God expects people to use their intelligence, learn how the laws of nature work and help themselves, to improve themselves, society, and the world generally. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Secret of the Book of Esther Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Portnoy’s Complaint was Roth’s fourth novel and most controversial because of its frank treatment of sexual subjects, including masturbation. Roth became more prolific thereafter, knocking out 26 additional works through 2010, the most notable of which was the 1997 novel American Pastoral, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It told of a star athlete whose daughter becomes a domestic terrorist during the late 1960s. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Philip Roth Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Vladimir Putin won 87.3 % of the votes cast in the Russian presidential election. But there are telltale signs that the Russian election was rigged. [Laurie Baron]
Satire: Rigged Russian Elections? Read More »
International, Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Another Purim Katan celebration is Purim Vinz, which is celebrated with the reading of the Vincent Megillah. What does that holiday commemorate? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Purim Katan Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Literary success came to Zweig in 1915, when he was awarded the Heinrich Kleist Prize for his drama Ritual Murder in Hungary (1914), about a blood libel against Jews in the town of Tiszaeslar in 1882. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Arnold Zweig and the Smoke of the Fatherland Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
She wrote Denying the Holocaust in 1994, later defending herself successfully against a libel suit by author David Irving that brought her name to public attention. She won the 1994 National Jewish Book Award and an appointment by President Bill Clinton to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Deborah E. Lipstadt Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
When he first got the part in the Yiddish “Fiddler,” Skybell had studied Yiddish but he “certainly wasn’t fluent.” And at the start, only three of the 26 members of the cast spoke Yiddish. So getting ready for the show was a mammoth task, with most of the actors learning the language phonetically from tapes. [Joel H. Cohen]
Kvells Keep Ringing For Steven Skybell’s Tevye in All-Yiddish ‘Fiddler’ Read More »
International, Joel H. Cohen, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
A few things were different about this production, first the non-fairy actors wore modern dress, the part of Hermia’s father was turned into that of her mother, and the show we saw had swing actor Ruth Russel filling in for the role of Demitrius. [Sandi Masori]
Shakespeare with Some Contemporary Twists at Coronado Playhouse Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
I see our more than 2,000 volunteers from the U.S. going to Israel, clamoring to get dirty – filthy even – to help build back the southern communities and lend a hand any way they can. People in Israel who were divided over policies before the war are now sitting around the same table, figuring out how to build back their country — together. [Russell F. Robinson, JNF-USA]
JNF-USA Volunteers Help to Rebuild Southern Israel Read More »
Israel, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
In 1897 he helped to found the national Federation of American Zionists, a forerunner of the Zionist Organization of America. He attended the Second Zionist Congress in Basel in 1898, serving as its secretary for the English language. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Stephen S. Wise Read More »
International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Four areas of interest have shaped the life of Cantor Larry Kornit of Congregation Beth Tikvah: Religion, music, politics, and sports. In addition to serving as a spiritual leader of what he described as his Conservative/ Reform/ Eclectic congregation, he also has volunteered as a member of the City of Oceanside’s nine-member Housing Commission. The commission meets in the City Council chambers the fourth Tuesday of each month. [Donald H. Harrison]
Larry Kornit: Cantor in Shul, Social Justice Advocate Outside Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Satire and Purim go together like peanut-butter and jelly. Purim Torah stands as a unique and vibrant facet of Jewish literary tradition, showcasing the playful side of rabbinic intellect. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Get Ready for Some Purim Torah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Legitimate religions encourage honesty, transparency, and critical thinking.
Conversely, cults, and their leaders, condone the use of deception for recruitment and fundraising purposes. They also use manipulation and fear tactics to maintain control of their members. The negative characteristics of deception and manipulation distinguish a cult from a legitimate religion. [Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz]
OpEd: What Do Cults and Terrorists Have in Common? Read More »
Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
In 1945, 19-year-old Lewis met Dean Martin, who was eight years his senior, and the two developed a comedy act, in which Martin was a straight man and Lewis was a zany ad libber. The duo started with a radio show, moved to television, then to Paramount Pictures where they starred together in 14 movies between 1960 and 1956. DC Comics published The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis from 1952 to 1957. The team ended the partnership in 1956. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jerry Lewis Read More »
Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA