The impact of righteous or vengeful anger

Hoping something bad happens to the perpetrator is responding with revenge. This kind of anger is destructive and can escalate into violent confrontations. But there is also righteous anger. Anger can send a message that something really matters. When strong beliefs are at the foundation of a strong reaction, a fruitful dialogue can ensue which acknowledges the legitimacy of the anger and hopefully leads to a resolution. A parent’s angry message means the child has crossed a line. The boss’s angry tone indicates that the job may be at risk. An angry spouse demands more attention. [Natasha Josefowitz, PhD]

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Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz

Psuedo-scholars revive the blood libel

The latest example of this pseudo-scholarship—born out of contortions of history and fact to conform, instead, to spurious narratives—has embroiled Boston University in a debate about the academic qualifications of a prospective faculty hire, Sarah Ihmoud, a postdoctoral associate in Anthropology and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. As is the current trend in the humanities and social sciences in academia, Ihmoud, in her writing about feminism and sexuality, focuses obsessively on the predations of the Jew of nations, Israel, in a torrent of so-called research. [Richard L. Cravatts, PhD]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education

A thoughtful plot from Korea

Parasite is a social satire written and directed by a man named Bong Joon-ho, and stars a brilliant cast of actors whose names you probably don’t recognize. They portray a wealthy family, the Parks, who live in a spectacular home created by a prominent Korean architect, and an indigent family, the Kims, who live a ragtag existence in the poorer part of town. Their connection begins when a friend who is about to leave for college persuades Kim Ki-woo, the son of the Kim family, to take over his job as an English teacher for Park Da-hye, the daughter of the Park family. [Cynthia Citron]

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Cynthia Citron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Event marries Shabbat, Breast Cancer Awareness

Becky Krinsky, who organized the Pink Challah Bakes, both in Bonita and across the border at the Centro Social Israelita of Tijuana, said there were several reasons for merging Shabbat San Diego with breast cancer awareness. Noting that women traditionally make the challah that Jewish families eat on Shabbat, she commented that “breast cancer affects mainly women.  We all have either one person who died from cancer or we know someone who is struggling with cancer, so I think it is a beautiful idea to unite us in praying for everybody and getting both things at the same time.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food

Abraham set precedent for welcoming strangers

At the beginning of our Torah portion this week, VaYera, we find Abraham, fresh off his self-inflicted circumcision, waiting at “Petach HaOhel,” at the opening of his tent. According to a Midrash, Abraham had a habit of doing this because whenever anyone would walk by, he would he would run to greet and welcome them. In this week’s Torah portion, in the heat of the day, while recovering from his surgery, he ushered three random travelers into his tent. He gave them food; water, shelter; he and his wife Sarah went out of their way to make them feel comfortable. He had no reason or ulterior motives in doing so, other than the fact that he wanted to welcome them. [Rabbi Joshua Dorsch]

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Jewish Religion

‘Superstar’ rocks on Broadway

The scenic design by Tom Scutt is a construction site with bare girders  –possibly for downtown condos that few of us can actually afford. And just as many churches have foregone traditional pipe organs and choirs, the traditional orchestra hidden in the pit has been traded in for a rock band incorporated into the set. [Eric George Tauber]

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Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Humorous book relates teachers’ anecdotes

Many of our readers may remember Art Linkletter’s television show Kids Say the Darndest Things.  In classrooms throughout the nation, their parents say even darnder things. Just ask Cheryl Kolker and Jan Landau, longtime teachers at the San Diego Jewish Academy who have collected anecdotes from 30 of their colleagues in American public and private schools and put them all into a humorous book Teachers Have You Ever..!!@#*!! [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Improved weapons could prompt full-scale Middle East war

Most worrisome to Israel’s military is that what happened in Saudi Arabia could happen to Israel. On the night of September 14, two oil installations in Saudi Arabia were attacked by a combination of cruise missiles and a new type of delta-winged UAV. Uzi Rubin, one of the world’s leading missile defense experts, pointed out that there were 25 air vehicles in all, 18 drones and seven jet-powered cruise missiles. Of the 18 drones, 17 hit their targets (94%), while of the cruise missiles, only four hit their targets (60%). [Stephen D. Bryen]

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Middle East, Stephen D. Bryen

San Diego gears up for 2020 JCC Maccabi Experience

The Lawrence Family JCC has been sending flyers to people throughout the county looking for athletes, artists, volunteers and donors for the 2020 JCC Maccabi Experience, in which over 400 San Diego County teen athletes and artists will become part of a competition among 2,200 teens from throughout the world from Sunday August 2 through Friday, August 7. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Bruce F. Lowitt, Donald H. Harrison, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Did Netanyahu purposely precipitate a Gaza crisis?

My mistrust of politicians made me fear that a war would get them out of the impasse. I’ve, therefore, in ignorance asked myself if the spectacular assassination in Gaza of the commander of Islamic Jihad Baha Abu al-Ata and his wife, and injuring his four children, was an attempt to initiate a military conflict. Some commentators seem to suggest it, notably the editor of +972 Magazine Edo Konrad. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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Middle East

Seacrest gala to support financially needy residents

Gala Co-Chairs Mary Epsten and Alana Ziman, and Honorary Chairs Sheila and Jeffrey Lipinsky along with an expected 400 guests, will gather on Saturday, February 22, at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla for the Legacy of Light and Love Gala, honoring the legacy of our San Diego Jewish community. It will be a spectacular night featuring a cocktail reception, live auction, 3-course dinner, electrifying entertainment by The Dancing Fire, and dancing to Spencer and his Players! [Seacrest Village press release]

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Lifestyles, San Diego County

Poland, other countries, had mixed Holocaust records

From the respondents to my original article, I am also glad to hear that Witold Pilecki is the most revered in Poland and has been for some time. But one respondent claimed, “There is no anti-Semitism in Poland!” I hoped that this might indeed be the case. But this comment piqued my curiosity, so I decided to check out this out for myself. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA