Germany has been a thorn in Washington’s side on many issues from its failure to spend 2% of its very healthy GDP on its own military defense to its trade with Iran — including, some suspect, under-the-table nuclear goods trade — and the promotion of a U.S.-independent European Army. [By Shoshana Bryen & Stephen Bryen]
U.S. troop reduction aimed at Germany, not NATO Read More »
International, Shoshana Bryen, Stephen D. Bryen, USA
On May 30th, 2020, the nation witnessed a spectacle that was reminiscent of the time Hitler and his brownshirts seized power in Germany. As my fellow writer, Bruce S. Ticker observed in his penetrating article, “Rioting in Los Angeles was an anti-Jewish pogrom” for San Diego Jewish World, “The Jews of the Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles were exposed to a modern, American-style pogrom on May 30 that should enrage us all. Not only were Jewish businesses sacked but five synagogues and three Jewish schools were reportedly vandalized in George Floyd’s name by thugs.” Ticker drew inspiration from Daniel Greenfield, who wrote on his blog, “One small business owner described a ‘Late Saturday night with people driving down the Fairfax district streets screaming effing Jews.’” [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
BLM’s anti-Semitism must be addressed Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USADuring Passover, 2018, The San Diego REP premiered Beachtown, a fun, interactive town hall-style theatrical experience. Inspired by Pittsburgh’s Beertown, Playwright-in-Residence Herb Siguenza filled Beachtown with a cast of funny, relatable characters like the hip, surfing mayor, Steve Novak (Jason Heil) and an outspoken right-wing “journalist” Damon Haynes (TJ Johnson). Interactive by nature, I can’t think of a better show to transition to today’s Zoom format. Hungry for some live theatre, over 130 “Beachtonians” zoomed in to participate. [Eric George Tauber]
Zoom in to Beachtown Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
PEN America Prison and Justice Writing Programs, in conjunction with Haymarket Books, created a podcast featuring the literary and visual arts of prison inmates currently doing time. The virtual presentation included the music of Kenyatta Emmanuel, himself an ex-con, whose work has been heard from Sing Sing to Carnegie Hall. [Eric George Tauber]
Finding a stronger desire to live Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
In front of an outdoor menorah at Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, seven Christian ministers joined host Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel in an interfaith service Wednesday that condemned the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police, and extolled the teachings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the importance of keeping protests non-violent. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Interfaith service condemns violence, lauds peaceful protest Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, USA
Laurie Baron, PhD, rounds up lectures and programs on a variety of Jewish subjects for the week of June 14, 2020.
Streaming Jewish lectures: Week of June 14, 2020 Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
I have chosen five passages from this week’s Torah reading , for comparison with ancient pagan practices, from what I could find in Internet searches. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
What do Queen Esther and Natan Sharansky have in common? Courage! How about Isaiah and U.S. Supreme Curt Justice Ruth Bader Ginzburg? Fairness! [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish lessons on courage, creativity, curiosity, fairness, and kindness Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education
Walking through the park this weekend I noticed a man on a bench reading Metaxas’ acclaimed biography of German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer. And it occurred to me then and there that this is indeed a moment in our history when we may acquire much needed insight and inspiration by revisiting Bonhoeffer’s extraordinary life and legacy. [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life an example for today Read More »
International, Sam Ben-Meir, USA
The CD with the title (in German and Hebrew) Total Baloney was given to me some time ago by the Association of Former Residents of Central Europe, and when I finally got round to watching it I found myself taken back to the kitchen of my mother and other ‘Yekke’ relatives, back to the enchanted land of nostalgia, to the tastes and aromas of yesteryear, and to a time of innocence and memories (though not always fond). [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
‘Total Baloney’ and the secrets of the German kitchen Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
Jewish Family Service of San Diego on Tuesday sponsored an internet panel discussion posing thorny questions about the Jewish community and race relations. The panel brought together Rabbi Yael Ridberg of Congregation Dor Hadash; Micah Parzen, the executive director of the San Diego Museum of Man, and Kelly Greenberg Young, education director for the San Diego regional office of the Anti-Defamation League. The moderator was Nate Looney, an African-American Jew who is Avodah’s recruiter of Jews of Color. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Introspective JFS panel considers racism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
The Jews of the Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles were exposed to a modern, American-style pogrom on May 30 that should enrage us all. Not only were Jewish businesses sacked but five synagogues and three Jewish schools were reportedly vandalized in George Floyd’s name by thugs. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Rioting in Los Angeles was an anti-Jewish pogrom Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USA
Menasseh served the descendants of Portuguese and Spanish exiles, Jews like him who escaped from these lands. He made a small amount of money as a printer of books, a job he had to take because the community paid him a minimal salary as one of their rabbis. He worked hard to persuade the English king to allow Jews to live in England, but died believing he was not successful. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Books: Menasseh ben Israel paved Jews way back to England Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History
Oy! There’s a lot of whining in this week’s Torah portion, B’halot’cha. Come to think of it, it appears to be the basis of one of my mother’s oft-repeated sayings, “Keep complaining and I’ll really give you something to complain about.” Seems the Israelites grew tired of their repetitious diet of manna, pining for fish and other foods they ate “for free” as slaves in Egypt. Were they pining for the good old days of slavery? Our sages question whether the Egyptian taskmasters really gave the Israelites fish “for free” and suggest that the “freedom” that they are recalling in Egypt was actually a freedom from morality and responsibility (Midrash Sifrei 11:6). [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
When Israelites thought their souls were ‘dried out’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell