According to the tale, the Rabbi of Nemirov, who was a much beloved spiritual leader in his community, would disappear every year prior to Kol Nidre, the holiest night on the Jewish calendar. And every year, as the entire community would gather together for the service, their beloved Rabbi was nowhere to be found. (To read more, please click on the headline)
A folktale about the disappearing rabbi Read More »
Jewish Religion
Items in today’s column include: *SDMA exhibit on women of abstract impressionism includes some Jewish artists *UC San Diego’s economic impact *Political Bytes *Coming Our Way By Donald H. Harrison SDMA exhibit on women of abstract impressionism includes some Jewish artists SAN DIEGO — Jewish artists Lee Krasner and Helen Frankenthaler and another artist of
Our Shtetl San Diego County: October 3, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food
Anastasia was the youngest daughter of the last Czar, Nikolai II. As a child, Anastasia’s life was a dream filled with ballet and ball gowns, caviar and champagne. But you can safely sit on a powder keg for only so long….
In 1917, the Romanov family was imprisoned and later executed by firing squad. …
Rumors spread like a wildfire that Anastasia, the youngest daughter, somehow escaped the carnage and survived. The Dowager Empress, living in Paris, offers a handsome reward to anyone who can produce her living granddaughter. This inspires two con artists, Vlad and Dmitry, to come up with a plan. (To read more, please click on the headline.)
Anastasia fills our dreams Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Pundits are questioning if the impeachment inquiry conducted by the House of Representatives will cost Democrats their majority in the House. What they overlook is the prospect that some Republicans may lose their jobs – like Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick who represents Bucks County and a sliver of Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania. (To read more, please click on the headline)
Impeachment unlikely to affect Democratic control of the House Read More »
Bruce Ticker, USAActress Gertrude Berg was born this day (October 3) in 1899.
Remembering Gertrude Berg Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The genius of Hershey Felder was again on display in his one-man show, Monsieur Chopin, now extended until October 6 in the Lyceum Space. This time, the actor-pianist not only portrayed Fryderyk Chopin conducting a masterclass in his Parisian salon, but also entertaining questions from his students, the audience, as an intrinsic part of the play. (To read more, please click on headline)
Audience interacts with Felder’s ‘Monsieur Chopin’ Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastPhotographer Annie Leibovitz was born this day (October 2) in 1949.
Happy Birthday Annie Leibovitz Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
Items in today’s column include:
*Former Police Chief Zimmerman busy on several fronts
*Arraignment Scheduled in Poway Shooting
*Political Byte
*Coming Our Way
Our Shtetl San Diego County: October 2, 2019 Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
Like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur does not exist in the Bible. It replaces another day known as Yom Hakippurim. Yom Kippur is singular, “day of atonement,” while Yom Hakippurim is plural, “day of atonements.” The biblical Yom Hakippurim is mentioned in Leviticus 16:29–31, 23:27–32, and Numbers 29:7–11. No work was permitted on this day, special sacrifices were offered, and the Israelites were obliged to te’anu et nafshoteikhem. This is improperly translated as “you must afflict your souls.” (To read more, please click on the headline.)
Yom Kippur and What the Romans Destroyed Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
This passage led me to explore whether other ancient conquerors also made such a claim that their gods marched with them. In exploring the internet, I found no such claims for other nations. There, in fact, is the story in II Kings 3:27 that King Mesha of Moab, about to suffer a military defeat, sacrificed his eldest son, followed by withdrawal of the appalled enemy.
The Internet did yield a review of the military mights of “10 of the Greatest Ancient Warrior Cultures…” Hereby I offer you a sample of their military actions. (To read more, please click on the headline).
Notes on Torah reading for October 5, 2019 Read More »
International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish Religion, Middle East
Remember leaving services last Yom Kippur, the grandeur of Neilah upon us, filled with promises to live better lives? Yet so soon afterwards many old habits reemerged – maybe even before that first morsel of food was swallowed, after the long fast. Like January’s New Year’s resolutions to “eat less and move more” that quickly fade before February, we make promises to transform during the Days of Awe, that are fleeting and short-lived. We’re human. We are filled with introspection, we repent, we make promises, and then fall asleep until the next Yom Kippur. And here we are again. (To read more, please click on headline.)
D’var Torah for October 5, 2019 Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Foecabulary: Donald’s Dictionary of Demonization By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO−Donald Trump released the latest edition of his Dictionary of Demonization. Here’s some of the new entries: Spy=a whistleblower who follows protocol in filing a report. Presidential Harassment=Constitutional Congressional Oversight over the Executive Branch. Perfect=Incriminating. Scum=Fake News wasn’t sufficiently polarizing. Coup=Impeachment Inquiry. Favor=Extortion. A Civil War
Humoring the Headlines: October 2, 2019 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Like every country, Israel has its advantages and its disadvantages. One of the former is its climate, which is on the whole pleasant (at least in Jerusalem) with sunny days throughout the summer, often with cool evenings and nights. It also has a long coastline giving most of the population access to the sea with all its benefits.
Considering its small size, the country encompasses a particularly wide range ofinteresting geographical features, with hilly areas in the north, and even mountains on which one can ski in winter. (To read more, please click on the headline)
Its people and geography make Israel special Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle Eastven The Beatles came from humble beginnings. They rehearsed in the garage of Pete Best, their original drummer, because his mum would let them. But for every band that makes it in show biz, there are 999 that vanish into obscurity. Of all the movies to make the transition from screen to musical theatre stage, Almost Famous is a natural fit. My guest is himself the manager of a Punk band and he said this story makes him cry every time.
Almost Famous is a wild road trip Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast