I’m sure a psychiatrist could provide far more incisive insights into this troubled novel than I can, but at least I can give you the flavor of it, along with a warning that if it were a movie it would be rated XXX. [Donald H. Harrison]
Raging over the Holocaust in books and bedrooms Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
The passage I have chosen to explore is offensive to modern sensibilities: Genesis, Ch. 12, vv. 11-13 “As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are. If the Egyptians see you, and think, She is his wife, they will kill me and let you live. Please say that you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may remain alive thanks to you.'” Sarah was carried off by Pharoah’s officials, and placed in his harem. According to the story, she was not violated, because of God’s intervention.
Female beauty: Torah, mythology, and ancient history Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
Donald Trump announced that he intends to establish his official residence in Florida and move away from New York. His reasons for doing so seem sound: [Satire by Laurie Baron, PhD]
On Donald Trump’s Move to Florida Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego is spotlighting three local organizations that provide comfort to the homeless and the poor during the Thanksgiving holidays. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Community Foundation’s ideas for Thanksgiving Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
This week’s parasha teaches that to live a meaningful life, turning inward and reflecting on these questions are important, yet we may also have to ditch the links to our past and project a new course…guided by Torah as our road map to discovering our real purpose. We may have to leave our comfortable Haran to go to our Canaan, our Land of Israel. [Michael Mantell, PhD
Rejecting complacency, embracing our true selves Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell
The origins of U.S.-Israel security cooperation are in the Cold War understanding that the United States could not engage all the adversaries of all its allies and friends around the world. It was embraced warily at first — the Americans were unconvinced they would receive anything of value and the Israelis were concerned about continued freedom of action. But it worked. Israel went from being considered a net security consumer to a net security producer, meaning the United States did not have to expend resources to defend Israel. And Israel participated in making the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean regions more secure due to its presence. [Shoshana Bryen]
How U.S. benefits from alliance with Israel Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
Stephen D. Smith is the executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation, which houses the archive of interviews of Holocaust Survivors financed by movie producer Steven Spielberg. He will be a special guest Jan. 12 at the grand opening of RUTH (Remember Us The Holocaust), a Chula Vista Civic Library exhibit named in honor of the late Holocaust survivor Ruth Sax. [Donald H. Harrison]
Chula Vista exhibit to focus on Holocaust survivors Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
A character based on Theodore Kaczynski, the real-life Unibomber, is a dark presence in this book, as he sends bombs to people and institutions that he believes have been irresponsibly pursuing technological change without fear of the consequences. This novel’s “Techno-Bomber” has even issued a manifesto, Kaczynski-like, inveighing against the direction in which scientists and industrialists are taking the world. [Donald H. Harrison]
Suspense novel speculates on dystopian future Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
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