Books, Poetry & Short Stories

Children’s Book Review: ‘Made by Raffi”

Made by Raffi, story by Craig Pomranz, illustrations by Margaret Chamberlain, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, IsBN 9781847-805966. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Made by Raffi is a story by singer Craig Pomranz, with illustrations by Margaret Chamberlain, that should help children who feel different from others of their gender understand that they have […]

Children’s Book Review: ‘Made by Raffi” Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

Judaism, Zionism and the Land of Israel

Book Review: Judaism, Zionism and the Land of Israel by Yotav Eliach By Edwin Black WASHINGTON, D.C. — For decades, Rabbi Yotav Eliach, esteemed principal of Rambam Mesivta High School in Long Island, has accumulated his teachings, writings, and those of many other scholars and rabbinical authorities, tracking the history of Israel. His mission was not

Judaism, Zionism and the Land of Israel Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Edwin Black, Jewish History

De Toqueville foresaw FB’s danger to democracy

By Sam Ben-Meir NEW YORK — There is a fascinating chapter toward the end of Alexis de Toqueville’s Democracy in America titled “What Kind of Despotism Do Democratic Nations Have to Fear?” in which the author attempted something truly extraordinary – to describe a social condition which humankind had never before encountered. We find him

De Toqueville foresaw FB’s danger to democracy Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Sam Ben-Meir, USA

Nazi, Soviet literature profit centers for bookseller

By Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — The New York Times reported on February 7, 2019 about a court decision in which the Austrian government has to pay a property owner in Braunau, a town of about 16,000 people in upper Austria, $1.7 million dollars for undervaluing the apartment building in which Hitler was born

Nazi, Soviet literature profit centers for bookseller Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International

Old books rivet attention at Oakland center

By Oliver B. Pollak OAKLAND, California – The 52nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair met at the Marriott City Center in Oakland.  About 160 booksellers from around the world had brought their high priced prizes; a 1632 Shakespeare volume for $450,000, a Gutenberg Bible leaf (ca 1455), $98,000, Sir Isaac Newton’s 1704 Opticks $120,000, and

Old books rivet attention at Oakland center Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, USA

Book Review: ‘First the Jews’

First the Jews: Combating the World’s Longest-Running Hate Campaign by Rabbi Evan Moffic, Abingdon Press, Nashville © 2019, ISBN 978-1-5018-7083-5, p. 228 plus notes, $22. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan assured us we “Don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing.” In the same vein, we don’t need

Book Review: ‘First the Jews’ Read More »

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

Middle East book review: ‘Why Are We Still Afraid?’

Why Are We Still Afraid? by Mark Lavie; © 2018; ISBN 9781791-797324; 375 pages, available via amazon.com or via MarkLavieAuthor.com By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This self-published book by longtime Israeli journalist Mark Lavie starts off with controversy, then subsides into informative and reliable travel journalism, depicting the byways and quirks of Israeli

Middle East book review: ‘Why Are We Still Afraid?’ Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA

‘Tattooist’ author defends her turf

By Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — “[The Jews] feel protective and [feel they have] a degree of [ownership] over the Holocaust story. I totally ‘get’ that, but maybe there’s room for both of us?” That’s controversial Holocaust romance writer Heather Morris defending her two novels in a  recent interview. Her statement is tone deaf

‘Tattooist’ author defends her turf Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History

Editor’s E-Mail Box: January 22, 2019 (4 items)

Official release for Fanny Krasner Lebovits’ Holocaust memoir Tuesday, Jan. 22, was the official release date for Memories, Miracles & Meaning — Insights of a Holocaust Survivor by San Diegan Fanny Krasner Lebovits. Congregation Beth El, 8660 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, will host a book sale and signing for the 96-year-old author at 6 p.m.,

Editor’s E-Mail Box: January 22, 2019 (4 items) Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Survivor’s son tracks down his father’s WWII story

Death March Escape: The Remarkable Story of a Man Who Twice Escaped the Nazi Holocaust by Jack J. Hersch; © 2019; ISBN 9781526-740229; 274 pages plus author’s note and index. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Released for publication on Jan. 19, this book is a combination memoir and biography; a memoir by son

Survivor’s son tracks down his father’s WWII story Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History

Editor’s E-Mail Box: January 18, 2019 (5 items)

Rep. Davis criticizes Trump’s cancellation of Speaker’s flight; Surveys partial shutdown views Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the Speaker-led congressional delegation, of which she was a member, to visit troops in Afghanistan. “For a president to cancel and leak the details of

Editor’s E-Mail Box: January 18, 2019 (5 items) Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Middle East, USA