

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International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Men who ask directions often can’t follow them

The account of the Exodus from Egypt has given amateur comedians a renewed opportunity to joke about Moses, and then launch into  a criticism of modern men.  “If only Moses had used a GPS,” it goes, “or if, like most men, he hadn’t been embarrassed to ask for directions, we would have come to Israel much, much sooner.” [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]

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Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Jewish trivia quiz: NFL draft

While it is still not clear if there will be an NFL football season this fall, the league is moving forward, having just held their annual draft of college players. The ceremony took place via teleconference, without much of the pomp that normally accompanies the announcements by teams of their selected players. One college player got the attention of the Jewish world in February when he was interviewed during the NFL Combine, the event where prospective players are showcased prior to the draft. The athlete appeared for an interview wearing a Star of David around his neck, and a reporter asked him the significance of the star. Who was the player and what was his explanation? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Remember ‘Work-life balance?’

COVID-19 has tossed into the deep blue sea many of the concerns and values, not that long ago that we once held dear. For example, remember that catchy “work-life balance” concept that management consultants made small fortunes from rushing on to stages to teach everyone how to attain? Then remember when that wasn’t selling so much, so they changed it to “work-life integration”? Be careful what you teach…we are now way past “integration” and many are inundated with “work-life intermingling.” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

Does the Torah speak in divine or human language?

In the classic Torah Min Hashamayim Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972) masterly tells the methodology of Rabbi Akiva and the difference between him and Rabbi Ishmael. Gordon Tucker translated the work into English as Heavenly Torah: As Refracted Through the Generations. The two Talmudic sages lived around 130 CE and disagreed on how to interpret the Bible. Rabbi Akiva won out, and Rashi, Nachmanides, and most ancient Bible commentators as well as most Midrashim and most rabbinical sermons today follow his view. Others, such as Rashi’s grandson Rashbam, ibn Ezra, and Maimonides interpret the Torah along the lines of Rabbi Ishmael. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Global memorials for Poway’s Lori Gilbert Kaye

With prayers, reflections and songs, first from her home synagogue, Chabad of Poway, and later from around the world, Jews memorialized Lori Gilbert Kaye, who was slain one year ago during a gunman’s attack that also wounded Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein and two congregants, Almog Peretz and his elementary-school-aged niece Noya Dahan. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food

International Law – Who Says? 

What is the meaning of “international law,” the term that is often used as a weapon against Israel by its enemies – and even some of its friends? Let’s find out… Just as Israel’s unity government is set to get underway, France has warned Israel of serious consequences – if Israel extends civil law to its citizens living beyond the 1949 Armistice Line (NOT a border) [Steve Kramer]

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International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA