Lifestyles

Memoir: A Social Worker’s Life in Switzerland

There are two possible ways of behaving when coming into a new environment if one stands out for some reason—like being the only woman, the only foreigner, or someone with different skills. One can try to blend in and fit oneself into the prevailing culture, which may be difficult or not even possible. The other way is to accept the differences instead of hiding them, flaunt them by being even more of an outlier. [Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D]

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International, Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, Travel and Food

Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Conundrum

Israel is described as a racist country by its detractors. A sizable sector of Israel’s population currently lives in small, crowded apartments in poor, segregated, urban neighborhoods, where their extended families, synagogues, and institutions are located. They constitute about 12% of Israel’s population and most are counted below the poverty line. About half of the men are unemployed. Most of the families are dependent on government aid to supplement their meager incomes. They are prone to riot when they feel threatened by laws promulgated to the general population, often causing police intervention. They are the ultra-Orthodox, known here as the Haredim. Mainstream media coverage of this sector generally depicts them in negative terms. [Steve Kramer]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Steve Kramer

Streaming Jewish Programs (Nov. 15- 20)

Following are academic and popular programs of specific Jewish interest that may be accessed via the Internet. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Scaling back in a weight loss therapy session

Bebe and I dreamed up an obesity control group to fulfill a requirement for our Master’s thesis. Our idea was to have several overweight people live 24 hours a day for seven days within the same confine, performing a regimen of controlled diet, exercise, and group therapy. Bebe and I would be the facilitators and active participants in the group. With my wife’s consent, I volunteered to use my home for the setting. My wife and kids cooperated and moved out for a week to a friend’s home. [Ira Spector]

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Lifestyles

YAAANA offers courses on Yiddish language, songs

The Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America (YAAANA) is opening registration for its “Not Your Usual Intensive Winter Yiddish Language and Culture Program.” The first Yiddish winter intensive program in the San Diego area, it will run from December 6-20, 2020 virtually over Zoom. The winter intensive will include language and conversation (shmues) courses, as well as a cultural program, including Yiddish yoga, four different song workshops, and a special event by San Diego’s favorite klezmer musician, Yale Strom. YAAANA hoped to host this program in person, but in keeping with safety guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it moved the programming online. The organization expects that the virtual element to its winter intensive will make it possible for those from all around the world to take advantage of its offerings this winter. The teachers live both locally, in San Diego, and abroad, with instructors Zooming in from such cities as New York, Berlin, England, and Toronto. [YAAANA press release]

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Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Adventures in Papua New Guinea

Goroka is in the Highlands. I spent a whole day attending the annual Sing-Sing. It’s a competition where tribes from all over the hills parade, sing, and dance on a vast grass field. In the past, the prizes were pigs, the most valued commodity on the island. In recent years, money was the reward. There was a viewing grand stand, but the tourists were let out onto the field right from the beginning to photograph, pose and dance with the tribal people. There were at least 15 different groups, all dressed in elaborate, and sometimes strange, regalia. They were festooned with bird feathers, native shell jewelry, and necklaces made from animal jaws and beetles. The revelers faces were painted with brilliant primary colors, white mud, or black paint. [Ira Spector]

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International, Lifestyles, Travel and Food

An induction into the Order of the Arrow

The third year at camp, since I was the oldest and most experienced scout, by default became the leader of our troop. In a secret ballot we voted to elect anyone we thought worthy to become a member of the Order of the Arrow. This is a coveted honor service society that recently had its 100-year anniversary. Its lore is based on an enchanting heroic Indian story. [Ira Spector]

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Lifestyles, USA

For Bat Mitzvah, she traveled to Israel virtually

Sarah Golembsky and her family hoped to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah with a trip to Israel, but like many other B’nai Mitzvah, the pandemic made it impossible for her celebration to go as planned. She had to get creative. Sara and her family didn’t want to miss out on the Israel experience, so they did the next best thing: a live tour to Jerusalem and the Kotel through StandWithUs Discover. Virtual tours of Israel are one of the many educational opportunities offered to B’nai Mitzvah as part of a new StandWithUs B’nai Mitzvah Project initiative. [StandWithUs]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Some underlying reasons for zombies’ popularity

Every year around Halloween, many Americans watch various monster movies about creatures who are often “undead.” Let’s be honest; nothing is appealing about zombies. They lack the sexiness of vampires; they lack the glamor and good manners. At least vampires know how to blend in society. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

From Ingathering Exiles to Escaping Clans

Israel, the land that was meant to host the ingathering of the exiles and reunite the Jewish people, is tearing at the seams. There has never been real unity in Israeli society, but we always knew how to rise above our partisan interests in the moment of truth. We cannot do this anymore; hatred and division have taken over. It seems as though we are going to split into myriad groups and clans, and many will seek asylum elsewhere, and I am not sure they will be welcome anywhere. [Michael Laitman, PhD]

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Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East