Commentaries from the Edge

Los Angeles (L. A. ) is renown as a City of sunlight, a place of gorgeous topography from the mountains to the desert to the Pacific ocean. And yet, Writers for the last hundred years have been attracted to finding out what is lurking in the shadows of L. A. Daniel Weizmann in his second mystery novel, follows in that long tradition of what is called, “crime noir”, with an added bonus. The Author...

What symbol could be more famous for the United States of America than the Statue of Liberty. At its very top is the famous poem which reads in part “…..Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free,…..” It is famous because that is the essence of the U. S. , a Country that has welcomed people from all over the world who are in distress, often running for their lives, dete...

“…..but no one, it seems, is able to give you directions.”   Excerpt from a book of poems by Billy Collins Have you ever wished you had a roadmap of your life, like a GPS that clearly tells you what direction to take?   DISPLACED PERSONS, Author and Educator Joan Leegant’s most recent book of stories, creates characters that enthrall you as they struggle to find their direction and make difficult...

Turning 90 years old to Harvey Keenan means simply opening new doors to walk through continuing his involvements in the community. What is his key to having a vibrant life at any age? He advocates for remembering that there are choices to make to keep yourself on a path to meaning and purpose to your days. Harvey likes the term Elder for himself, not old, a way of thinking of yourself with dignity...

At the moment of this podcast episode recording, the world is waiting to see the very future of war in the Middle East, the very future of war or peace in the world.  What better time to highlight a program with a legacy of bringing Muslims and Jews together.  It is called “NEW GROUND:  A Muslim Jewish Partnership for Change”, which has been operating in Los Angeles, California, for the last 17 ye...

Once again the prominent leader in the mental health field, Dr. Marvin J. Southard, joined the Podcast program as a guest for the fourth time. Continuing the theme of divisiveness in the United States society and how it has impacted much of pubic and private lives, Dr. Southard reflects on the recent passage of the controversial political Proposition 1, in the recent California elections. He is lo...

This is the moment that TOMORROW’s WOMEN, created 20 years ago, was made for, a moment bleak with pain and suffering after October 7th, offering hope and a vision forward. Listen to the young women alumnae of the program, Noga Bar Oz, Lana Ikelan, both talking from Jerusalem, and the Executive Director, Holly Morris from the offices in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, tell their story about this program...

Israel is a traumatized nation since the morning of October 7th, when Hamas Terrorists entered the land and went on a rampage of killing, torturing and raping. Israel is the only nation where repeatedly its very existence is threatened and yet, it is populated by a people, like everyone everywhere, who only want peace, a secure life for health and happiness. This episode of Commentaries From the E...

It is a New Year, 2024, and we are walking through turbulence in the United States in many ways. There is climate turbulence, political turbulence and the turbulence of a divided society increasingly breaking into hostile groups. All of this feels more consequential because the U. S. is heading toward a Presidential election by the end of the year which will impact the global community. Addressing...

A documentary film titled, LIONS OF THE SEA, is in the process of being created as a journey into the world of Sea Lions. In the story to be told we will meet them in a most protected environmental area off the coast of the Galapagos. Adam Leipzig, the Producer, is no stranger to creating nature documentaries. As past President of National Geographic Films, he brought March of the Penguins to the...

We are very grateful to all of you listeners and the podcast guests. Have a healthy and happy New Year.

Returning once again to the Pico Union Project (PUP), we hear in this episode from Bianca Juarez Escamilla, who is a new staff member that brings her talent and knowledge as a resident in this multiethnic neighborhood near the downtown area of Los Angeles, California, to the development of innovative programming. This is an extraordinary community center, a model that responds to the neighborhood...

Besides remembering what is long gone, decimated by the Holocaust of World War II, the CENTROPA  organization is dedicated to recapturing the vibrant Jewish life of the early 20th century on the European continent.  Their operation is based in headquarters in Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; and Hamburg, Germany.   The organization’s full name is Central Europe Center for Research and Documenta...

