8+ min ago (214+ words) This book is an outsider's assessment of songwriter and vocalist Carole King's life and contributions to popular music. Author Jane Eisner wasn't able to secure an interview with the reclusive King, nor with members of her family, so she had to rely on what was already published by other writers or said by King, herself, in her memoir and in preserved broadcast interviews. Eisner did marvelous work despite these limitations. She stitched together numerous other sources'a rabbi who officiated at King's life cycle events; other singers like James Taylor who had commented publicly on her works; music critics assessing her output; and musicians who helped identify what made King's compositions structurally different from those of most other songwriters. To the extent that she was able, Eisner followed in King's physical journey: Her girlhood home in Brooklyn; a music studio in…...

9+ hour ago (278+ words) Sharon Brous (November 30, 1973) is an American rabbi who is the senior rabbi of'IKAR, a Jewish congregation in Los Angeles. She was one of the founders of'IKAR'in 2004, along with Melissa Balaban, who currently serves as IKAR's Chief Executive Officer, and others. [Wikipedia] Sharon Brous (November 30, 1973) is an American rabbi who is the senior rabbi of'IKAR, a Jewish congregation in Los Angeles. She was one of the founders of'IKAR'in 2004, along with Melissa Balaban, who currently serves as IKAR's Chief Executive Officer, and others. In 2013,'The Daily Beast listed Brous as #1 on its list of America's most influential rabbis; she ranked #5 on the same list in 2012.'The publication wrote that "Ikar, the come-as-you-are spiritual community that Brous, 39, founded nearly a decade ago, has become a magnet for L.A.'s young, unaffiliated Jews" in a time when many synagogues face "disaffected, declining membership." Tomorrow, December…...

17+ hour, 24+ min ago (493+ words) Not much changed as I moved into grade school. I was still noticeably smaller than my peers, and the teasing followed, endless nicknames about my height. I think that's when I decided that being small would not define me. If anything, I would reclaim my size by taking up space in other ways. When I grew past the "shrimp" jokes, I ran straight into the "girl" comments. In high school softball, my coach admired my hitting and base-running, but he often remarked, "Betzy, it's pretty surprising how you throw like a girl!" I was the lead-off hitter and played right field because my arm wasn't strong, yet somehow my gender was the punchline. Years later, when I interviewed for one of the most prestigious graduate programs in the country, I was told afterward that although my academics and internship experience…...

18+ hour, 33+ min ago (125+ words) Joel Coen (November 29, 1954)is an American filmmaker.Working alongsidehis brotherEthan, he has directed, written, edited and produced many feature films, the most acclaimed of which includeBlood Simple(1984),Raising Arizona(1987),Miller's Crossing(1990),Barton Fink(1991),Fargo(1996),The Big Lebowski(1998),O Brother, Where Art Thou?(2000),No Country for Old Men(2007),A Serious Man(2009),True Grit(2010) andInside Llewyn Davis(2014). [Wikipedia] The duo began directing separately in the 2020s. Joel directed the 2021 thrillerThe Tragedy of Macbeth(adapted fromthe Shakespeare play) starringDenzel Washingtonand Coen's wifeFrances McDormand. The film was his first solo directorial effort, and was nominated for threeAcademy Awards. Joel is set to direct another film,Jack of Spades. Tomorrow, November 30: Sharon Brous...

1+ day, 15+ hour ago (270+ words) A committee of the City Council in Dublin, Ireland, has approved a resolution to drop the name Herzog from a park in the Rathgar neighborhood and to debate in the future how the park should be renamed. [Jerusalem Post] Harrison in San Diego Donald H Harrison INTERNATIONAL The Jerusalem Post reports that a committee of the City Council in Dublin, Ireland, has approved a resolution to drop the name Herzog from a park in the Rathgar neighborhood and to debate in the future how the park should be renamed. The issue goes to the full City Council on Monday, Dec The park, across from a Jewish parochial school, was named for Chaim Herzog, who grew up in Ireland as the son of Rabbi Isaac Herzog, who served as Ireland's first chief rabbi and who later was appointed chief (Ashkenazic) rabbi…...

