By Caroline Kirk MARRAKECH, Morocco — This country’s belief in the strength of pluralism has energized me and shown me that difference can serve as a strength for any country, whether it is religious or secular, large or small, developed or developing. I was told that there are spiritual answers to the question, “Why Morocco?”—every
In Morocco difference is a strength Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Formally, Iran isn’t at war with Israel. But what about informally? The random reflections below are variations on this question. Hamas and the splinter groups in Gaza, inspired and supported by Iran, are attacking Israel. Though they suffer infinitely more than the Israelis when Israel retaliates, they seem determined
The calm in Israel – genuine or false? Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Benj Fried Times of San Diego SAN DIEGO — A Times of San Diego article portrayed the major leaders and clergy in the San Diego Jewish community as passively mum in the face of President Trump’s anti-Semitic portrayals of Jewish Democrats as disloyal and vicious attacks on Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar. The article
When should rabbis address political issues? Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USAAuthor/ Playwright Ira Levin was born this day (August 27) in 1929.
Remembering Ira Levin Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Is Gaza controlled by Hamas? And is Hamas the terrorist organization widely claimed? Or is there some degree of trust? Or at least an effort at communication between Israel and Gaza? We hear that there are 12,000 Gazans allowed into Israel. Some are business people, seeking deals. Some are workers,
Who is calling the shots in Gaza? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
This is another installment in author Natasha Josefowitz’s memoir By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — Back from our business trip/honeymoon in South America, my husband Sam’s apartment was in a basement on the west side of New York City. The small windows were right under the ceiling. We had a view of people’s
Natasha’s Memoir: Life in NYC, N.J., and Israel Read More »
Middle East, Natasha Josefowitz, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Seed of Israel: DNA Guide To Tracing Your Jewish Ancestry by Joshua Robbin Marks, 48 pages including endnotes; available on Amazon.com for $14.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Perhaps your friends or relatives have told you that they did a DNA test and found out about their ancestry, and now you’re wondering whether
Book offers tips and facts about DNA testing Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Joel H. Cohen NEW YORK — Sad to say, President Trump has just blown any chance (admittedly, next-to-zero, or less) of establishing political détente with me. He did it with an all-too-typical wild-and-woolly statement that many considered startling, even offensive. Count me among them. Trump issued a challenge to Jewish voters, aimed at getting
OpEd: Trump tries to move Jewish voters to the right Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, USA
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — There’s plenty of drama in dance studios, especially when there are competitions coming up. It’s a lot of pressure to put on these kids and rivalries among friends complicate their relationships. The characters are “tweeners,” children in their pre-teen years filled with rambunctious energy, insecurities and curiosities navigating
Dance Nation Steps into the Surreal Read More »
Eric George Tauber, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastArt collector Peggy Guggenheim was born this day (August 26) in 1898.
Remembering Peggy Guggenheim Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Harry Litman, a former United States Attorney for western Pennsylvania and Deputy Assistant Attorney General, will address the Beth Israel Men’s Club at a 6:30 p.m. dinner buffet Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the temple, 9001 Towne Centre Drive. Litman teaches Constitutional Law and National Security Law at both the UCLA
Former U.S. Attorney Litman to speak Sept. 18 at CBI Read More »
San Diego Calendar, USA
By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Following recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, President Trump indicated a willingness to consider a number of laws to reduce gun violence, including improved background checks and red-flag laws, although he has since backed away from that support. Many rabbis and other Jewish scholars have
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Gun Control Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — It might surprise most people to know that ecological themes form an important part of the Torah and Tanakh. For example: Genesis begins with an important ecological truth: “The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and
Massive tree planting program may save planet Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, The World We Share, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — It is basic psychology that people cannot understand a subject unless they understand its opposite. In fact, this was the first lesson I learnt at Johns Hopkins in my first psychology class. Peter Kamara’s Ancient Roman Mythology contains a description of a Roman creation myth. It is
Comparing the biblical and Roman creation stories Read More »
International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion