The Arts

Novel tells of British expats in rural France

Chasing Dreams and Flies: A Tragicomedy of Life in France by Dorothea Shefer-Vanson; © 2016, books on Kindle; 253 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is an author and writer whose freelance stories are regularly published by San Diego Jewish World, among other publications.  Normally she and her husband Yigal reside in […]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

Authors galore at SD Jewish Book Fair

LA JOLLA, California (Press Release) – San Diego’s internationally recognized San Diego Jewish Book Fair celebrates its 22nd year with an intriguing mix of more than 30 leading authors in their fields including: Jennifer Weiner, Rich Cohen, Shep Gordon, Samuel M. Katz, Todd Buchholz, Dov Waxman, Daniel Oppenheimer, Nina Tassler, Peter Himmelman and Fred Kaplan.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego Calendar

Jimmy Fallon Messes Up Donald Trump’s Hair In Hilarious Video

Is Donald Trump’s hair real or not? That is a question several people have asked over the years, but one lucky person got to actually tousle those luscious blonde locks to see if they are real. “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon has the honor of messing up the presidential candidate’s hair. Last night’s episode

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Movie review: No shades of gray in Oliver Stone’s disappointing ‘Snowden’

“Snowden,” Oliver Stone’s biopic about the world’s most famous National Security Agency whistleblower, certainly deals with an urgent and important issue: state surveillance, and how far is too far for the government to go. Edward Snowden’s personal story — a hero to some, turncoat to others — is as compelling as they come, too. It’s

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International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Novel portrays loves of a family of three women

Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt; Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill; © 2016; ISBN9781616-203634; 354 pages; $26.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This is a story of two sisters and their “aunt” who are thrown together after the parents of the two sisters are killed in a car crash.  When  the younger sister,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

Film depicts Jews waiting in Italy to make aliyah

By Sandra Silverstein SAN DIEGO– The San Diego Italian Film Festival will host a party Oct. 9 to celebrate the film Shores of Light: Salento 1945-1947 which tells the story of Holocaust survivors awaiting immigration to Palestine in displaced persons camps in Puglia – the closest point to Palestine by sea: The Aliyah Bet. The San Diego

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San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

90-yr-old becomes internet celebrity for running 117-year-old bookstore

Jiang Chengbo looks at an ancient book in his bookstore(R). Two customers pick up books in Jiang’s bookstore (L). [Photo/Yangtze Evening News] A 90-year-old man who runs a 117-year-old antique bookstore inherited from his grandfather has become an internet celebrity, Yangtze Evening News reported. Jiang Chengbo, the owner and third generation successor of the bookstore,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International

Alexis Arquette, transgender activist and actress, dies at 47

San Diego Jewish World’s eulogy series is sponsored by Marc and Margaret Cohen in memory of Molly Cohen, and by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.  Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Summerfest offered fine free music options

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — One of the cultural attractions provided by the La Jolla Music Society’s Summerfest is the plethora of free offerings, which are designed to engage the community. During the three weeks of the festival, there were five open rehearsals at Sherwood Hall; three encounters, at the Athenaeum Music and

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Nehemiah, a builder with political savvy

Nehemiah: Statesman and Sage by Dov S. Zakheim, Maggid Books., New Milfored, CT, ©2016, ISBN 978-1-59264-369-1, p. 246, $27.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California –  In 586 BCE, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, overlooking the city of Jerusalem, capital of the Judean monarchy, standing on Mt. Scopus, the present home of the Hebrew University, watched as his

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

A Jewish primer laced with spiritual encounters

The Wondering Jew: My Journey into Judaism by Ellen Brazer; TCJ Publishing; ISBN 9780693-739945; 188 pages including book club questions, $12.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Novelist Ellen Brazer (Clouds Across the Sun; So It Was Written; Hearts of Fire) has authored a primer on the Jewish religion, perhaps as much for her

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion