By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson I left my homeland of England about 60 years ago and came to live in Israel for a variety of reasons, one of them being the weather. The England that I left behind was a fairly stable country with regard to the composition of its population, which was largely white. There were, […]
Political Correctness or Madness? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Opinion
Lopez is a leader in the LGBTQ community thanks to the intervention of a stranger 23 years ago whose kindness prevented them from committing suicide in despair over being the subject of so much hate. [Donald H. Harrison]
Fernando Z. Lopez: From Utter Despair to Soaring Pride Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County
On the second floor of the Grandstand East building at the San Diego County Fair, where the entries in the photography contest are displayed, visitors will see in a prominent position “Partners,” a photo made by Leah Horstman that received the most votes from fair goers last year as their favorite photo of all. [Donald H. Harrison]
Judges and Visitors Acclaim Leah Horstman’s Photography at San Diego County Fair Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Travel and Food, USA
By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — In the book “Miriam’s Tambourine: Jewish Folktales from Around the World” (1988), edited by Prof. Howard Schwartz, Miriam’s drum had magical abilities. Taken from a 19th-century Eastern European folktale, Schwartz writes that the music from Miriam’s drum drove off serpents and kept Miriam herself in eternal life. Today’s drumming
Drumming in Jewish Circles Read More »
Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego CountyBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Attending a concert recently in Jerusalem, I suddenly found myself surrounded by ghosts. In the row in front of me sat an elderly woman whose face I recognized but whose name I had forgotten. When I had last seen her, about twenty years ago, she and I were
Ghosts From the Past Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Lifestyles, Opinion
His parents’ diverse cultural backgrounds “in one way were symbiotic and, in others, very separate, Nevarez reflected. “At different times in my life, I was uncomfortable about them; I didn’t know how to wed the two.” Later in life, however, “I have not only embraced it; it has actually extended my capacity to do what I do in the world, which is my rabbinate, and to be able to be in a relationship with different cultures and ethnicities because of my background.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Reform Rabbi Draws on His Jewish and Latino Heritage Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego CountyBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — There was a time when an invitation to a wedding or even a party would arrive in the post, artistically embellished, in an envelope with a stamp, plus a smaller card on which to confirm one’s participation in the event, and information about the time, date, and place.
Ceremonies and Celebrations Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles
Elkins was one of three presenters at a Tikun Leil Shavuot, a Shavuot night study session at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. The others were Marcia Tatz Wollner, who spoke about book banning and burning through the ages, and Dr. Seth Krosner, M.D., a critical care surgery specialist, who discussed what Jewish texts have to say about decisions concerning end of life and abortions. [Donald H. Harrison]
Of Robots, Banned Books, Dying, and Abortions Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Technology
When an acquaintance suggested that she try yoga, Gadd was skeptical at first. “How can that help me?” she asked. “Just come and see,” counseled the acquaintance. Moving her body in specific ways, according to the directions of her yoga instructor, “led to clarity of thought,” she said. Mindfulness helped her “dissipate the stress, the mental shpilkes, something like giving your dog exercise so it can calm down,” Gadd recalled. She found that she left the yoga sessions feeling better, without need for medications. “Deep breathing and so forth can create physiological changes,” she explained. [Donald H. Harrison]
Popular Instructor Says Judaism and Yoga are Complementary Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions
In Jewish tradition, the fate of the world depends upon 36 upstanding people known as the Lamed Vavniks. As a matter of interest, there are 36 leaders and officers of the Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) in San Diego County. They will be awarding philanthropic funds that they have raised to various nonprofit organization at a 4 p.m. ceremony Sunday May 21 at Congregation Beth Am in the Carmel Valley neighborhood of San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]
The Jewish Eye: San Diego Teen Philanthropists; Mayorkas, Sanders Under Fire Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Doron Krakow The setting was an estate on Long Island—a one-time family home now an elegant retreat center about an hour from midtown Manhattan. The topic was talent and the professional pipeline of the organized Jewish community, and along the way I found myself in a meeting with the heads of the major denominations
The heartbreaking loss of lives in the airplane crash resulted in Air Florida going into bankruptcy, and the stroke reduced Timoner’s earning capacity. He held on for nearly 40 years, but when congestive heart failure made him even more dependent on others, he decided that as a California resident he would take advantage of the Golden State’s “Right to Die” Law. [Donald H. Harrison]
Documentary Intimately Records Eli Timoner’s Choice to End His Life Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Authors David Cravit and Larry Wolf differentiate between “Default Aging” and “Super Aging.” The former style of aging is passive: You retire, take some vacations, become increasingly passive and irrelevant, fade into obscurity, and then die. It is what “retirement” has meant for too long a time, according to the authors. On the other hand, “super aging” involves taking charge of your life after the so-called retirement age; finding a purpose, keeping well informed about health and fitness, being mentally active, and not letting anyone else define you by your age. [Donald H. Harrison]
Tips for Living a Longer and Exciting Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles
My niece, Ellen Goodman, has an intriguing theory about the components of marital bliss. She contends, “Everyone has an internal number (1-10) that reflects his or her assertive/passive nature. Basically, it’s how that person handles the things, major and minor, that come up in life — it can be paying your bills, deciding what to watch on television, choosing what and when to eat, shopping, house repairs, etc. A person who has a “take-charge” attitude and wants everything done her or his way- right now! — would have a high number (8–10). [Joel H. Cohen]
Jewish Husbands: How Do You Rate as a Mate? Read More »
Joel H. Cohen, Lifestyles, Trivia, Humor & Satire