1+ day, 20+ hour ago (524+ words) By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego The Independent of Great Britain reports that Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, resigned Friday after law enforcement officials searched his office and residence as part of their ongoing investigation into corruption at the highest government levels. Earlier this month, Yermak was in Geneva, Switzerland, negotiating with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio the terms of a proposed peace pact between Ukraine and Russia. Commenting on the raid, Yermak said, "They were given full access to the apartment, my layers are on site, interacting with law enforcement officers. For my part, I fully cooperate." Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports that Julie Menin, a Democrat, has claimed she will have 36 votes in January from the 51-member New York City Council to be that body's first Jewish Speaker." Her pro-Israel views contrast with the…...

2+ day, 8+ hour ago (195+ words) James Karen (November 28, 1923 " October 23, 2018) was an American character actor'of'Broadway, film and television. Karen is known for his roles in'Poltergeist,'The China Syndrome,'Wall Street,'The Return of the Living Dead,'Invaders from Mars'and'The Pursuit of Happyness, but was perhaps best known as the signature'pitchman'for'Pathmark, famously appearing in commercials for the now-defunct East Coast-based supermarket chain from the late 1970s to the early 1990s which earned his nickname "Mr. Pathmark". [Wikipedia] Karen is known for his roles in Poltergeist, The China Syndrome, Wall Street, The Return of the Living Dead, Invaders from Mars and The Pursuit of Happyness, but was perhaps best known as the signature pitchman for Pathmark, famously appearing in commercials for the now-defunct East Coast-based supermarket chain from the late 1970s to the early 1990s which earned his nickname "Mr Karen is also known for his recurring television role as Tom Bradford's…...

2+ day, 9+ hour ago (302+ words) By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. EL CAJON, California " Good Shabbos, and Shabbasgiving'sameach. As we come together the night after Thanksgiving, it's meaningful to reflect on how beautifully the themes of the holiday align with this week's parsha,'Vayeitzei, and with the essence of Shabbos itself. In'Vayeitzei, Yaakov Avinu leaves home under difficult circumstances. He lies down alone in the wilderness, and in that vulnerable moment he receives the famous vision of the ladder, rooted on earth, reaching up to heaven. When he awakens, he declares:Achen yesh Hashem bamakom hazeh, va'anochi lo yadati"Surely Hashem is in this place, and I did not know." The commentaries and Chassidic teachings say that Yaakov's revelation is about awareness. God's presence was there all along; Yaakov simply hadn't noticed. Sometimes life moves so quickly that blessings surround us, yet we pass them by without…...

2+ day, 16+ hour ago (238+ words) By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego ABC television news reported that Russia's President Vladimir Putin has questioned Volodymyr Zelenskyy's legitimacy to hold office as Ukraine's President." In which case, it would be pointless to sign a peace agreement with him, Putin said. He told a news conference on Thursday in Kyrgystan that any deal with Ukraine must include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Russian-claimed territory. "If Ukraine's troops leave the territory occupied, then military action will stop. If they won't leave then we will achieve that by armed force," Putin said." Otherwise, Russia is willing to "fight to the last Ukrainian." Meanwhile, controversy attended a report in Bloomberg News that President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff apparently coached a senior aide to Putin on how to pitch U.S. President Donald Trump to accept Russia's key demands in any peace deal…...

2+ day, 23+ hour ago (653+ words) By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin PIKESVILLE, Maryland " When we understand what history is, when it began to be considered, how it changed over time, and what truth is, we will realize that history can't be entirely accurate. History is an attempt to understand the past by studying and interpreting human and non-human occurrences, using all available evidence to create narratives that explain past events, societies, and individuals, as well as the repetitions of cause and effect related to them, and to obtain some sense of the future. It is a discipline that seeks to understand the past, how it changes over time, and how it shapes the present and future. Hesiod and Homer are credited with providing the ancient Greeks with accounts of their gods. Homer is the'ancient Greek poet credited with composing the foundational epic poems, The'Iliad'and The'Odyssey.'His…...