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

A bissel this, a bissel that …San Diego Jewish news and chatter

(column 20, Feb. 21, 2011) Compiled by Donald H. Harrison Jewish Organizations  In a “Save the Date” message for June 3-5, Alan Friedman, executive director of Camp Mountain Chai, says a planning committee is at work for the 3rd annual Men’s Getaway Retreat.  Dreaming up activities for the weekend themed “Fitness for the Body and […]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Behind the REAL curtain, not the one in Oz, Wizard wins admiration of local Munchkins Adira Rosen and Megan Spector

 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—In The Wizard of Oz, the title character turns out not as nice as he is reputed to be, but it’s just the opposite backstage at the Civic Theatre where the touring Broadway San Diego production has been pulling in the crowds.  There’s just nobody nicer than Robert John Biedermann,

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Donald H. Harrison

A bissel this, a bissel that—San Diego Jewish news and chatter

(column 19, February 17, 2011) Compiled by Donald H. Harrison Jewish organizations The National Conflict Resolution Center will honor retired Anti-Defamation League regional director Morris Casuto and anti-apartheid playwright Athol Fugart at a March 10 dinner at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel.  Casuto will receive a lifetime achievement award. * David Brog, executive director of Christians

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

Jewish choirs to be on display at ‘Sing Out’ at LFJCC

By Eileen Wingard      LA JOLLA, California — “Sing Out!” A Festival of Jewish Choirs will take place Sunday, April 3  at the Lawrence Family JCC’s Garfield Theater . Cosponsored by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture’s Music Series Committee and the Astor Judaica Library, the concerts will inaugurate the library’s recently organized Jewish

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Eileen Wingard

Saint-Saens concert brought together unusual combination of two keyboardists

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–The Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) devoted its entire February 1 concert to the works of the great French composer, Camille Saint-Saens. According to Gdal Saleski, in his “Famous Musicians of Jewish Origin,” Saint-Saen was born to a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father who died of consumption two months after

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Eileen Wingard

A bissel this, a bissel that – San Diego Jewish news and chatter

(column 18, February 14, 2011) Compiled by Donald H. Harrison Jewish Organizations Beth Jacob Congregation is using YouTube to publicize the Feb. 21 evening appearance of commentator Michael Medved.  The commercial is professionally done, and why not?  The congregation’s president is Rand Levin, one of the most talented video journalists in San Diego.  For many

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Carol Davis, San Diego County, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

A bissel this, a bissel that–San Diego Jewish news and chatter

(Column 17, February 9, 2011)   Compiled by Donald H. Harrison ___________________ Spotlight: Sy Brenner __________________     Veteran Sy Brenner, 88, was to have spoken to the Tifereth Israel Men’s Club about his experiences during World War II as a prisoner-of-war held by German captors who were unaware he was a Jew.  But now he

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

A bissel this, a bissel that–San Diego Jewish news and chatter

  (Column 16, February 7, 2011) Compiled by Donald H. Harrison ____________________ Spotlight: Debra Kamin ____________________ The former editor of San Diego Jewish Journal, Debra Kamin, is preparing to make aliyah to Israel, where she will become a member of the staff of the Jerusalem Post.  She writes: “I’ve always wanted to live in Israel,

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Donald H. Harrison

Up close, the Talmis are family dedicated to music, social causes

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — For three nights, during our visit to Israel last December, my daughter Harriet, son-in-law Danny and I were guests in the Kfar Saba duplex apartment of Er’ella and Yoav Talmi.  Our friendship, dating back to Yoav’s years as Music Director of the San Diego Symphony, prompted the wonderful home hospitality.

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Eileen Wingard

Book on Begin-Sadat correspondence provides timely background to events in Egypt

Peace in the Making: the Menachem Begin-Anwar El-Sadat Personal Correspondence, edited by Harry Hurwitz and Yisrael Medad, Gefen Publishing House, 2011, ISBN 978-9656-229-456-2,  349 pages including appendices and footnotes, price unlisted. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—It is hard not to feel wistful while reading this correspondence, which began with such hope, and then became

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Donald H. Harrison

‘Jewish Theology in Our Time’ appears to be a smorgasbord

Jewish Theology in Our Time: A New Generation Explores the Foundations and Future of Jewish Belief,  edited by Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, PhD. Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT;  ISBN 978-1-58023-413-9 ©2010, $24.95, p. 224 plus notes and suggestions for further reading. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California —Jewish Theology in Our Time is a collection

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Fred Reiss, EdD

A bissel this, a bissel that~San Diego Jewish news and chatter

(Column 15, February 3, 2011)   Compiled by Donald H. Harrison  *  _________________ Jewish Organizations _________________ Western States Jewish History has put San Diego’s first federal judge, the late Jacob Weinberger, on the cover of  its winter edition.  Judge Weinberger came to San Diego after serving as a member of the convention in Arizona responsible

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

Paradoxical as it sounds, the majority of this Jewish country is secular

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel–Despite claims to the contrary, Israel is a secular country. There is, however, a modicum of truth in the assertion that the stream of Judaism defined as orthodox exerts undue influence, both political and social, over various aspects of life in Israel. Notwithstanding, the majority of Israelis remain doggedly secular,

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion

Book teaches people how to prepare for and cope with death

 Saying Goodbye by Someone You Love by Norine Dresser and Fredda Wasserman, Demos Medical Publishing, 2010, ISBN 978-1-932603-85-9, 210 pages including index, $16.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Folklorist Norine Dresser suffered the loss of her longtime husband, Harold.  Fredda Wasserman is a grief counselor.  They became friends, which eventually led to their

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Donald H. Harrison