This parsha opens with the death of Sarah in Hebron. It is followed by Abraham’s negotiation with the shrewd Hittite landowner Ephron to purchase the cave of Machpelah as the burial site for her and subsequently the patriarchs and other matriarchs. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Sarah’s and other ancient death rituals Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts were among Democratic presidential candidates to chime in, and both predictably misrepresented the situation after a cease-fire was declared. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Sanders, Warren misrepresent Gaza situation Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
President Trump unexpectedly underwent a physical this Saturday. Although Trump tweeted that this was a routine visit, the Fake News speculated that he had a medical emergency. Today his diagnosis appeared on Sikileaks. [Satire by Lawrence Baron, PhD]
What really ails President Trump? Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
For the second year in a row, San Diego Jewish Academy has been expanding its student base by cutting the cost of tuition. In what is described as its “Open Door” policy, the school offers half-priced tuition – between $10,000 and $15,000 per year—for kindergarten and ninth grade students. That rate follows the students through the following grades. [Donald H. Harrison]
Cutting tuition, SDJA expands enrollment Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Who doesn’t want to stay young while growing older in years? The Torah is telling us that with faith in Hashem, all things work out in the end. After all, Sarah had a child at age 100 and Abraham lived to 175 years old. [Michael Mantell, PhD]
Sarah’s pregnancy: A lesson in trusting God Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellIt’s taken a long time, but finally the US has recognized the obvious fact that Jewish communities everywhere in Israel do not violate international law. The Washington Post, which is one of many media outlets that is unfriendly to Israel, verified this fact in its reporting of Secretary of State Pompeo’s pronouncement on November 18, 2019. To wit: “… the Trump administration had determined that Israel’s West Bank settlements do not violate international law.” [Steve Kramer]
Flash: Israel is Jewish – duh! Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
In reversing the Obama administration’s shameful acceding to the UN Security Council’s 2016 resolution that Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria were illegal under international law, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo finally stated what was obvious to many legal scholars and others who have assessed the facts on the ground; namely, as Pompeo put it, “The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law.” [Richard L. Cravatts, PhD]
Reversing Obama’s Israel policy based on solid law Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, USA
The California Democratic Party, at its recent convention, passed over some of the Jewish Democrats running for offices in the San Diego County area in favor of better-known candidates. [Donald H. Harrison]
California Democrats pass over local Jewish candidates Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Travel and Food
Like anybody old enough, I remember when President John F. Kennedy was slain, 56 years ago, November 22, 1963. And I also remember Dr. Glanzberg frightfully clutching his loaf of fresh rye bread. Our tiny Hebrew day school suddenly sent us home just before two o’clock—exactly when we would have concluded our day with the weekly, all-classes’ welcoming of Sabbath Eve. There would be no plastic mini cups of grape juice, thin challah slices, lit candles, and sung blessings that Friday afternoon—even as a fresh Thanksgiving wreath and some Indian corn were displayed. [Rabbi Ben Kamin]
Thanksgiving, JFK, and a coveted loaf of rye bread Read More »
USA
While Israelis are struggling to form a government as the result of a virtual tie between Blue and White and Likud, Americans for Peace Now has weighed in with a pamphlet that asks what politicians can do to move things forward. But in reality, the perspective of the pamphlet seems out of date, and dreams of what on the ground seems unreasonable. [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
Americans for Peace Now proposals unrealistic Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USAThe Trump administration has reversed former President Barack Obama’s antagonistic policy toward Israeli settlements in the area known by some as the West Bank and to others as Judea and Samaria. [Donald H. Harrison]
Trump reverses U.S. position on Israeli settlements Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) report that its recent San Diego fundraiser attracted 650 contributors, who honored Sydney and Denise Selati of San Diego, and met five IDF soldiers who, according to security protocols, were identified by their first names or initials only. [Donald H. Harrison]
FIDF gala showcased IDF diversity Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County
Since December 2017, a sort of “rolling rebellion” has been occurring across Iran. It is bigger, deeper and stronger than the Green Revolution of 2009 and taking place in great measure outside Tehran, where the population is more diverse. There have been strikes of truckers, bazaar shopkeepers, teachers, farmers, and students. See #WhiteWednesday on Twitter to watch brave Iranian women go into the streets and take off their head coverings. Sometimes they dance. Sometimes their husbands, fathers, and brothers go with them. Sometimes they are arrested and sometimes they go to jail. Unfortunately, it took the suicide of a young woman facing seven years in prison for attending a soccer match to get the attention of the Western press. [Shoshana Bryen]
Imperial Iran faces troubles at home and abroad Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
Aviva Gottlieb Zornberg is an exceptionally good scholar. In her book Moses, she offers her readers an interesting, generally different but thought-provoking look at the life and deeds of the biblical Moses. She approaches the telling of Moses’ history based on Midrash … [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A scholarly look at the midrashic Moses Read More »
Jewish Religion