Many claims are made about Abraham, most likely to enhance his stature, reputation, distinction, and prestige. Perhaps also because it was felt that Abraham must have had some kind of relationship with God before he was 75 years old. Yet, none of the following popular views are even hinted in the Torah. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Some mistaken ideas about Abraham Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
Jamie Wellerstein and Cathy Hiatt are young, bright, talented and ambitious. Jamie is a writer sending out manuscripts to agents and publishers. Cathy is an actress going from audition to audition. Jamie’s success and Cathy’s lack of it complicate matters. Set Designer Justin Humphries has created a tornado of loose pages tearing through their home filled with packing boxes. [Eric George Tauber]
‘The Last Five Years’ pulls heart strings Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Amir Ohana is Israel’s Minister of Justice. Sort of. Sitting in an interim government, he is prevented from acting on all relevant matters. But he can speak. And he did so shrilly, against what he called a cult of prosecutors within the prosecution service, as well as supporting members of the media. [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
Netanyahu supporters denounce prosecutors Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
100 years ago American women received the right to vote. I think it is time to consider canine suffrage. For those who scoff at the idea of letting a domesticated animal with limited intelligence vote, consider that nearly 63,000,000 US citizens voted for the Golden Deceiver to be president, a man who has never read the Constitution or anything but his clippings as far as I can tell. [Elona Baron as told to Laurie Baron]
If dogs could vote Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
he State of Israel is an amazing place. Ever wonder about the secrets behind how Israel, a tiny country with the highest concentration of start-ups per capita worldwide, is raising generations of entrepreneurs who are disrupting markets around the globe and bringing change to the world? What factors have led to these remarkable achievements, and what secrets do Israeli tech entrepreneurs know that others can learn? [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Chutzpah and Balagan: partners in innovation Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
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]
It’s play time at Twelfth Night Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
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]
Republicans launch bid for Jewish support in 2020 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, USA
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]
Jewish trivia quiz: Halloween in Israel Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
At first, it may seem a bit of a stretch, but President Trump can trace the blossoming of what he calls “my incredible deal-making ability” to a childhood meeting with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the late, revered leader of worldwide Lubavatcher Chassidim. [Satire by Joel H. Cohen]
Rebbe’s example and Trump’s conclusions Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire
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]
‘Bluish’ concert features Jews and African-Americans Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
Two authors, whose books recently were reviewed by San Diego Jewish World, were front and center Sunday at the Artisans Fair at Temple Emanu-El. [Donald H. Harrison]
Side-by-side authors at Temple Emanu-El Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Marcia Berneger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food
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]
Time to consider Roth conversions, estate planning Read More »
Business & Finance, Sheryl Rowling, USA
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]
Tao House: Where O’Neill wrote well-known plays Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
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]
U.S. receives large returns on Israel investment Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East, USA