It’s play time at Twelfth Night

If you were a young woman lost and alone in a strange land, how would you get by? How would you protect yourself from the dangers of a big city? Rescued from a shipwreck, Viola finds herself orphaned and alone in Illyria, a land just across the Adriatic from Italy. So she masquerades as a young man, getting a job as an errand boy for Duke Orsino. And thus, her life gets complicated. [Eric George Tauber]

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

Republicans launch bid for Jewish support in 2020

 Social media users in San Diego County and around the country soon will be bombarded with the Republican Jewish Coalition’s opening salvo in an effort to reelect Donald Trump in 2020 – a 30-second video spot contending it is a “shanda” (disgrace) how leading Democrats are attacking Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA

Jewish trivia quiz: Halloween in Israel

Halloween is controversial in many segments of the Jewish community. Halloween originated as a pagan festival, and was later adapted by the Catholic Church as All Hallow’s Eve, preceding All Saints Day on November 1. Because of these roots, many Jews do not consider the holiday appropriate to celebrate; however, others view it simply in modern-day terms as an American fun neighborhood celebration with candy, costumes, and parties. Given that history, the holiday is largely unrecognized in Israel, though in recent years there have been some Halloween celebrations–not door-to-door trick-or-treating for children, but among young people who celebrate in nightclubs, bars, and community centers. [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire

‘Bluish’ concert features Jews and African-Americans

The multi-talented Strom, scholar-in-residence at SDSU’s Judaic Studies Department, has brought concerts combining his klezmer forces with international musicians from mariachi, and classical to jazz, from an Afghanistan drummer and an Israeli oud player, to a flaminco dancer. This time, the free concert on Thursday evening, November 7, 7:00 p.m. in Smith Recital Hall on the SDSU campus, will be celebrating the intersection of Jews and Blues. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Time to consider Roth conversions, estate planning

We are nearing the end of 2019. And, there’s something significant to note about this year and 2020: There will likely not be any tax increases during these years. Currently, we are enjoying the lowest income tax rates in decades as well as the highest estate tax exemptions. Income tax rates range from 10% to 37% and capital gains tax ranges from 0% to 20%, while the estate & gift tax exemption is $11,400,000 per person! What does this have to do with you? Plenty! Especially if you have retirement accounts and/or are worth more than $2 million per person. [Sheryl Rowling, CPA]

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Business & Finance, Sheryl Rowling, USA

Tao House: Where O’Neill wrote well-known plays

The playwright Eugene O’Neill (1888-1953) grew bored and frustrated by what passed for theatre early in his life.  There were few stories told that connected with reality; instead, theater essentially was spectacle – lots of costumes, big sets, predictable plots and one-dimensional characters. He wanted to change all that, suggested Tory Starling, the educational technician at the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site.   He experimented in various forms of theatre. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

U.S. receives large returns on Israel investment

Both Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have made US military aid to Israel a cornerstone policy on their competing campaign trails. Detractors of Israel like to jump on the figure of $3.8 Billion (2019) that the United States gives to Israel for its military defense. What they do not take into consideration are three important factors that make the US-Israel defense relationship truly unique. [Barry Shaw]

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Barry Shaw, Middle East, USA

Should Israel moderate its Iran stand?

It’s difficult to know whether Netanyahu’s obsession with Iran is because he cares for his country or if his real purpose is to persuade Israelis that he and only he can make sure that Israel remains secure, expanding at the expense of the Palestinians and prosperous? The answer isn’t simple. For there’s much to suggest that Israeli hostility to Iran has brought the Jewish state closer to many Arab states, notably Saudi Arabia and Gulf States, on the basis that my enemy’s enemy is my friend. Much of that may be thanks to our prime minister. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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Middle East

Rabbi Samuel’s many insights into Maimonides

His work is comprehensive, full of information, and eye-opening. The writings on each parasha is divided by chapters; each of which is subdivided by subjects that Rabbi Samuel addresses in clear detail. For example, in Genesis chapter 1, he examines 22 subjects, such as the meaning of Elohim, the purpose of creation, the reason for marriages, God does not decree moral behavior, the nature of biblical metaphors, exempting women from some biblical commands, and more. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

A consortium of 100 geniuses

Besides being Jewish what do these people have in common?  Amir Amedi, Ron Arad, Marc Benioff, Michael Bloomberg, Ruth Bader Ginsburg,  Daniel S. Goldin, Roger D. Kornberg, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, John Landis, Uri Levine, Shuki Levy, Daniel Libeskind, Shimon Peres (z”l), Ehud Shabtai,  Amir Shinar and Barbra Streisand. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Travel and Food

Author Lindsay Lerman is not from nowhere

Lindsay Lerman, the author of a new novel titled I’m From Nowhere, was born in the Chicago area and attended Northern Arizona University for her undergraduate studies and later received a PhD in philosophy from a university in Canada. And yes, given the motto of this online newspaper, there’s a Jewish story here, too, as you will see as you read on. [Dan Bloom]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, The World We Share