Va’etchanan By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — The first word of this week’s parasha, Va’etchanan, means “I pleaded.” Moshe pleaded with Hashem to see the Land of Israel. Hashem heard his pleas, and the answer? “No.” How many times do we plead, pray, even beg Hashem for an outcome and it doesn’t go […]
D’var Torah for Shabbat, August 17 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Torah parsha “Va-Ethannan”-Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 By Irv Jacobs LA JOLLA, California The most memorable passages in this parsha are the Ten Commandments, the classic epitome of Jewish contribution to Western civilization. But are the Commandments original? Do these famous lines have precedents in earlier ancient cultures? In fact, the ideas of the Commandments made an early appearance in
Notes on Torah reading for August 17, 2019 Read More »
Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO –When I walked into the theatre, I greeted the House Manager with a kiss and she said, “I hope you brought your dancing shoes.” I did and I’m glad. She was right. “Our music is part of America’s DNA.” The number 33 1/3 refers to the speed of long
Bring your dancing shoes to the 33 1/3 House of Dreams Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & BroadcastEthics Professor Felix Adler was born this day (August 13) in 1851.
Remembering Felix Adler Read More »
Jewish History, USA
By Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — President Trump would like the High Holy days and other Jewish religious holidays to be observed earlier in 2020 than in their usual season, and is taking steps to implement his idea. In a series of tweets just leaked, he gave two reasons for urging a change: to
‘Just Kidding’: Trump urges earlier 2020 High Holy Days Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Abu Safiyeh, is a representative of the PLO’s Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in the Gaza Strip. He was arrested after he published a Facebook post criticizing Hamas’s corruption. Here are some of the things he wrote that got him thrown into Palestinian prison by Hamas:
Critique of Hamas lands PFLP member in jail Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — I’ve often contended that had there not been a State of Israel, Judaism would by now been confined to museums. Enclaves of Orthodox Jews would perhaps continue to practice their ways in the manner of the Amish in the United States. The majority would assimilate. I’ve now come to
May God save Zionism from rightists and leftists Read More »
Middle East
Two Who Survived: Keeping Hope Alive While Surviving the Holocaust; Rose & Max Schindler’s story, written by M. Lee Connolly; MRS Publishing © 2019; ISBN 9781738-19877; 179 pages including glossary; $21.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – There is a romantic notion in popular Judaism that everyone has a bashert – a special person
Rose and Max (z”l) Schindler relate their survivals Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A young man, Dvir Sorek, religious, a bit short of going from his Yeshiva to the army, was killed as he walked the path from the bus stop to his settlement. It demonstrated, once again, that roadside killings in the West Bank are the most popular targets for Palestinian terrorists.
Murder of left- reading yeshiva student roils Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastConcert promoter Sid Bernstein, who brought the Beatles to the U.S., was born this day (August 12) in 1918.
Remembering Sid Bernstein Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — The Woodstock music festival took place 50 years ago this week. The event, attended by more than 400,000 people, featured performances by Richie Havens, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, The Who, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and dozens of other musicians. Many of the people involved in Woodstock
Jewish trivia quiz: Woodstock Music Festival Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The Fire Spot, 4646 Convoy Street, San Diego, California 92111 By Sandi Masori SAN DIEGO — As my time with my older son gets shorter and shorter as we prepare for him to start UC Berkeley in the fall, I’m trying to save up as many experiences as I can for him, his brother and
Noshing with Sandi: The Fire Spot Read More »
San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, Travel and Food
By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — The Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) concluded its season with an entertaining Pops Concert under the direction of its founder and conductor, David Amos, and featuring soprano Victoria Robertson. The first half of the program began and ended with two unusual selections, Sousa’s The Fairest of the Fair March,
TICO marches out its 2019 concert season Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
Story by Donald H. Harrison; photos by Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO — It was a venue of juxtaposition on Sunday, August 11. In Mission Bay, a dog rode on a paddle board, with it and its master somehow keeping their balance as the wake from a powerboat rocked the board on its course. Elsewhere,
Tisha b’Av observance focuses on refugee plight Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, USA