God and the problem of suffering

he senseless deaths seen in the coronavirus pandemic challenges religious people’s concept of God. How does one reconcile our faith in a personal God who loves life, but allows a natural evil to destroy everything in its path? What kind of God—if any—can allow the suffering of innocent children? Every natural catastrophe seems to make the belief in a personal God seem unlikely. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Congresswoman Davis announces financial help for students

Federal relief funds  for local universities and colleges and for their students in need during the coronavirus pandemic were announced on Monday by Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego).  In total, 23 institutions of higher learning in the count are receiving grant totaling $137,435,195, and will be required to distribute at least $71,360,718 in grants to students to pay for housing food, and other essentials. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Streaming films about the Haredim

For a long time most films dealing with Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jews sided with individuals whose choice of lifestyle, partners, or vocations conflicted with the expectations of their families and community.  While that is still true of many movies, in recent years films with sympathetic portrayals of traditional Jewish subcultures have emerged.  Here’s a sampling of both kinds of cinematic depictions. [Laurie Baron, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Philanthropy needed during this pandemic

Estimates of the number of lost lives directly resulting from the coronavirus outbreak range from the horrifying to the truly unimaginable. That doesn’t consider those indirectly impacted by the outbreak.   As businesses of all kinds close or severely curtail service, the number of San Diegans who are without a paycheck or with a severely diminished one is growing, leaving them unable to meet basic needs.  Prescriptions need to be refilled. Families need groceries to eat. First responders need safe childcare, so they can work in the hospitals and clinics that are facing a flood of patients.  These are unprecedented times. [Beth Sirull]

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Lifestyles, San Diego County

The bageling code — ‘bred of affection?’

It may seem to be gastronomic heresy to invoke a communications system  named for a taboo leavened-bread item during Pesach. But this one is legit and  kosher any time. It’s “bageling, a usually subtle —  sometimes not-so-subtle — device by which a Jew discreetly but deliberately finds out whether another is Jewish, and how an individual lets others know that he or she is Jewish. [Joel H Cohen]

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Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Jewish trivia quiz: The Beatles

Fifty years ago (April 10, 1970), the Beatles officially split up. Their popularity, however, has not waned. At an online auction last week, an ashtray used by Ringo Starr at Abbey Road Studios sold for $32,500 and a drawing by John Lennon and Yoko Ono called Bagism sold for $93,750. The handwritten lyrics of the song Hey Jude sold for $910,000, nine times the pre-auction estimate. What was the Jewish connection to that song? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Tales of the comforter, consultant and facilitator

 A while back, a young woman asked if she could come over and talk to me. She reads my columns and finds them useful. I was happy to help.

She came over, and we both sat down on my sofa. I asked her why she had come. She burst into tears. When she finally was able to speak, she told me that her long-term partner had left her. I was holding her hand as she spoke. [By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D, ACSW]

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Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz