(JNS) Disgraced political leader Nury Martinez made anti-Semitic comments in an October 2021 conversation with Los Angeles City Councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday, adding to the racism controversy surrounding the now-former president of the City Council. Martinez — who already resigned as Los Angeles City Council […]
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Maimonides’ Hidden Torah Commentary: Numbers is the latest of the many brilliant, learned, eye-opening, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand books by the brilliant scholar Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel. It is another one of his excellent contributions to scholarship. San Diego County’s own Rabbi Samuel — currently the
A San Diego Rabbi’s Incisive Analysis of the Book of Numbers Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, San Diego County
(Press Release) For the first time ever, learners can experience a full digital, English translation of the Mishneh Torah interconnected with other Jewish texts, thanks to Sefaria, a non-profit organization that digitizes and freely shares Jewish texts in Hebrew and in translation. The Mishneh Torah, authored by Rambam (Maimonides) in the Medieval era, consists of
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — It is astounding how Israel’s foes have assembled an immense if bulky movement in America and Canada to advocate for the Palestinian cause. A great many people support this cause, and their strength is in the numbers. They have developed an extensive network of Americans and Canadians who genuinely
The Anti-Israel Wall Can Crumble Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USA
By Mark D. Zimmerman Jews around the world are celebrating Sukkot this week. The most significant preparation is the building of a sukkah, a temporary outdoor structure, by many synagogues, schools, Jewish organizations, and individuals. The sukkah symbolizes the huts in which the Israelites lived during the Exodus, and also represents the structures that farmers
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Sukkah Symbols Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — How often have you heard people say that someone is spiritual? I always wonder what they mean exactly; when asked, no one has ever given me a satisfactory explanation. Current studies include a variety of definitions. There is still no widely agreed on definition of spirituality
How Attuned Are You to the Three Components of Spirituality? Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz
LOS ANGELES — (Press Release) The Simon Wiesenthal Center has urged the San Dieguito Union High School District to take proactive action regarding Carmel Valley Middle School where Adolf Hitler’s portrait was placed alongside inspirational historical leaders including U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, U.S President John F. Kennedy, British Prime Minister
By Rafael Medoff The latest film from Ken Burns, “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” has aroused controversy with its claim that President Franklin D. Roosevelt did his best to help save Jews from the Nazis. As Donald Harrison notes in his October 5 column, filmmakers Burns, Sarah Botstein, and Lynn Novick contend that “FDR would
Getting it Wrong on FDR and the Holocaust Read More »
Holocaust, International, Opinion, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — During the last few years, I have been spending part of the summer in France, supposedly to avoid the summer heat of Israel. That has come to be something of a joke, as the summers in France have been as hot as — or even hotter than —
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin BOCA RATON, Florida — Judaism has dozens of meaningful customs and ceremonies, but most people, even Jews, do not know all of them, their origins and their rationale. Rabbi Abraham Chill (1912-2004) gives readers of his book The Minhagim, Hebrew for customs and ceremonies, a very readable discussion of many
Questions About Sukkot Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Nearly four years after 11 congregants were slain at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Dr. Mehmet Oz is demonizing his Pennsylvania Senate rival from nearby Braddock for seeking the release of more convicts from prison. In the process, Oz unwittingly triggers thoughts of an advanced approach to
Gun-Violence Accomplices, in Congress? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Opinion, USA
By Laurie Baron Worried about all the legal problems his father-in-law is facing, Jared Kushner persuaded him to attend Yom Kippur services to atone for his sins. Donald agreed only on the condition that he didn’t have to fast and could call DoorDash to deliver him a Big Mac, fries, and diet Coke at lunch
Satire: Donald Trump’s Yom Kippur Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — How’s your hearing lately? Are you listening? Ha’azinu is one of the seven songs in Tanakh and is one of the shortest parshiot in the Torah with just 52 verses, filled with a treasure of information and striking imagery. It is written in two narrow columns. This is
Parashat Ha’azinu: Personal Accountability and Responsibility Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — If you’ve been holding your breath anticipating the return of the San Diego International Film Festival, it’s time to exhale. However, the depth and breadth of films will have you panting trying to keep up with the evocative array of human emotions. To learn more about the SDIFF 2022,
San Diego International Film Festival Runs the Gamut of Human Emotions Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast