Books, Poetry & Short Stories

The human element in the Torah

The Person in the Parasha: Discovering the Human Element in the Weekly Torah Portion by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, OU Press, Maggid Books, Jerusalem, © 2016, ISBN 978-1-59264-462-9, p. 624, $29.95 by Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Even a cursory look at the catalogue of Jewish book publishers shows a great propensity for […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Genetic mutations, Shoah affect coming generations

Aftermath by Allison Nazarian, Allie Girl Publishing, 2016, ISBN 978-0-9828922-2-0, pgs. $9.99 Kindle, $14.99 paperback. By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California — In general most of us shy away from ultimatums or at least prefer not to be tested by a “now or never” choice. This was how Allison Nazarian explained her decision to write

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Jewish History

‘The Falconi Effect’ envisions the Third Temple transforming the world

By Susie Rosenbluth TheJewishVoiceAndOpinion.com ENGLEWOOD, New Jersey — The symbol of Jerusalem’s Third Temple and its implications for Messianic Times, including world peace, universal brotherhood, and the end goal of the Jewish mission, looms large in Jewish, Christian, and even some Muslim traditions. According to the Bible, both the First and Second Temples stood on

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East

Turkish Jewish author murdered in Istanbul

Beki İkala Erikli shot dead outside her apartment building; motive of killing unclear By Times of Israel staff Beki İkala Erikli (LinkedIn) A Turkish Jewish writer was murdered at her Istanbul home Thursday by an unknown shooter, local media reported. Beki İkala Erikli was shot at the entrance to her building in the Kabataş neighborhood

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East

In praise of Mona Golabek, author and performer

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Several years ago I read The Pianist of Willesden Lane written by Mona Golabek about the experiences of her mother, Lisa Jura, first in Vienna and then in London. She had been sent there at the age of fourteen in the framework of the Kindertransport, the undertaking that

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

A travel case filled with love for Israel

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – As the widow of billionaire Carnival Cruise Lines founder Ted Arison, Lin Arison has had the chance to travel wherever she wants to around the world.  The Carnival Corporation owns not only Carnival Cruise Lines, but such other cruise lines as Princess Cruises, Cunard Lines, Holland-America, Seabourn Cruises,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Travel and Food

With spy Sarah Aaronsohn’s suicide, Israeli history was rewritten, claims author

In 1915, the Aaronsohn siblings founded an espionage group in their village of Zichron Yaakov to help the Brits defeat the Turks. Outside of Israel, why was their tale whitewashed from history? By JP O’ Malley On December 11, 1917, the British imperial governor, General Sir Edmund Allenby, entered Jerusalem, placing the city under military

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East

Gabriel Garcia Marquez had Fidel Castro read his books to catch errors before publication

There are a lot of great opening lines in literature. But this one by the late Gabriel Garcia-Marquez is among the best: “Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.” That’s the way he starts the book

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International

How Jimmy Stewart’s war service affected ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

As we stare headlong into the approaching holiday season, the 1946 James Stewart classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” is set to make its annual television appearance Saturday on NBC. It was the first movie Stewart made when he returned home after serving as a pilot in World War II, an experience that left him adrift

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Wole Soyinka, Nobel Prize-winning author, throws away green card over Trump win

Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said Thursday that he fulfilled his promise to throw away his United States green card and relocate if Donald Trump won the presidency. “I’ve done it,” the Nigerian author told news channel eNCA on the sidelines of an education conference at the University of Johannesburg, Reuters reported. “When I was

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, USA

Award-winning THE MENSCH ON A BENCH Welcomes HANNAH THE HANUKKAH HERO And ASK BUBBE To The Family

The newly expanded 2016 product line celebrates strong female role models with history and humor CINCINNATI, Dec. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — The pop culture icon, THE MENSCH ON A BENCH has not only expanded his Mishpacha, but also continues to solidify his presence as a meaningful holiday presence for Jewish and interfaith families. Neal Hoffman,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

BOOK REVIEW: ‘Spies in Palestine: Love, Betrayal and the Heroic Life of Sarah Aaronsohn’

SPIES IN PALESTINE: LOVE, BETRAYAL AND THE HEROIC LIFE OF SARAH AARONSOHN By James Srodes Counterpoint, $24, 203 pages By Joseph C. Goulden In more than half a century of reading intelligence literature, seldom have I encountered an operative with the raw courage of Sarah Aaronsohn. Whatever spy tradecraft the woman knew was self-taught. She

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East