The thirtieth annual San Diego International Jewish Film Festival has passed, closing on Sunday, Feb 23rd, 2020. There was a good variety of films including indies, documentaries, histories and comedies. I wish I could have seen more, but what I did see did not leave me disappointed. [Eric George Tauber]
Serious comedy: Reflections on the 2020 SDIJFF Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The words of poets, some murdered during the Holocaust, some who survived, will be presented by Jewish Poets— Jewish Voices Tuesday, March 3, 7 p.m. in the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family JCC. The program, Jewish Poets of the Holocaust, will feature seventeen poems, read first in their English translations, then in their original language. In addition, the 23-voice Ohr Shalom Choir, under the direction of Elisheva Edelson, will sing several Yiddish selections, Farvos Iz Der Himl? (Why Is The Sky?), with Bernardo Bicas, solo, Ghetto, with Elisheva Edelson, solo, Yisrolik with Elisheva Edelson, solo and the Partisan Song. Myla Wingard will open the program with the song, The Butterfly. [Eileen Wingard]
Poetry of Holocaust victims set for March 3 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County
The Lawrence Family JCC in La Jolla was among a group of JCCs across the United States that received a non-specific, general bomb threat via email on Sunday morning, according to Betzy Lynch, its chief executive officer. She said the staff immediately notified the San Diego Police, which has a substation right next door. Law enforcement determined that the threat was not credible and no evacuation was necessary, Lynch reported. This was in contrast to the JCC in Albany, New York, which evacuated approximately 100 people to allow bomb-sniffing dogs and officers to comb through the facility, which also was subsequently declared to be safe. [Donald H. Harrison]
Bomb threats against JCCs, including La Jolla’s, not credible Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
SAN DIEGO — Our license plate maven, Melanie Rubin, knows that “Mora” in Hebrew means teacher. But what about RS? Could it mean “Religious School?” Should we interpret the message on the plate as meaning Religious School Teacher? You decide.
Jewish-interest license plate: RSMORA Read More »
Melanie Rubin, Trivia, Humor & Satire
No one I know attended the recent Stephen Miller-Katie Waldman wedding at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., but, from all accounts, it was definitely an affair to remember. I can just picture it. [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]
How I imagine the Stephen Miller-Kate Waldman wedding Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Stop in the name of law
Before you crown him king!
Stop in the name of law
Before you crown him king!
Overrule him.
Overrule him.
[Satire by Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
A song for the Supremes Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
A San Diegan who survived the Holocaust as a child by posing as a Catholic boy helped pay tribute Sunday to the 1.5 million children who perished during World War II under the regimes of the German Nazis and their allies. After telling of his life, he joined listeners who painted ceramic butterflies that will be mounted by The Butterfly Project at the Grossmont Shopping Center in their memory. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jew who posed as Catholic child tells of WWII life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USAJewish candidates haven’t done very well so far in their bids for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s political endorsements. In most cases, on San Diego County ballots, the daily newspaper has selected non-Jewish candidates over Jewish ones. There is one exception. Here is a review by level of government: [Donald H. Harrison]
U-T endorsements elude most Jewish candidates Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
On August 18, 1790, Moses Seixas, the warden of Congregation Kahal Kadosh Yeshuat Israel, the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, read a message to George Washington, welcoming the newly elected first president of the United States on his post-election visit to that city. He was accompanied by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Governor DeWitt Clinton of New York. Rhode Island was the last of the thirteen original states to ratify the Constitution, and Washington was visiting to celebrate the completion of the Union. [Michael Feldberg, Ph.D]
George Washington: ‘To bigotry no sanction’ Read More »
Jewish History, USA
We are bombarded with constant decision-making, and our brains get tired. This explains why ordinarily sensible people buy junk food, splurge on unnecessary items, or procrastinate. Our brains begin to look for short cuts either by acting impulsively, not thinking through consequences, or by saving energy by doing nothing—avoiding making any decision—which could also lead to unintended consequences. Becoming aware that our brains are beginning to function by default, we can postpone whatever decision we were about to make. If your need is to decide now, give your brain some glucose and you’re good for another hour or so. [Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D]
Tired brains make default decisions Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and Food
Jeanne Shenkman, 83, a retired teacher with the Grossmont High School District, moved to Seacrest Village Retirement Community in Encinitas last May to live near her daughter. Throughout her life, she has always been a busy person with varied interests. For example, in addition to her teaching duties, she played violin in the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra for 42 years and served as a docent at the San Diego Natural History Museum for 15 years. [Donald H. Harrison]
Seacrest Village through a resident’s camera lens Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
On the heels of last week’s revelation and the Ten Commandments, our Torah portion this week, Mishpatim, provides us with more laws and policies, advising us on how to live a Jewish life. One of these assertions can be found in Exodus 22, when the Torah instructs us not to “wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” [Rabbi Joshua Dorsch]
Remembering that we were strangers Read More »
Jewish Religion
This week’s Torah portion is titled Mishpatim, which means judgments. In this portion a whopping 53 commandments (out of a total 613 in the entire Torah) are mentioned. Twenty of the commandments mentioned are positive (thou shalt), and thirty-three are negative (thou shalt not). The portion begins by stating, “And these are the judgments that were placed before you.” The word, “And,” is of critical importance we are told by the commentaries, as it demonstrates that this week’s portion is a continuation of last week’s portion. This means in order to properly understand the portion of Mishpatim we have to look back at the portion of Yitro. [Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort]
A Word of Torah: Mishpatim-Judgments Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi
Most people think that since Jewish ancestors placed certain books in the Hebrew Bible, this means that they are significant in some way, and this way is clear to even the average reader. Nothing is further from the truth. All of the biblical books have deep messages. Some are even obscure and difficult to understand. The book of Isaiah is an example. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Was the Prophet Isaiah one or three people? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion