By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — What’s it like to be in Israel where, according to a 2017 Jewish People Policy Institute survey, 97% of Israeli Jews host or participate in a Passover Seder? If you’ve never heard an Arab calling out “alter zachen” (‘old things’) in Yiddish, then you’ve never experienced pre-Passover preparations […]
Israel gets ready for Passover Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastUne Vie (One Life) by Simone Veil, (c) 2017, Stock, France. By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — On the cover of Simone Veil’s autobiography, written in 2007, we read that she is a member of the Academie Francaise, though this is not mentioned in the book. It would seem that after a long and
Simone Veil’s memoir provides inspiration for all Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish HistoryBy Mark D Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — In RASHI, RAMBAM and HAGGADAH-LAMADINGDONG: A Quiz Haggadah of Jewish Trivia Facts & Fun, there is a question about unusual Haggadot that have been published in recent years, including Ina Gada Haggadah, Haggadah for Jews & Buddhists, and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Haggadah. Since the publication of that question,
Jewish trivia quiz: New Haggadot Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Jonas Salk, the discoverer of the polio vaccine, was fond of paraphrasing the mathematician Jacob Bronowski on the possible beneficial results from an interrelationship between the sciences and the arts. Bronowski, who became known to millions of Americans through the PBS television series The Ascent of Man, suggested
Science meets art at the Natural History Museum Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education
HAIFA, Israel (Press Release) — Pigeons played an important role in turning the Byzantine Negev into a flourishing region 1,500 years ago. This is the conclusion of a new study held at the Institute of Archeology at the University of Haifa that was published Monday in the prestigious journal PlosOne. The study, which concentrated on
Pigeon droppings fertilized ancient Negev Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Bright and early Saturday morning, I made my way to Waterfront Park on Harbor Drive to attend San Diego’s March For Our Lives. There were several tables set up to register people to vote. This is becoming a politically active and vocal generation. One of the strongest chants for
Being a part of the change at March for Our Lives Read More »
San Diego CountyBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A Palestinian used his car as a weapon and drove into a cluster of soldiers alongside an IDF base in the West Bank. He killed two and injured two others. A few days later, a Palestinian stabbed a security guard in Jerusalem’s Old City. Those were the third, fourth, and
Palestinian terror, American mass shootings Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Who says our children are nervous? Just because our youngsters may have anxiety about school shootings, separating from parents, are fearful of animals or blood or heights, have panic attacks, can’t stop touching things or thinking about things, are painfully shy, are terrified of speaking in public, or freeze
Passover: An Antidote for Anxiety Read More »
Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories about Jewish Family Service of San Diego, which currently is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Part I may be read by clicking here. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Marie Raftery and Kira Finkenberg are both members of the board of directors of Jewish
Heartfelt moments prompt volunteers for JFS Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego CountyBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO−I posted a selfie of me eating an enchilada at a Mexican restaurant. * About a half hour after I left the restaurant, I glanced at my smartphone and noticed a news article on Facebook about ICE agents raiding the cantina in search of undocumented workers. * Then I received a
Humoring the headlines: March 24, 2018 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Billionaire and philanthropist, Ronald Lauder, a regular and massive contributor to Jewish and Israeli charities, made the most bewildering statement in the New York Times: “…the Jewish democratic state faces two grave threats that I believe could endanger its very existence…The first threat is the possible demise of the two-state
OpEd: Why Ronald Lauder is wrong about Israel Read More »
Middle East
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of stories researched during Don and Nancy Harrison’s 50th Wedding Anniversary cruise from Sydney, Australia, to San Diego. Previous installments of the series, which runs every Thursday, may be found by tapping the number of the installment: 1, 2. By Donald H. Harrison SYDNEY,
Australian rabbi grew up in secular Los Angeles home Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food, USA
ENCINITAS, California (Press Release) — Gala Co-Chairs Anne Nagorner and Suzi Feldman along with an expected 400 guests, will gather on Saturday, June 2 for the 2018 Women’s Auxiliary Diamond Anniversary. It will be an exquisite, diamond-studded night featuring a champagne and cocktail reception, live auction, a multi-course dazzling dinner, and live music with dancing. The
Seacrest sets gala to celebrate its 75th year Read More »
San Diego CalendarJERUSALEM — Is this another occasion to sit shiva for the idea of a Palestinian state? Or yet another indication that the idea is well within the realm of dreamland, not to die, but not to achieve anything real? Several events qualify for the label of strategic, in the sense that they signal abject failure
Will there ever be a nation of Palestine? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East