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
As if President Trump didn’t have enough adversity to deal with already, Stephen Miller has added to his tzuris. [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]
Stephen Miller throws Trump a white nationalist curve Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire
I first met 18-year-old Michal Sharon in the Seacrest Village dining room as she was hopping from table to table cheerfully introducing herself. She was fresh out of high school in Israel and chose to delay her required service in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to spend one year in San Diego as an emissary in a new-to-San Diego program. [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]
Israel rabbi, student visit Seacrest Village residents Read More »
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Middle East, San Diego County
Impeachment hearings for President Donald Trump focus on his withholding of Congressionally-authorized United States aid to Ukraine in order to first get a Ukrainian commitment to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. It is alleged that this was an extortion effort by Trump for the purpose of hurting his Democratic rival and benefiting his own reelection efforts. Hunter Biden has what Jewish connection in his life? [Humor column by Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish trivia quiz: Hunter Biden Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
After the Trump Administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy was introduced in the summer, many asylum seekers were forced to stay in Mexico. While they wait for their court date, the need for shelters and other assistance in Tijuana has dramatically increased. Enter two grassroots organizations that were started in 2018 and early 2019 to support migrants in the Tijuana area. In 2018, Birdie Gutierrez, the daughter of migrant farm workers, founded Bridge of Love Across the Border and began to collect much needed items which were sent to migrant shelters in Tijuana. [Mimi Pollack]
‘Stay in Mexico’ policy shifts charitable focus Read More »
International, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County
Board members of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County have voted unanimously to contribute $100,000 to help the Lawrence Family JCC to host the August 2-7, 2020 JCC Maccabi Games which are expected to bring to San Diego 2,000 athletes from all over the world. [Donald H. Harrison]
Federation chips in $100,000 for JCC Maccabi Games Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Judaism, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions
A mildly demented and slightly disheveled gray-haired man comes to the window and says “I need to fill this prescription.” His mentally ill girlfriend blurts out he just had a heart attack and needs his blood pressure medicine filled. I overhear the technician at the window explaining to them that he does not have any type of health insurance to cover the cost of the medication. He asks the cost and is told it $48 for a one-month supply of his potentially life-preserving drug (and this is at a community healthcare facility for the poor and indigent). [Ben Dishman, PharmD]
Walmart’s pharmaceutical mitzvah Read More »
San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
My owner is a news junkie. For the past week, he has disturbed my precious slumber by watching the House impeachment inquiry on television. Although the cats sleep so deeply that they haven’t listened to any of it, I haven’t been as fortunate. Rather than waste my time tossing and turning, I have tried to grasp the charges against Trump so I can convey them to the dogs I meet on my walks. The story goes something like this: [Elona Baron as told to Lawrence Baron, PhD]
Impeachment for doggy dummies Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
In Western religions, the numbers 3, 7, and 40 have symbolic significance. So too are they important to the understanding of the life and works of Baldassare Forestiere, who created the sprawling underground gardens and home that today are recognized as a California Historical Landmark as well as a venue listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [Donald H. Harrison]
Religious numerology at a state historic landmark Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Travel and Food, USA
It’s time for Martin Scorsese to reprise one of his greatest films, Goodfellas. This new version is called The Irishman and, like Goodfellas, it stars Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci and includes
some of the same actors in both films: Samuel L .Jackson, Paul Sorvino, Chuck Low, Jim Norton,
Mike Starr. The Irishman is fleshed out with Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa, Ray Romano as Bill Bufalino, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Harvey Keitel, Steven Van Zandt, and a cast of nearly 40 other players. [Cynthia Citron]
Another mob thriller from Scorsese Read More »
Cynthia Citron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Just as September’s high holidays are marked by boxes of matzo ball soup on Von’s endcaps, so the annual Christmas season is heralded by the Old Globe’s production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The show opened last night to a full house and an enthusiastic fan base welcomed all the Whos from Whoville, Max the loyal dog, and the once-curmudgeonly Grinch who did teshuva. [Eva Trieger]
A freshened grinch at the Old Globe Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Never able to shake off the painful memory of having his fingers shot off by an intruder at Chabad of Poway nor of seeing congregant Lori Gilbert-Kaye murdered and two other congregants wounded, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein has decided to retire. [Donald H. Harrison]
Chabad of Poway’s Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein retires Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
VaYera is an eventful parsha, from which I take note of two items: (1) a dispute between Abraham and God, (2) overt incest between Lot’s daughters and Lot. [Irv Jacobs, MD]
Disputing God, incest, themes in VaYera Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
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]
The impact of righteous or vengeful anger Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz