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

Jewish Year 5780 starts with bad news

Two days before the Day of Atonement, The New York Times reported that Jeremy Corbyn had advanced a signficant step toward becoming Britain’s prime minister. Yom Kippur itself was consumed by fatal shootings outside a synagogue in Germany; a military earthquake in Syria that could easily extend to Israel; and two scary incidents in Elon, North Carolina, and White Plains, New York. This confluence of events cast a bleak shadow for 5780, the new Jewish year. It makes one wonder what else can happen.

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Bruce Ticker, International, Middle East, USA

Europe’s proxy war against Israel

According to the European Union Commission’s website, during the last decade the EUC has given over 2 billion Euros to Arab Palestinians in the “West Bank” and the Gaza Strip. This does not include extra payments for health, welfare, and education, and legal services to assist claims against Israel.  Additionally, the EUC is funding illegal Arab building in Area C, which is under Israeli control via the authority of the IDF and its civilian branch, COGAT. This includes assistance to PA residents who infiltrate into Area C and build illegal homes in Arab villages.

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International, Middle East

Our Shtetl San Diego County: October 12, 2019

Items in today’s column include:
*UC San Diego books former Israeli FM Tzipi Livni for Nov. 11 lecture
*Three Jewish philanthropists to receive UC San Diego Chancellor’s Medal
*San Diego Humane Society hosts training for animal law enforcement officers
*Political bytes
*Fundraising
*Coming our way
*Remembering Sy Brenner

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

An act of betrayal and infamy

President Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria may well be remembered as one of the most egregious and inhuman disasters that he has ever taken since he came to power. For a President of the United States to make such a critical decision with so many implications, simply based on a conversation with Turkish President Erdogan, not only shows his shortsightedness and total lack of strategic approach, but his inability to appreciate how that will adversely affect our friends and please our foes. We are already witnessing the unfolding disaster, and there are no words to explain how and by what logic the President of the United States in particular can take such critical steps, knowing how disastrous the repercussions of his actions would be. (To read more, please click on the headline.)

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Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: October 11, 2019

Items in today’s column include
*State creates fund to protect at risk non-profit institutions such as synagogues
*What our children/ grandchildren are reading
*Jewish War Veterans to honor returning active duty service members
*Political bytes
*Coming Our Way
(To read more, please click on the headline.)

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Yom Kippur is very different in Israel

Israeli families, students and really everyone who has not left the country for vacation, takes to the streets by foot, bike or scooter. The whole country, every city and every street becomes a park. They begin walking around at sundown and do not stop until the next sundown. There are picnics, there are gangs of 10 year olds on bikes, there are gangs of girls on skates, there are toddlers in the middle of the street, there are skateboarders pulled by bikers, there are old men and young men, women and children, sitting on streets and corners and talking, enjoying each other’s company. They have no food, they have no drinks, there is no trash. It is just pure joy to be outside without having to go anywhere and without having to watch out for cars. (To read more, please click on the headline.)

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, Sam Litvin

Origins of the Sukkot holiday

Leviticus 23:40 states that the Israelites should take four species on the first day and “rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.” While the Hebrew words used for the four species are obscure, the Jewish Publication Society’s 1960 translation defines them as “the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook.” An apparently separate command in verse 42 states, “Ye shall dwell in booths seven days.” The first biblical description of the implementation of this command is in the biblical book Nehemiah. It is entirely different than the way the holiday is celebrated today. (To read more, please click on the headline.)

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

A Very Personal Trip to Prague

From the moment we entered the city, I felt the presence of the Jews who are no longer there. I wondered about every Czech person we met (and they were all lovely).  Where were their parents or grandparents during the Shoah? Did they help or hide any Jews, or did they stand along the sidewalks and cheer the Germans as they entered the city?  I loved the magnificent architecture, taking my photo next to a statue of Franz Kafka, walking the picturesque streets, but my soul couldn’t escape the past. (To read more, please click on the headline.)

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Toby Klein Greenwald, Travel and Food

A unity government in Israel?

There are signs that Israel will be spared the nightmare of a third election. The politicians of the two major parties may be coming to their senses. Prime Minister Netanyahu, who engineered the second election less than a month ago, has realized that he lost mandates in this second round and, for all we know, internal polls may be indicating that he may fare even worse next time. His rival Benny Ganz of the Blue and White party also seems to sense that compromise is best. He has made it known that he’s prepared to join forces with Netanyahu’s Likud in a rotation as prime minister. (To read more, please click on headline.)

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Middle East

Notes on Torah Reading for October 12, 2019

This parasha more or less recapitulates Chapter 31, but in a poetic form recited “by Moses” before they are to cross the Jordan to enter the promised land. After the poem, prose text tells the assembled Israelites, that Moses will ascend Mount Nebo, overlook the promised land from the east, and die there. With a new curiosity for biblical poetry, I have explored its elements as expounded by Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Tigay of the University of Pennsylvania in his commentary on Deuteronomy, published by the Jewish Publication Society (1996). (To read more, please click on the headline.)

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Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion