Books, Poetry & Short Stories

‘Four Women’ Trust a Self-Doubting Attorney to Resolve Their Legal Fates

Another fictional case, from which the novel’s title is derived, is about four Jewish women whose property on the Miami shoreline is coveted by a wealthy, mysterious German-speaking developer with deep political connections.  If the women, including Joshua’s aunt Helen, a Holocaust survivor, don’t accept the developer’s paltry financial offer, he threatens to have the city condemn the property in favor of high-rise development.  Joshua negotiates for the women. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Letters for Life’ Worthy of Keeping as a Trusted Companion

As I’ve seen in my own practice over the many years, I’ve turned more and more to the healing power of Torah study and this leaps off the pages of this essential read, as we see the need for emotional wellness guidance and education more than ever. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Take A Clue from Deborah Szekely and Take Care of Yourself

102-year-old, Deborah Szekely of San Diego continues to work at a wellness resort she co-founded in the 1940’s at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Baja California. Szekely shares her longevity tips, including walking every day. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Maimonides Had Better Ideas than Hermann Cohen Did

German Jewish philosopher Hermann Cohen (1842-1918) was a neo-Kantian philosopher. Jewish Virtual Library describes him as “probably the most important philosopher in the nineteenth century.” His book Religion of Reason: Out of the Source of Judaism has been praised by many thinkers. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Animals Protest Zoo Mismanagement in Novel for Youngsters

In this novel, the adult human characters are either good or bad, with few shades of gray.  The animals, of course, are all good, although sometimes they can’t restrain their natural urges.  The behavior of the children improves over the course of the novel, as they come to understand what is at stake. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Book Review: ‘Revolutionary Optimism’ Must Be Tempered with Reality

In Revolutionary Optimism, Zeitz outlines seven steps that can help individuals change the world for the better. While the specific steps are not explicitly detailed, the book emphasizes cultivating self-compassion, embracing love as a guiding principle, and engaging in meaningful activism. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

How the Mossad Assassinated a Latvian Murderer

The author must have had privileged access to Mossad documents and/or agents to be able to describe in such great detail precisely how the agent managed to gain Cukurs’ confidence to such an extent that, although suspicious of being traced by hostile Jewish elements, he agreed to fly to Montevideo in Uruguay, where the Mossad considered the conditions for assassinating him would be more favorable. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Left for Dead’ Prompts Rabbi’s Exposition of Jewish Ethics

Eric Jay Dolin is a well-known master storyteller who paints a gripping historical narrative set against the backdrop of the early 19th century. The story not only revolves around an American sealing expedition during the War of 1812 but also delves into the themes of survival, conflict, and moral dilemmas, adding depth and intrigue to the story. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Book Outlines Problems, Opportunities for Women Candidates

The narrative is a blend of her own experiences with commentaries from other women in politics as well as from some men.  Although no mention was made of the fact that they were Jewish, the names of at least nine men and eight women of our faith found their way into Hayashi’s story. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Finding Lots of Jewish Stories at San Diego County Fair

The Acosta family set out on Friday to conquer the San Diego County Fair. We arrived and were on a scavenger hunt to find hidden Jewish items. We laced up our running/walking shoes, filled up our water bottles, cellphones all charged and were ready to take on the challenge. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food