Sometimes there are extraordinary people who arrive just at the right position to make a community a better place to live for everyone. This is the case at the Los Angeles City Pubic Library system with Karen Pickard Four and Edna Osepans. Karen has been the lead Librarian at what is called the Library Experience Office since 2021, and Edna, the Supervising Social Worker for the last seven months...

United States of America sits on lands that were first occupied by Indigenous Tribes. They are the Native Americans. Today, these same lands are mostly occupied by descendants of immigrants or current immigrants. In this podcast you will be listening to Isaac Cuevas, Director of Immigration and Public Affairs for the Los Angeles, California, Catholic Archdiocese. He is taking us on a verbal trip,...

We are all walking through a turbulent time in the world, and particularly in the United States. It is a time when many are turning to their spirituality or faith for inspiration, for comfort, for some guiding principals. The JEWELS OF ELUL books published annually for the last 21 years, are part of the idea of spiritual preparation for the Jewish New Year. Ross Chait, Project Coordinator for thes...

In this moving and emotional debut novel, GUESTHOUSE FOR GANESHA, Judith Teitelman takes us on a lyrical journey with her poetic writing style and her spiritual awareness.  We are introduced to Esther, the center character of the story, and we immediately learn two elements that fill this novel; Esther’s connection to the Revered Hindu Diety, Ganesha, and Esther’s need to keep traveling across the...

There are borders on the European continent where civilizations have clashed, empires have risen and fallen. The Country of Kosovo is one of those places, formerly part of what was Yugoslavia and now bordered by several nation States such as Albania, Serbia and Macedonia. As we take up the fate of Kosovo Romani (formerly referred to as Gypsies), Barry Fisher, award-winning humanitarian Lawyer, con...

Do you remember the image of old people spending their days sitting in a rocking chair? That may be extreme but so is the revolution happening about getting older in America. No place are the radical changes more apparent than at a new place called the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace. For people of an older age, think of a place to hang out that is vibrant, colorful, full of diverse activities and diver...

Here is an example of taking the oldest sound, and most primitive, and using creative innovation to apply it to current 21st century needs. Steven Angel, President and Creator of the Drumming for Your Life Institute, is a prolific inventor finding ways that an ancient activity can improve our lives. He tells us that he discovered what he calls “the doubtful internal voice”, that inhibits learning...

The thoughtful and systematic arrangement of a nation to eliminate an entire people who had resided in the area for 1000 years, became the Holocaust by Germany in the World War II era. This is not to ignore the many European nations during that time that participated in and encouraged the annihilation of Jews. Other groups such as the disabled, the homosexual and Romani, to name a few, were also t...

The Artistic Director of the Fountain Theatre, Stephen Sachs, is modest about his 33 years at the helm of its creative and award-winning accomplishments.   As an example, the City Council of Los Angeles, California, recognized Stephen for his contributions to the cultural life of Los Angeles.   Being an actor, director and playwright, he took the helm of a theatre organization with a vision that t...

In a world finding its way out of years of a pandemic way of life and restrictions, Aaron Paley’s long career in championing cultural connections may be a winning path. Aaron’s incessant creative programming in the public spaces of Los Angeles is grounded in his impressive credentials. He received a Masters in Business (MBA) in non-profit Arts Management from UCLA and an undergraduate degree from...

The book, THE INNOVATIVE PARENT: Raising Connected, Happy and Successful Kids through Art by Erica Curtis and Ping Ho, takes its place among important guides to support and cheer on the best kind of parenting. It is the winner of a 2019 National Parenting Products Association Award. Ping Ho, MA, MPH, is the Founder and Director of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA ) Arts and Healin...

We live in a time of great tension between the forces of inclusion for all peoples and the forces pushing us apart in often hateful and threatening ways. In this episode you will hear from Omar Ricci, one of those who is dedicating his life to linking people together in their humanity. Mr. Ricci is the Spokesperson for the Islamic Center of Southern California, located in the heart of Los Angeles....