The Arts

Book probes the concept of Jewish identity

Jewish Identity: The Challenge of Peoplehood Today by Ruth Shamir Popkin, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem;  ISBN 978-965-229-671-9 ©2015, $24.95, p. 272, plus Notes, Sources, and Index (also available in Kindle) By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — From the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt in the second century to 1948 and the establishing of the State […]

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

‘Jewish Joke’ Oct. 19 examines humor in tough times

By Eva Trieger LA JOLLA, California — As autumn approaches, who doesn’t look forward to a bowl of soup? And what about your grandma’s special recipe for borscht? Not so much? Well, maybe you’re more excited about the Borscht Belt and the Jewish comedians who gave that Upstate New York region her beloved cache. Jewish

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Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Child abuse makes important novel hard to read

The Devil in Jerusalem by Naomi Ragen; St. Martin’s Press © 2015; ISBN 978-1-250-04313-9; 306 pages, $25.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This novel is well-written and suspenseful, yet exceedingly difficult to read.  It is about child abuse with descriptions so graphic it will make almost any reader shudder or cringe. Author Naomi

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

Amid chaos, ‘The War Reporter’ introspects

The War Reporter by Martin Fletcher; St. Martin’s Press © 2015; ISBN 978-1-250-07002-9; 306 pages, $25.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Set in Sarajevo (Bosnia) during the siege, and in Belgrade (Serbia) ten years afterwards, this novel tells of television journalist Tom Layne briefly encountering Serbian General Ratko Mladic near the former war-torn city and trying

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

Inspiration and distraction at High Holy Day services

By David Amos SAN DIEGO –As we do every year, my wife and I sat at the synagogue in our preferred seat for the High Holidays services. As expected, we enjoyed the thought provoking words from our Rabbi, heard the pure and beautifully performed chants from our cantorial soloist, and greeted fellow congregants, many of

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Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Forget TV catch phrases; try these

By Michael R. Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO–Imagine waking up in the next century with those words made famous by Regis Philbin, sandblasting its way into our popular lexicon:  “Is that your final answer?”  Along with “Where’s the beef?” and “Yada Yada Yada,” not to mention, “You look mahvelous,” “I’ve a feeling were not in Kansas

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Quickie plays absorb or bore viewers in a hurry

By Eva Trieger ENCINITAS, California —   Nicknamed the ADHD Festival by Director D.Candis Paule, the audience was warned, “If you don’t like what you’re watching, wait about three minutes and it’ll be over.”  She was of course referring to the 2nd Annual 5 Minute Short Play Festival.  About 125 people gathered at the Encinitas library

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Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

San Diego Jewish World authors: Michael Mantell

Editor’s Note: San Diego Jewish World is fortunate to have among its contributors the authors of many books. To acquaint you with them, and their literary output, we will from time to time offer articles by the authors telling of their works.  This article is by Dr. Michael Mantell, an Advanced Behavior Coach based in San Diego.  By

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Michael Mantell