Holland seems like a well-run country

It’s a lovely, well run place. The Dutch may be more German than the Germans. Or at least close cousins. Order is clear. Trains and trams are clean and on time. Perhaps within a minute or two. Buildings we’ve seen are spruced well, with gold and fresh paint on statues and other fancy fixtures. Lots of tourists, even in the early part of September. American English was the language of conversation in our hotel breakfast room.

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International, Ira Sharkansky, Travel and Food

New Mexico’s Crypto-Jews subject of informative tour

When Jordi was just ten years old, his grandfather said, “This is how we butcher a chicken,” as he demonstrated the kosher slaughtering method. Jordi’s grandfather thereby revealed that the family was Jewish, a startling surprise for a young boy in the 1990s living in Spain, whose family was ostensibly Roman Catholic like everybody else. This revelation, that they were Crypto-Jews (secret Jews), had a profound effect on Jordi, who eventually became the first rabbi in 500 years to be ordained in Spain.

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food, USA

‘Intimate Apparel’ and a love that couldn’t be

“The Bravest Little Theater That Could” is the name I want to assign to New Village Arts. Each season this little theater tackles new and challenging shows and always pulls them off with aplomb.  Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel completely lives up to this with an immensely talented cast. Brilliant staging delivers a tale that is at once poignant, historically accurate, and tender.

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jewish cartoon book delights

Thirty graphic artists are featured in this delightful 86-page book of cartoons on Jewish topics, that starts with the Bible, moves on to Jewish-Christian relations, Jewish holidays, Shabbat, Kashrut, the differences among Jewish denominations, kvetching, and bubbes/ yentas. There are other topics too, but you get the drift.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Trivia, Humor & Satire

‘Bad Hombres, Good Wives’ surprises, pleases

Bad Hombres, Good Wives, a delightful new comedy at the San Diego Repertory Theater, is a cheeky take on Northern Mexico’s narco culture and the relationship between men and women. Written by Playwright in Residence Herbert Siguenza, the play explores the age-old problems of relationships between men and women with a mix of The Importance of Being Ernest, Moliere’s School for Wives, a narco telenovela, and some “Guillermo” Shakespeare thrown in for good measure.

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Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Money, not soldiers, is Trump’s weapon of choice

One way to understand Trump administration foreign policy is to understand that it is more comfortable with the currency of currency than the currency of American soldiers abroad.  That isn’t always the best approach, since many of America’s adversaries are wedded to military interventions — including grossly illegal ones.  And how the United States reassures its allies that it is not abandoning the playing field to soldiers on the other side is of inestimable importance.

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International, Shoshana Bryen, Sports & Competitions, USA

Difficulties, explanations regarding Kohelet

Tradition mandates that Jews should read the biblical book Kohelet, also spelt Koheleth and Qohelet, called Ecclesiastes in English, during the holiday of Sukkot. Both the Hebrew and English names mean “collector” or “collection.” We do not know why this mandate was made. Some say that since Sukkot is a very happy holiday, we need the sober thoughts of Kohelet to modify our joy and make it more reasonable. The book was considered heretical by many ancient rabbis who wanted to exclude it from the Bible.

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

‘Just Kidding:’ Trump family to market Sukkas

Members of President Trump’s family — his two older sons and “the other daughter” — plan to market a line of sukkas in time for next year’s Sukkot holiday. The top-of the line items, which the president has nicknamed “Trump Tabernacle Tents,” will each bear a golden capital T, which will glow in the dark for the benefit of those who want to visit the sukkas in the evening.

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Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Aquarium teaches how good ‘rulers’ treat their subjects

In Genesis: 1:28 we are taught that God blessed mankind instructing it to, “… rule over the fish of the sea, the bird of the sky, and every living thing that moves on the earth.”  At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a visitor can conclude that the phrase “rule over” is interpreted to mean “do everything in your power to help all living creatures.” This becomes evident in light of the aquarium’s successful efforts to rescue otters, to teach about conservation, and to instruct children in the fascinating ways of marine life.

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food