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

Parshat Tetzaveh: The Symbolic Importance of Pure Olive Oil

What is the Torah trying to teach us with this mandate to use the best oil for lighting the Menorah, whereas for the meal-offerings, the Menachot, we are only required to use this secondary oil? (Interestingly, it is noteworthy that the norm is for us to use our best oil for cooking and meal prep, but for lamp fuel, we are ok using subpar oil as long as it lights well – just the opposite!) [Rabbi Daniel Reich]

Parshat Tetzaveh: The Symbolic Importance of Pure Olive Oil Read More »

Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Schiff, Garvey Prove to Be the Pro-Israel Candidates in California’s Race for U.S. Senate

Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff and Republican candidate Steve Garvey proved themselves the most pro-Israel candidates of the four who debated on NBC and Telemundo television stations Tuesday evening, Feb. 20.  Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee was the most pro-Palestinian, and Democratic Rep. Katie Porter occupied middle ground. [Donald H. Harrison]

Schiff, Garvey Prove to Be the Pro-Israel Candidates in California’s Race for U.S. Senate Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Chapatti’ at Scripps Ranch Theatre Reaches into Lonely Human Hearts

The dialogue is honest and self-reflective. Dan’s hopelessness has him questioning the value of life without another’s recognition or memory.  For Betty, after a loveless marriage, the middle-aged woman wants to be loved and valued. Both characters know the love and companionship of their respective dog and cats, but each longs for a human’s affection to give them validation and meaning.  [Eva Trieger]

‘Chapatti’ at Scripps Ranch Theatre Reaches into Lonely Human Hearts Read More »

Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Rashi: Marvelous but Irrational

Rashi’s commentaries are not original ideas. He drew fascinating stories from Midrashim and placed them into his commentary. Midrashim are books that collected fanciful, engaging stories written as parables and teaching aids − enjoyable and sometimes even exciting accounts − that, for the most part, were not originally intended to be understood as true history, or the true meaning of scriptural passages. However, Rashi and others, such as Nachmanides in the thirteenth century, took these tales as facts and used them to explain the Bible. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

Rashi: Marvelous but Irrational Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Israeli Composer Forwards ‘Jewish Tunes from Haifa’

I completed a fantasy piece about the songs of the Jewish people a few days before their tragedy broke on the day of their great and joyous holiday, the Joy of Torah. I titled the piece I Hear a Scream. On the “Black Sabbath” of October 7, I heard the screams of Jews, victims of a pogrom that happened where there could have been no pogrom – in the territory of the Jewish state. [Boris Levenberg]

Israeli Composer Forwards ‘Jewish Tunes from Haifa’ Read More »

Alex Gordon, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Videos

Theodore Bikel’s Songs to Be First in JCC’s ‘Beloved Voices’ Series Feb. 22

I will be hosting the program, and my special guest will be Aimee Ginsburg Bikel, who was Theodore Bikel’s wife during the last years of his life and founder and director of the Theodore Bikel Legacy Project. The songs were selected to illustrate Bikel’s vast range and the large number of his recordings in our Astor Judaica Library.  [Eileen Wingard]

Theodore Bikel’s Songs to Be First in JCC’s ‘Beloved Voices’ Series Feb. 22 Read More »

Eileen Wingard, International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Biography: Hermann Cohen Sought a Merger of Judaism and Germanism

Beginning with the Kant and Moses Mendelssohn dispute, the German-speaking world debated the question of whether Judaism was a religion of reason. Cohen believed that Germany was the only country in which reason and religious feeling could easily be combined because of its philosophical idealism. [Alex Gordon]

Jewish Biography: Hermann Cohen Sought a Merger of Judaism and Germanism Read More »

Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Temple Etz Rimon Shares in Interfaith Projects with Pilgrim Church; Both Congregations are Committed to Social Justice, Inclusiveness

Every synagogue has its own personality. Farber said that Temple Etz Rimon’s is that “it is very, very friendly. Warm. You come into the building and you are greeted. You are welcomed at the oneg. They grab you; they love you. People will say, ‘Oh my God, you are so friendly!’ We are. There is no snobbishness in the group. It’s really a nice congregation. Unfortunately, it is getting smaller and smaller.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Temple Etz Rimon Shares in Interfaith Projects with Pilgrim Church; Both Congregations are Committed to Social Justice, Inclusiveness Read More »

Ben Dishman, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Love Triangle is Focus of ‘The Age of Innocence’ at Old Globe

The story itself centers on a love triangle between Newland Archer (Callum Adams), Countess Ellen Olenska (Shereen Ahmed), and May Wellend (Delphi Borich).  Countess Olenska returns to America after fleeing her abusive husband in Europe.  She thinks and dresses very differently than the rest of New York society causing her to scandalize some and be idolized by others.  [Sandi Masori]

Love Triangle is Focus of ‘The Age of Innocence’ at Old Globe Read More »

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