This week we read a double portion. The first portion is called Tazria, which means ‘She will cause to grow,’ and the second portion is called Metzora, which means a person afflicted with (the disease) Tza’rat. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: The diseases of gossip, evil speech Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Chabad of Poway will hold an Internet memorial service for the victim of last year’s shooting, Lori Gilbert Kaye, at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 26. At noon, a separate online ceremony sponsored by the Combat Anti-Semitism movement will be conducted via Zoom and Facebook. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
On-line memorials Sunday for Chabad of Poway victim Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Debilitating fatigue, jackhammer headaches, hypertension, weight gain, a weakened immune system, gastrointestinal symptoms, vice-like muscle tension, boiling anger, frozen anxiety, “I give up” depression and yes, even impaired sex drive—these are some of the stress-related costs to your wellbeing. Why manage what you can prevent during this time, or any time? [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Why manage what you can prevent? Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Very few people are aware that the President studied medicine at Trump University where his grades were the highest ever recorded. He did so well that he was permitted to skip his internship and residency. He opted not to practice because he had to take over the family business. He has kept up with medicine by watching Dr. Oz and Grey’s Anatomy. Managing the pandemic has thrust him into the role of dispensing prescriptions for curing the coronavirus. [Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
The Prescriber and Chief Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
My friend and editor of San Diego Jewish World, Don Harrison, and I were having an interesting conversation I would like to share with you. We were talking about the famous Danish King Christian X, who was said to have worn a yellow Star of David together with his people to show solidarity with the Danish Jews. The yellow Star of David helped the Nazis distinguish the Jews from the Gentiles. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The noble lie: King Christian X and the Jews Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) conducted an informal poll of her constituents in the 53rd congressional district to learn how the coronavirus pandemic has affected them. She received 6,799 responses to a questionnaire. Asked if they had been hurt financially by the pandemic, 32.5 percent said “very much so”; 42.2 percent said “somewhat”; and 25.2 percent said “not at all.” Asked if they had received a stimulus payment from the government, 39.7 percent replied “yes”; 28.5 percent said “No, but I’m expecting a payment”; 17.8 percent said “I’m not eligible” and 13.9 percent complained “the IRS website is unable to find my information.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Davis polls S.D. constituents on coronavirus aid Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Leviticus 12-15 – The text deals with purification procedures after menstruation and childbirth; evaluating and separating out various skin lesions, and stains on objects, to sort the serious from the benign; the purification of a healed leper/leprous lesion; and dealings with venereal discharges, benign or serious. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Ancient views on menstruation, epidemics STDs Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationJust when the stress level of sheltering-at-home is nearing its breaking point, with a 34.1% increase in prescriptions for anxiety medications, now comes even more worry about protecting our health from COVID-19 upon the reopening of public places. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]
Good, bad, opportunity in every situation Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
VILNIUS, Lithuania (Press Release) — Today marks the 300th birth anniversary of Vilna Gaon Elijah ben Solomon Zalman. On this occasion, the city of Vilnius offers a new possibility to explore one of the treasures of Jewish heritage in Vilnius – the Great Synagogue of Vilna. These days, when travel possibilities are limited, the new
Jewish Travel: Great Synagogue of Vilna Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
As a San Diego Symphony Orchestra (SDSO) subscriber, I received in the mail a beautiful, shiny brochure, optimistically advertising the concerts scheduled for the orchestra’s 2020-2021 Season. With Raphael Payare, our city’s dynamic new conductor at the helm for his second season, and a wonderful lineup of concerts, we all hope it happens. [Eileen Wingard]
San Diego Symphony hopeful for 2020-2021 season Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyOn April 24, 1915 the Ottoman Empire arrested approximately 250 prominent Armenians and deported them a month later to the Turkish interior where most of them were killed. Armenians annually commemorate April 24th as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. There are few movies about the genocide because Turkey has pressured countries to halt their production, limit their distribution, or undermine their reception. On the eve of Germany’s invasion of Poland, Hitler informed his generals of plans to massacre many Poles to achieve German living space concluding with this haunting question: “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” I’ve prepared this list to promote its memory and international recognition. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming the Armenian genocide Read More »
International, Lawrence Baron, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Some friends whose opinions I respect have reacted against my support (for what it’s worth) for the so-called unity government. They do not seem to believe that Benny Gantz did the right thing by joining Binyamin Netanyahu. They argue that the prime minister has taken the leader of the opposition to the cleaners by manipulating him to sign a vague and obscurely worded coalition agreement that’s very different from the platform on which the leader of the Blue and White party successfully fought in the last three elections. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Did Gantz do the right thing? Read More »
Middle East
The formation of an Israeli coalition government led by Netanyahu and Gantz, the leaders of Likud and Kahol Lavan respectively, will finally put an end to Israel’s nearly 18 month-long political paralysis and, for now, personal rivalry following three elections. Both agreed on a host of important socio-economic and security matters. The most ominous issue they strongly embraced, however, is the annexation of a substantial swath of Palestinian territories based on Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan. Should Israel move to implement the plan, it will lead to ominous consequences and drastically change Israel’s character as a democratic, Jewish state. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
The dire consequences of territorial annexation Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA
The woman who organized last weekend’s downtown protest against the city’s and county’s stay-at-home orders says she has been receiving threats on her life. [Donald H. Harrison]
Stay-at-home protest organizer says her life threatened Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County