Some Jewish film festivals that were scheduled during the pandemic are streaming their films for the price of a ticket. Others are streaming films they’ve shown in the past or interviews with filmmakers and lectures. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Film Festivals Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Comedian Billy DeVore, who co-hosts the Cincinnati Reds’ focused podcast “The New Nasty Boys,” has come out with his debut album: Drinking at the Kids Table. Loud, self-deprecating and rather crude, DeVore cracks wise about being overweight (Having a gym membership just means he can watch Sports Center in another building.) rescuing cats, and the challenges of married life. His wife Alicia views him not so much as a pet project like “This Old House” but more like “Extreme Home Makeover.” [Eric George Tauber}
Comedy album review: ‘Drinking at the Kids Table’ Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Escape From Iran: The Exodus of Persian Jewry During the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Sholem Ber Hecht, G&D Media ©2020, ISBN 978-1-7225-0294-2, p. 217, plus twelve pages of pictures, an appendix and index, $19.95. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Nebuchadnezzar, in the latter part of sixth century BCE, brought the vanquished Jews of
Rescue brought Iranian Jewish children to U.S. Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD
Rabbi Andrew Baker, an official with both the American Jewish Committee and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), says because of the coronavirus pandemic, there probably will be a drop in anti-Semitic incidents in 2020. However, this is because potential targets, such as synagogues and Jewish schools, have been closed during the pandemic. When re-opened, he said, they may become targets again. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
AJC rabbi fights international anti-Semitism Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire
This week we are again treated to a double portion, Behar-Bechukotai, which translate as “On the Mountain (Sinai),” and, “In My Statutes”. The first portion goes into great detail concerning the Mitzvot of Shmittah / the Sabbatical year and Yovel / the Jubilee year. Every seven years the fields in Israel must lie fallow. Farmers are ‘freed’ from working the land and even the beasts of burden are allowed to rest. The land itself rests and its nutrients are allowed to be naturally replenished. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Looking heavenward and earthward Read More »
Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
How can we feel a part of something larger than ourselves and have a positive, beneficial impact on the well-being of others? How can we express our strengths and fervently pursue our emotional appetites? How can we create a sense of belonging and avoid stagnating, to move forward toward consequential purposes? [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Purpose, courage and COVID-19 Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
In HBO’s recent adaptation of the Philip Roth novel The Plot Against America, American Jews are coerced by President Charles Lindbergh to move to rural parts of the country so they will become “Americanized” and shed their Jewish ways. In real life, however, it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who wanted to do just that. [Rafael Medoff, Ph.D]
FDR not as portrayed in ‘Plot Against America’ Read More »
Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
There is only one way to break this cycle: Return to the negotiating table. It is far more up to the Palestinians than Israel. If they are serious about seeking an independent state. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Roadblocks to Israeli-Palestinian peace Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA“Change your story, change your power,” according to positive psychology author Michelle Gielan who wrote Broadcasting Happiness. Sort of reminds me of my most recent book, The Link is What You Think. We change our lives, for the good or not, in the direction of our self-talk, our story. Our families, our companies, our neighbors, all benefit, or are harmed, by the stories we tell ourselves about the circumstances of our lives. We are all story tellers, to ourselves and to each other, and with that comes a great deal of accountability and answerability. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Your COVID-19 Story Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
Six doctors and two nurses participated in a coronavirus Zoom forum moderated on Wednesday night for Tifereth Israel Synagogue members by the Conservative congregation’s program director Beth Klareich. Speaking from the perspective of being both a recovered coronavirus patient and a physician was Dr. Seth Krosner, an emergency and trauma surgeon at Scripps Mercy Hospital. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Coronavirus from the medical profession’s viewpoints Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Chag Sameach! Happy Holiday! This week’s Lag BaOmer was a day on fire. This is historically the day to signal triumph over oppression, and to drive away a deadly plague. A Lag BaOmer Kumzits, a Yiddish loanword, is a traditional musical gathering, usually by a campfire, meaning come (kum) sit (zit). So come sit, and enjoy Moshav Band’s Lag BaOmer Facebook watch party: [Omer Zalmanowitz]
Music review: Moshav Kumzits: The Light of Rabbi Shimon Read More »
Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Dr. Irv Jacobs scours the Internet to find parallels and contrasts between biblical ideas and those of the pagan world on such subjects as leaving land fallow every seven years, duties of slaveholders to their slaves, and the concept of divine rewards and punishment.
Ancient ideas: agriculture, slavery, divine punishment Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
Israelis and Palestinians remain intensely distrustful of one another and blame the other for the lingering impasse. They now face a fateful crossroad and must reassess their positions. Israel must accept that the Palestinians are not a perpetual mortal enemy and that an agreement can be reached which guarantees its national security. The Palestinians must abandon some of their old and tired demands, which have proven to be fatal to all previous peace negotiations. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Israelis, Palestinians must abandon long-held positions Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastProf. Laurie Baron, Ph.D., rounds up streaming Jewish content from a variety of sources for those who wish to deepen their Jewish educations.
Streaming Jewish content this coming week Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA