Einstein documentary includes historic San Diego footage

In the trailer above for the documentary Einstein: Still a Revolutionary, the children seen and heard chanting “Einstein! Einstein! Rah! Rah!” are San Diegans. Possibly some of them may be centenarians still alive today.  The full documentary briefly shows Einstein being greeted in San Diego by Mayor Harry C. Clark on December 31, 1930 as he disembarked here from the Belgenland. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Einstein documentary includes historic San Diego footage Read More »

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

A tollbooth in the desert of the mind

Heard any good negative predictions lately? No, of course you haven’t heard any good negative predictions lately.  That’s because there aren’t any good negative predictions.  There are only negative negative predictions.  That’s because there’s essentially nothing good about a negative prediction!  Negative predictions can only be negative. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

A tollbooth in the desert of the mind Read More »

Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

Ancient ideas about heaven and hell

Many people today, Christians, Muslims, and Jews, as well as people of other religions, are convinced that good people go to heaven when they die, while people who acted improperly go to Hell. But the notion that these places exist is pagan and entered Judaism only in the late second temple period, probably round 320 BCE. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Ancient ideas about heaven and hell Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

The Supreme Court and the Knesset

t was announced late last night that the Supreme Court decided not to interfere in the democratic process: (a) the prime minister was elected by Israelis who knew that he was under indictment, and (b) the coalition is being formed according to established parliamentary procedure. It is, therefore, not for the judiciary to tamper with democracy, even if the democracy is misguided in the eyes of many. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

The Supreme Court and the Knesset Read More »

Middle East

SDJW writer celebrates her seventh novel

Yes, it’s here at last! My latest book (my seventh), Friends, Neighbors, Traitors is now available as an ebook for $2.99 on Amazon. If you wait for 10th May,  it can be downloaded for free. I am currently in the process of preparing the paperback version of the book, which I hope will also be available on Amazon very soon. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

SDJW writer celebrates her seventh novel Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

Ilhan Omar’s challenger is Antone Melton-Meaux

No “evil doings of Israel” for Antone Melton-Meaux, as Ilhan Omar once proclaimed. Rather, he argues that “Israel has long stood as a beacon of liberal democracy.” In backing a two-state solution, Melton-Meaux reflects: “The United States must be a partner in realizing a modern, prosperous Palestine. We need to renew our focus as an international leader in peace and help end this conflict.” [Bruce S. Ticker]

Ilhan Omar’s challenger is Antone Melton-Meaux Read More »

Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

Remembering our Jewish Mamas as Mother’s Day approaches

With Mother’s Day coming this Sunday, May 10, we thought we’d solicit from readers some favorite memories and photos of your Jewish mothers.  Eileen Wingard was kind enough to help us launch this feature with a recollection about her mother, Rose Schiff, z”l.  As you will read, Eileen incorporated into her recollection two other areas of interest for this publication: Judaica collections and San Diego Jewish community reflections on Israel. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Remembering our Jewish Mamas as Mother’s Day approaches Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Eileen Wingard, Middle East, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, USA

A Torah command to speak softly, gently

Perhaps we need this week’s parasha, Emor, more than many other times in our history. With protests for and against seemingly everything, vitriol and bitterness filling the media, contempt and temper raging in many homes, and hostility and acrimony swelling in the political arena, what we can learn from Emor, speaking with love and sensitivity, is vital to our healthy future. And isn’t it interesting that we read Emor during the Omer, words that appear to be the same, but jumbled? Could it be because we stop counting the Omer when we receive the eseret hadibrot, and dibrot, daber, emor, vayomer, ve’armata, are all words connected to speaking, specifically, Hashem speaking to all of us? But just what’s the difference between speaking and…speaking? [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

A Torah command to speak softly, gently Read More »

Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

Prayer can be Do-It-Yourself

Rabbi Dov Singer’s Prepare My Prayer: Recipes to Awaken the Soul is one of the best books I have read in recent years on the meaning of Jewish prayer. The author is head of Yeshivat Makor Chaim in Israel and has done considerable work with Israelis showing them how Judaic prayer can facilitate a meaningful spiritual renewal in the worshiper.   [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

Prayer can be Do-It-Yourself Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Hillel webcast ponders ethics of pandemic

During what Hillel of San Diego described as a webcast report from the front lines on Monday, May 4, UC San Diego student Bianca Kermani posed a question to San Diego State University graduate Sheryl Warfield, who is now working as a nurse in the intensive care unit of the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. “What flaws have you noticed in the system?” she asked. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Hillel webcast ponders ethics of pandemic Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Coalition, coronavirus confusion in Israel

So far, no agreement on a government. There is argument about who will get which ministry. So far, no politician wants to be Health Minister. Perhaps those having to decide are waiting for the Supreme Court to make its decision. There remains a chance that it’ll veto the choice of Bibi as Prime Minister, given the three indictments against him. [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]

Coalition, coronavirus confusion in Israel Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East