David Ogul is a former assistant metro editor at The San Diego Union-Tribune who spent more than three decades as a journalist whose works have been published in newspapers and magazines across the country. He now owns and operates Ogul Communications in San Diego.
Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Shor Masori SAN DIEGO – They fractured the lyrics of numerous popular American songs, and twisted the tale in the Book of Esther to fit those lyrics, but nobody objected. In fact, the audience loved it. It was the annual Purimshpiel on Wednesday evening, March 23, at […]
Annual shpiel twists plot, lyrics in Purim fun Read More »
David Ogul, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Shor M. Masori
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Across the United States and in Conservative congregations around the world, Men’s Club members and guests spent Sunday morning, Feb. 7, well in advance of the televised Super Bowl game, learning about the significance of tefillin and the prayers said in association with wearing the ancient phylacteries. The
World Wide Wrap Day and the making of tefillin Read More »
David Ogul, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori
Story by David Ogul; photos by Michael Mantell SAN DIEGO — This city does not have money for a new, publicly funded, $1.1-billion football stadium that backers hope will keep the Chargers from bolting to Los Angeles, City Councilmember Marti Emerald told several dozen people at a Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club dinner Wednesday night.
Stadium funding not a city priority — Emerald Read More »
David Ogul, Michael Mantell, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions
By David Ogul SAN DIEGO – At a time when fewer American Jews call themselves religious, and when even fewer are attending services regularly, a series of bold initiatives at Tifereth Israel Synagogue has led to a thriving membership and growing programs. The synagogue’s strategies have drawn notice from congregations throughout the nation who are
Synagogue that eliminated dues is growing Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By David Ogul SAN DIEGO – Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Silverman Preschool in the San Diego neighborhood of San Carlos on Thursday, May 14, officially dedicated the Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg Infant Care Center, an addition that enables the rapidly expanding preschool to accommodate newborns and infants of working parents. Enrollment at Silverman Preschool has nearly
Infant care center dedicated at Tifereth Israel Read More »
David Ogul, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & EducationEditor’s Note: The following eulogy is extrapolated from Rabbi Rosenthal’s notes. A Eulogy by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal Tifereth Israel Synagogue SAN DIEGO — When we recite the Yizkor prayer for a mother, we refer to a mother who has passed away as imi morati, my mother, my teacher. In this simple phrase we have a
Sylvia Borkat, 101, z”l Read More »
David Ogul, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County
By David Ogul SAN DIEGO –Mr. Padre is gone. The greatest hitter of our time and the most celebrated San Diego State Aztec ever is dead at 54. Tony Gwynn’s passing on Monday, June 16, from cancer caused by years of chewing smokeless tobacco has caused this city, this county, this region, to reflect on
San Diego’s Tony Gwynn was the antithesis of Korach Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Sports & CompetitionsBy David Ogul SAN DIEGO — From conversations among a San Diego contingent of delegates to speeches by Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Arizona Sen. John McCain and others, Iran was front and center at last week’s annual AIPAC conference in Washington, D.C. And for good reason. AIPAC, America’s largest pro-Israel
AIPAC delegates question U.S. policy on Iran Read More »
David Ogul, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Judy and I just returned from AIPAC’s National Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. This was my third Policy Conference and Judy’s first. The number of attendees grows each year. This time 14,000 supporters of Israel were present, including 2,300 students. The participants are surprisingly diverse. In addition to Jews, Christians,
Iran, Palestinian issues dominate AIPAC conference Read More »
David Ogul, Middle East, USA
By David Ogul SAN DIEGO — I recently spent several days in rural Maryland with a group of men and women from around the country who are doing what they can to save Judaism. The facts are startling. While barely more than 1 of every 10 Jews who got hitched before 1970 was in an
Jews reach out to intermarried families Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish ReligionBy David Ogul JERUSALEM — The discussion was getting a bit heated, in a polite sort of way. But the point made by the newlywed Israeli who is a native of New Jersey has caused me to think about what it means to be a Jew in America and the challenges we face. I was
Are American Jews lazy? Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish Religion
By David Ogul JERUSALEM — Israel, Middle East political analyst Jim Lederman says, is the most misunderstood country on Earth. After journeying in the Holy Land for more than two weeks, I have to agree. Virtually all of the coverage on Israelin the American media is about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and/or “the occupation.”
Israelis daily concerns are pragmatic, not political Read More »
David Ogul, Middle EastBy David Ogul TZVAT, Israel –I had been gone from Jerusalem for less than 48 hours, but I was not the same when I returned. I suppose that’s what happens to a person when he experiences the holy spirit – the ruach – grabbing you, enveloping you, speaking to you, making you one with him.
Feeling the embrace of God in the land of Kabbalah Read More »
David Ogul, Jewish Religion
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal JERUSALEM — Having visited Jerusalem so many times, I did not think I would have anything new to share with you this week. But Israel is full of surprises. In the Holy City I saw something I have never seen before: Israeli pedestrians obeying the walk-don’t walk signals.Until now pedestrians crossed
Rabbi shares impressions of his latest Jerusalem visit Read More »
David Ogul, Middle East