AAA-Writers and photographers

Below are the names of writers who are currently active.  For others, living and deceased, please type their name into the search box above the masthead on our home page, www.sdjewishworld.com

Sweet Memories of a Short-Order Cook

The man at the grill never fully turned around, just swiveled his head slightly to acknowledge the newest person to grab a coveted spot at the counter or listen to the takeout order shouted at him by the person standing over the shoulder of somebody seated. He provided equal service to all — working-class men in coveralls, prim secretaries all made up and wearing high heels even on icy days, and Wall Street types in pinstripe suits. Nobody got special treatment. Nobody got special attention. First come, first served. [Karen Galatz]

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Karen Galatz, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

OpEd: The Powerful Lion Symbols at Entrance to Ma’ale Adumim

A unique, long-term partnership between the Diaspora and Israel resulted in Ma’ale Adumim being the beneficiary of two huge Lion sculptures. The two Lions of Judah, each eight feet in height and ten feet in length, majestically supine and serene, are sited at the city’s entrance for maximum visibility. They are just below the large, bold “I Love Ma’ale Adumim/ Welcome Visitors” sculpture. [Jerry Klinger]

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Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

This Summer Solstice was 228 Years in Coming

So, why the early arrival after 228 years has passed? The short answer is our calendar. A typical year has 365 days, however that is not exactly how long the Earth takes to orbit the sun – it is more like 365.24 days. The Gregorian calendar adds a day in February every four years we call “leap day” to account for this extra quarter for the Earth’s orbit. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

JFest: ‘Italian Jews Through The Generations’ Sweet, Intimate Event

Did you know that the history of the Italian Jews goes all the way back to the Maccabees? It is, in fact, one of the very oldest diaspora Jewish communities, and while there may only be 27,000 Jews left there, their history and culture is interwoven with the fabric of the country itself. [Sandi Masori]

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International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Found: Six Women of Valor at San Diego’s JFest

It was with great excitement that we packed into Garfield Theatre at Lawrence Family JCC (a performance this Sunday, June 23, will be at the Leichtag Commons in Encinitas) to be brought into the lives of six superlative women who have contributed greatly to our San Diego community. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria opened the program with a short inspiring introduction. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: Different Attitudes Toward Time

I remember countless instances when passengers would arrive at the gate a solid hour before boarding, itineraries in hand and a sense of urgency and exhaustion plastered on their faces. In contrast, my Israeli passengers had a different vibe. Israelis have a more relaxed relationship with time. (Shahar Masori)

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International, Israel, Lifestyles, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

TICO Performs a Fourth Fifth and a First

Before intermission, we heard Silence, a world premiere by John Michael Luther, based on a poem written by Conductor Amos’ granddaughter, Piper Gillett, when she was 13 years old. The work made a profound impression, especially remarkable that the words were written by one so young, and inspired such an interesting setting by composer Luther. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Satire: The Donalogue

Louisiana’s Republican governor has mandated the posting of the Ten Commandments in the state’s schools.  When questioned whether this violated the constitutional separation of church and state, he replied that that wall was being dismantled and transferred to the border with Mexico.  I wonder if what is posted will be the biblical version or the one Donald Trump issued when he was president.  [Laurie Baron]

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Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Parsha Behaalotecha: Focus on the Good Things

Moses is like, “Oy vey, can these people just be happy for five minutes?” Exasperated, Moses cries out to Hashem, “Kill me rather, I beg you, and let me see no more of my wretchedness” So, he begs Hashem to make them stop whining. But Hashem’s response is epic: “You want meat? You got it! A whole month of meat until it’s coming out your ears!” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

YIVO Exhibit, ‘Runaway Husbands, Desperate Families’ Resonates

On Monday in lower Manhattan the most fascinating exhibit opened at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. In concert with the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, YIVO presented “Runaway Husbands, Desperate Families,” providing a brutally honest historical look at Jewish immigrant men who abandoned their families on Manhattan’s lower Eastside in the early part of the 20th Century. [Amy Neustein, PhD]

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Amy Neustein, Jewish History, San Diego County, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA