When we talk about the Declaration of Independence and the freedom it envisioned for the people of the United States, our conversations are likely to turn to the two great issues facing our country today: the coronavirus pandemic and the racial justice movement. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
American independence, coronavirus, and racial justice Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA
As I focus on the debate among Jews about the relationship our community ought to have with the Black Lives Matter movement, I realize that discussion is driven by how traumatized our entire Jewish people have been by the Holocaust and its aftershocks. In my view, both the Jewish Right and the Jewish Left have patterned their behavior on what they have learned — and suffered — as a result of the Nazis’ slaughter of our Six Million ancestors, relatives, and friends. [Donald H. Harrison]
Dueling Holocaust imperatives: Never again vs. Never ever Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute has put together a valuable resource for Jewish organizations and schools to distribute to parents of teens called Parenting in a Pandemic: A Guide for the Perplexed. The contributors include medical doctors, licensed social workers and scholars and covers a wide variety of topics. [Marcia Berneger]
Tips for parenting teens during a pandemic Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Marcia Berneger
Albert Cohen wrote (or at least published) this book when he was about sixty years old. I don’t know when his mother died, but – as its title implies – the book is about his late mother and her devotion to him, embellished by his evidently deep-rooted sense of guilt at not having been as kind to her as he felt should have been in her lifetime. (Dorothea Shefer-Vanson)
French Jewish author details a son’s deep regret Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Lifestyles
I often had business lunches and dinners out, and then there were all the lectures, plays, and concerts that our retirement community bus took us to several times a week. I complained I was too busy, running from one event to another, and had no time in between. I clocked around 10,000 steps on my Apple Watch every day. I felt invulnerable and ageless (as long as I didn’t look at that incongruent image reflected in the mirror). Then…BOOM! The pandemic struck, and we were confined to our apartments with all public areas closed, no dining room, no gym, no pool, no beach walks, no meeting friends, no going anywhere. So in just a few months I went from my mid-twenties to my mid-nineties. [Natasha Josefowitz, ACSW, Ph.D]
Feeling seven decades older during the pandemic Read More »
Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County
Rabbi Yael Ridberg, spiritual leader of Congregation Dor Hadash, has added her name to two campaigns now building within the Jewish community. One, which has attracted leaders of more than 500 synagogues and Jewish organizations, voices solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The other, launched by the National Council of Jewish Women, pledges support for education about women’s rights to autonomy over their own bodies. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Yael Ridberg speaks out for social justice Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Is it “safe” to go to shopping malls, grocery stores, bars, gyms, movie theaters, churches and synagogues, attend gatherings at private homes, or travel in commercial airplanes? Yes? No? May we safely get haircuts? And oh my goodness, those masks. Should we wear them? Yes, we should? No, we don’t have to wear them? Who really knows? It seems the answer is, nobody. (Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Bothered and bewildered no more Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellSAN DIEGO — We Jews have a love for debate. Argument, in its purest sense, helps us to clarify issues, to determine right and wrong, and sometimes to set us upon specific courses of action. It’s for that reason that I welcome, even relish, articles and letters to the editor with diverse, even opposing, points of view. Yet, sometimes, as the editor and co-publisher of this publication, I feel obligated not to run an article, or simply to delete a letter to the editor. [Donald H. Harrison]
On letters, columns, and civility Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA
Celebrating its 75th year of service to the community, Camp Jaycee opened last Monday, June 22, at the Lawrence Family JCC and at Congregation Beth Am in Carmel Valley, the first of several locations where satellite camps will be conducted in the county. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Modified Camp Jaycee underway at JCC and Beth Am Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
During the time of coronavirus pandemic, the people can’t go to theatre, symphonic, or opera performances, or even to an art museum because of the need for social distancing. So, instead, the performing and visual arts are coming to the people, via Zoom, Facebook, and other Internet channels. While art organizations are doing so, they are becoming increasingly innovative. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
How the Arts are changing during the pandemic Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
For Jews, there’s one wrinkle in the enjoyment of those long summer afternoons: just in case we are having too much fun, the spoilsport rabbis of yore gave us twenty-two days of semi-mourning smack dab in the middle of waterslide season. [Sam Glaser]
Family vacationing as Tisha B’Av approaches Read More »
Judaism, Lifestyles, Sam Glaser, USA
Israel’s Coronavirus cases seem to be growing. It comes in response to increased testing, as well as crowds without masks at several points: outside stadiums (where they are not allowed to cheer inside), in bars and social clubs, some prominent bar mitzvahs, and on streets and the beach. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Coronavirus cases in Israel resurging Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAIt’s time for a fresh, humanizing perspective on RE-silience. It’s time for a real transformation that includes a stark awareness of what truly matters and of how adversity can bring a sense of meaning and wellbeing to your life. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Say goodbye to RE-silience Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellSunday being Father’s Day, I couldn’t help but think about a conversation held approximately 111 years ago between a son and his father. The father’s first name was Velvel, the name he had been given in Lithuania well before he immigrated to the United States during the 1880s when American ports were open to all who were healthy and wished to work hard. The first name of the son was Meyer. He was born in the United States, was a talented draftsman, a good student, and in 1909, earned a university degree as a professional architect. [Donald H. Harrison]
Reflection, introspection on Father’s Day Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, USA