Donald H. Harrison

OpEd: What Will Netanyahu’s Legacy Be?

Some view Netanyahu as the consummate statesman while others see him as a power-mad autocrat. Objectively speaking, he is the first premier of Israel to be born after Israel’s independence, the only premier to have spent years in the US as a student, and the youngest man to have reached the pinnacle of Israeli political power. By the same token, Bibi is the only sitting Prime Minister to be charged with criminal offenses. [Steve Kramer]

OpEd: What Will Netanyahu’s Legacy Be? Read More »

Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Vows to Keep Fighting Antisemitism

President Joe Biden, at a White House pre-Chanukah party, said, “Next week you’ll light the eight candles on your menorahs. My final Chanukah message to you is this: As president, this is to hold onto that hope. Shine your light. Shine the light of optimism. And above all, keep the faith.” [SDJW staff]

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Vows to Keep Fighting Antisemitism Read More »

International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA

Comparing Dinah and Joseph

The Torah generally reveals little or no information about women. We are told that Jacob had a daughter named Dinah, but there is no more about her than what is mentioned in the drama. It does not tell us that Jacob had other daughters. It only reveals this in Genesis 37:35, where it states, “All his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him (Jacob),” and 46:15, where it states Leah, Jacob’s wife, bore thirty-three children with Jacob among “his sons and daughters.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Comparing Dinah and Joseph Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

OpEd: Manger Display Unacceptably Portrays War in Gaza as a Religious One

How cute. We find Baby Jesus in a new environment: swaddled by a black-and-white keffiyeh, emblem of the Palestinian struggle. Not to rest in a manger but to lie amid a pile of rocks that symbolize the rocks left over from bombed-out buildings in Gaza. Thus, the label “Christ in the Rubble.” [Bruce S. Ticker]

OpEd: Manger Display Unacceptably Portrays War in Gaza as a Religious One Read More »

Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Trump Says Middle East Will Be in a Good Place; Lieberman, on Other Hand, says Israel May Be Headed for Civil War

U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump told a news conference Monday he had “a really good conversation” with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think we’re going to be in a good place in the Middle East,” he said. “I think the Middle East will be in a good place. I think actually more difficult is going to be the Russia-Ukraine situation.” [SDJW Staff Report]

Trump Says Middle East Will Be in a Good Place; Lieberman, on Other Hand, says Israel May Be Headed for Civil War Read More »

International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

Transplanting Stem Cells in Sea Anemones Urged to Revive Coral Reefs

Climate change is bleaching and killing off vast amounts of the world’s coral due to rising sea temperatures. Dr. Benyamin Rosental of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and his colleagues have proposed an out of the box potential solution – transplanting stem cells from resilient individuals to revive them. [Press Release]

Transplanting Stem Cells in Sea Anemones Urged to Revive Coral Reefs Read More »

Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share

Jews Have Pondered for Eons Whether to Assimilate or Maintain Distinct Jewish Identity

It was not easy to carry their own burdens, to be themselves. At the time of emancipation, some Jews put on other people’s togas and carried other people’s burdens of “purifying normality.” The temptation to fit in with the majority and join what was considered a civilized way of life was great. [Alex Gordon]

Jews Have Pondered for Eons Whether to Assimilate or Maintain Distinct Jewish Identity Read More »

Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Israel Weighs Beefing Up Defenses, Population in Golan Heights

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the government has appropriated millions of dollars to double the Jewish population of the Golan Heights, which was seized from Syria in the Six-Day War and which Israel subsequently annexed. [SDJW Staff]

Israel Weighs Beefing Up Defenses, Population in Golan Heights Read More »

California, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

La Mesa’s Annual Holiday in the Village Seems to Ignore Chanukah

It was a festive occasion, but unfortunately, I did not find any decorations or events that had a Chanukah theme, so I focused on the Winter excitement. I will be mentioning this to the La Mesa Village Association that our holiday was not represented. Many Jewish residents live in La Mesa. [Cailin Acosta]

La Mesa’s Annual Holiday in the Village Seems to Ignore Chanukah Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Strauss, Schastakovitch Masterfully Performed by Israeli-Born Pianist Inon Barnatan

The December 8 San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s high voltage program under the direction of SDSO Music Director, Raphael Payare, took off with the dazzling opening of Richard Strauss’ tone poem, Don Juan. [Eileen Wingard]

Strauss, Schastakovitch Masterfully Performed by Israeli-Born Pianist Inon Barnatan Read More »

Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Cardin, in Farewell Senate Speech, Recalls His Campaign for Soviet Jews

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) delivered a farewell address in the U.S. Senate, in which he has served for 18 years, which included his current role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said tikkun olam and tzedakah collectively have been his North Star of public service. [SDJW staff]

Cardin, in Farewell Senate Speech, Recalls His Campaign for Soviet Jews Read More »

International, Israel, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA