Lifestyles

A Jewish Tale of the Great American Prairie

It all started in 2013, when my son Lincoln was with me, visiting the Ashley, North Dakota Jewish Cemetery where my great-grandfather is buried. He began asking me questions about the community of Russian Jewish immigrants, who arrived in the early 1900s with no farming experience, to farm the North Dakota prairies. I didn’t have sufficient answers. But the seed was planted for me to learn more – for my son, myself, our family, and people I had never met. [Rebecca Bender]

A Jewish Tale of the Great American Prairie Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Lifestyles, USA

Remembering his hometown from across the world

I grew up along the banks of the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts in the 1950s and 60s and that has made all the difference. The four seasons, the local public libraries, the excellent public elementary and high schools, and later on, when I turned 18, my alma mater Tufts University in Boston.  Massachusetts and its people made me, stamped me, catapulted me into the larger world.[Dan Bloom]

Remembering his hometown from across the world Read More »

Lifestyles, USA

‘Finding purpose’ may be overrated

A few weeks ago, I got a call from the director of a senior center asking me to give a talk. I have several topics I often lecture on; for seniors it is usually about some aspect of aging. However, the director had a specific subject in mind: could I talk about giving seniors a purpose? So the first thing I did was to research this topic. I found several articles on the subject; every one of them linked better health and longevity to having a purpose. Somehow this did not feel right; I wondered whether it was semantics. [Natasha Josefowitz, PhD]

‘Finding purpose’ may be overrated Read More »

Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz

Helping newcomers fit into the group

Most of us want to belong—to be a part of a group. We need to be accepted. We want to be liked, respected, paid attention to, even loved. We want to be heard as well as seen, and we want to fit in.

Humans are social animals. Our language expresses our deep concerns with fitting in. We attach a value to belonging. We talk about team spirit, group dynamics, being “in or out.” (To read more, please click on headline.)

Helping newcomers fit into the group Read More »

Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz

Hounding the headlines: October 4, 2019

Until I was adopted by the Barons, I didn’t know much about cats.  To be sure, when I was on the street, I saw more of them than stray dogs.  While I couldn’t wait to find a home, the cats who prided themselves on being feral relished their freedom.  The Barons owned two cats, both of whom ignore me.  Their vacant stares can only be described as catatonic. (To read more, please click on headline.)

Hounding the headlines: October 4, 2019 Read More »

Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, The World We Share

Self- esteem key to women’s progress in Morocco

By Lailah Said and Victoria Burns AGERZRANE, Morocco–“I do not love myself.” “I do not feel confident in myself.” Imagine feeling this way about yourself. Now imagine hearing this from your mother, sister, or daughter, and knowing that the negative self-conception that they hold within themselves is due to social and cultural constraints beyond their

Self- esteem key to women’s progress in Morocco Read More »

International, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

An Orthodox guide to workplace behavior

Making It All Work: A Practical Guide to Hashkafah & Halacha in the Workplace by Avi Wasserman and Miryam Wasserman; Philipp Feldheim publisher;  ISBN-10: 16802-50310; 538 pages; Price $25.00 By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel  CHULA VISTA, California — The authors of Making It All Work present the Orthodox Jewish community with an interesting book about some

An Orthodox guide to workplace behavior Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Undecided whether to listen to my body or mind

So here is my dilemma: I used to be the kind of person who said “yes” to everything and everyone and loved it. My motto: “Go everywhere, do everything, meet everyone, always say ‘yes, I can help!’” I now have become the kind of person who hesitates when asked to go somewhere or do something, preferring to stay home. It is a matter of energy—I don’t seem to be able to muster enough to make the decision to go, let alone to actually go. My mindset is: “I am too tired!”

Some of my friends have said: “You’re in your nineties; honor your age, listen to your body, don’t push yourself.” Somehow this does not help. I am still curious about the play, the movie, the luncheon. I have always suffered from a disease called “ATMS” (afraid to miss something), better known today as “FOMO” (fear of missing out). So I have lived my life in the fast lane and loved every moment of it.

Undecided whether to listen to my body or mind Read More »

Lifestyles, Natasha Josefowitz, San Diego County

San Diego holds its first Sephardic Festival

I had to smile on Saturday night at the Sephardic Festival held at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center [JCC] this past weekend.  There was a short film, Our San Diego Sephardic Voices, about the Sephardim in San Diego.  One of the women interviewed said she was in a “mixed marriage” as her husband was Ashkenazi. Another woman spoke about the differences in food as the Sephardic eat much more rice than their eastern European counterparts.

San Diego holds its first Sephardic Festival Read More »

International, Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Eight Bad Dates — Epilogue

One common thread that surprised me was how many readers wanted to know what happened after the date, or more precisely, how the date ended. Whilst writing, I guess that was a foregone conclusion.  Few of these resulted in a second date. In nearly every situation it didn’t take a rocket scientist or brain surgeon to determine that there was no chemistry! And I never even took Chemistry! (Thank G-d it wasn’t a requirement at Mamaroneck High back in the day.) 

Eight Bad Dates — Epilogue Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Eva Trieger, Lifestyles, San Diego County