Staff and Bylined Contributors

Deconstructing the Myths of King Solomon

Solomon is credited for discovering the true mother of a baby simply because one of the two disputing prostitutes agreed to give up the child when Solomon foolishly said he would slice the child in two and give each a half. Rational thinkers and legal experts recognize this was Solomon’s unintelligent decision. Her act proves nothing. She may not have been the mother,
but she agreed to give up the child to the true mother simply because she did not want to carry her farce to the end, where the child was murdered. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Parsha Shemini–Hachodesh: The Silence of Aaron

We read, “And Aaron was silent.” SILENT? Aaron, the boys’ father was SILENT? How could a parent be silent upon losing two sons? How can we be silent in the face of the frightening eruption of antisemitism in our lives? This narrative has troubled many erudite scholars, thinkers, and elders over centuries. We are currently ensnared in a time that has killed many, upended lives, and endangered our daily paths. Are we to be silent? [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Sydney Newman

The Avengers debuted in 1961, becoming an international success.  In 1962, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) stole him away from ABC.  He created a new anthology series, The Wednesday Play, and in 1963, he initiated the very successful science fiction series Doctor Who, about a space and time traveler who takes on human identities to benefit humanity.  Near the end of his five-year BBC contract, he green-lighted Donald Wilson’s The Forsyte Saga, which was one of the most acclaimed series of his era. [SDJW stafff]

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International, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Stories about the Music Enhance Music Academy Concerts

In recent years Dr. Ron Regev, the head of the Academy’s piano department, has taken over at the head of the concerts, injecting his own personal touch of brilliance to the program. Apart from being a virtuoso pianist, Professor Regev is also an engaging and inspiring speaker, and to hear him talk about the music he and his colleagues are about to play is always enjoyable and uplifting. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Rhea Perlman

In the television show Taxi, she played the role of Zena Sherman, the sweet girlfriend of DeVito’s character Louie De Palma. In 1982, the same year she and DeVito married, she won the role of the wisecracking barmaid Carla Tortelli on Cheers, which in a run that ended in 1993 won 20 Emmy awards out of 95 nominations. Perlman won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy four times out of 10 nominations. [SDJW staff]

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Jewish Celebrities, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday

Brian Grana Tells of His Great Loves: His Late Wife, His Children, and the United States Marine Corps

One of the units with the I-MEF is the Marine Logistics Group (MLG), which then-Major Brian T. Grana was a member of from 2006 to 2009. Later in his career, as a lieutenant colonel, Grana commanded a Squadron at MCAS Miramar. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Debbie Friedman’s Songs to be Celebrated at LFJCC Program

Debbie attended a Jewish summer camp where, at sixteen, on a borrowed instrument, she learned to play the guitar.  Several years later, she began to compose her own songs. She was influenced by the music of folk song luminaries such as Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Joan Baez. [Eileen Wingard

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Alex Bregman

In 2021, the Baseball Writers Association of America honored him with the Darryl Kile Good Guy Award.  In the 2022 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Bregman’s home run set a record at six for most career homeruns by a third baseman. It was the 22nd World Series game he had appeared in.  Bregman’s first child, a son Knox, was born August 1st of that year. [SDJW staff]

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Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA