“We’ve been coordinating closely with campus security and administration, Hillel International, our Jewish Federation, ADL, AJC, SWU and other partners to ensure there are strong plans in place, including additional security officers on campus and effective strategies for students.” [SDJW staff]
The golden age of the American Yiddish language newspaper is from the mid-1880s to the mid-1920’s. Its popularity and profitably was driven by massive immigration of Jewish Yiddish speakers from Eastern Europe to New York. [Oliver Pollak]
The Evolution of the American Yiddish Press Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Do you remember Puff, the Magic Dragon, about whom Peter, Paul & Mary sang? Eventually, “painted wings and giant things” gave “way to other toys.” And so it was too with the monster that used to live in Sophie’s closet; Sophie just outgrows him in this tale written for 4-to-8-year-olds by Sandy Asher and illustrated by Alexandra Colombo. [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Literature: A Job for an Out-of-Work Monster Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors
This fictional story for children between the ages of three and seven imagines that such animals as beavers, woodpeckers, and alligators helped Noah to build the Ark. Furthermore, two hedgehogs who were marvelous event planners had matters well in hand, although Noah did not recognize their talents. [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Story Tells of the Animals Who Helped Noah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Dr. Samuel, the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, California, translates the fables in a very readable manner that captures our interest and curiosity. He highlights the messages in each Tale and includes the parallel teachings in Jewish wisdom, including quotes from a vast collection of Jewish and non-Jewish thinkers, ancient and modern. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Aesop’s Fables Through a Jewish Lens Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Errata; an Examined Life: A Life in Ideas by George Steiner; Yale University Press, 1998 By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The name of this author arouses reverence in the minds of anyone conscious of the role played by language in the world of culture, literature and ideas. Steiner’s seminal books, After Babel and
26-Year-Old Biography of George Steiner Worth Reading Again Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices Committee prides itself on discovering poetic talent within our community for the featured poets segments. During its sixteen seasons, it has featured the same poet again only once, Zev Bar-Lev, z”l. At one program, he read his Hebrew poems, at the other, his English works. [Eileen Wingard]
How Poets Are Found for the JCC’s Poetry Programming Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The word “Jew” appears in Oliver Twist, 326 times. The name “Fagin” appears 306 times, almost always linked to the word Jew. The linkage was intentional. [Jerry Klinger]
Was Novelist Charles Dickens an Antisemite? Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Several art works adorn the library’s walls and spaces, both inside and outside the building, serving to underline the Jewish people’s connections with the Bible and other writings, as well as echoing aspects of the Land of Israel. The library also contains collections of books, manuscripts and other documents bequeathed or donated by Jewish and Israeli intellectuals, as well as unique collections such as Albert Einstein’s letters, Isaac Newton’s contemplation of the Bible, and the unique Gershom Shocken Collecetion of Kabbalah and Hasidism. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
A Visit to Israel’s New National Library Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
In most modern editions of the Talmud, Rashi’s extensive commentaries on 30 of the 39 tractates may be found among various other commentators’ notes that bracket individual Talmudic passages. Scholars believe his commentaries grew out of lectures and responsas to students at his yeshiva. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Rashi Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Meyer helped to found Barnard College for women in 1889 across the street from Columbia. Barnard became one of the Seven Sisters of women’s colleges in America. Meyer became an associate editor of Broadway Magazine and also edited Women’s Work in America. She also authored such works as Robert Annys: A Poor Priest (1901); The Dominant Sex (1911); The Dreamer: A Play in Three Acts (1912); Black Souls (1932) which dealt with lynchings in the South; Barnard Beginnings (1935) and It’s Been Fun: An Autobiography. (1951) –SDJW staff
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Annie Meyer Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Beth Sirull completes her tenure as CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego on March 15, when she will be succeeded by Jeremy Pearl, who currently is the foundation’s chief financial officer. [SDJW Staff]
Our Shtetl San Diego County: Jewish Community Foundation’s Leadership Transition Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Israel, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Written with humor as well as heart ache, Jane Muschenetz touches in All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents on her raw feelings of becoming a refugee during the Russian invasion of her home country, Ukraine, and being transplanted to San Diego. [Pennell Paugh, East County Magazine]
Ukrainian Jewish Asylee Now in San Diego Tells Her Story Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, East County Magazine, International, Lifestyles, San Diego County
In 1967 Potok published The Chosen, and in 1969 a sequel The Promise, which helped delineate differences between Orthodox and Hasidic Jews. The Chosen was made into a film in 1981. In the interim, the Potoks moved to Jerusalem in 1970, returning to the states in 1977. Potok’s My Name is Asher Lev was published in 1972. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Chaim Potok Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA