‘Water’ in an analogy is an element of teshuvah

A constant need to escape can be another expression of excess water. Always needing to travel, experience something new or get away from one’s current circumstances can prevent a person from finding comfort where they are. Instead of steering the boat, they become like jellyfish carried wherever the tide takes them. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

A welcome contrast between Israel and the French countryside

The place is set in countryside that was once verdant but now, as a result of the recent spells of unaccustomed heat, consists of dried-up fields with boundaries denoted by wilting bushes and the occasional tree. Nonetheless, the village is still a place of tranquility and solace for the anguished souls who normally inhabit a country which is anything but tranquil. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

What kind of year can we help create for someone else?

Here in San Diego County, approximately one in four Jewish households live in or on the edge of poverty. Many struggle quietly. They may even be our neighbors or friends. An illness, job loss, divorce, aging, or one unexpected crisis can suddenly change a family’s life. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Today’s Jewish birthday: Israel Gelfand

Israel Gelfand (September 2, 1913 – October 5, 2009) was a prominent Soviet and American mathematician, one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century, biologist, teacher and organizer of mathematical education. He made significant contributions to many branches of mathematics, including group theory, representation theory and functional analysis. [Wikipedia]

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Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

California one step closer to declaring Jewish identity an ethnicity as well as a religion

According to Pew Research Center, over 50% of American Jews said ancestry and culture are essential to what being Jewish means to them, while 36% said religion. More than a quarter describe themselves as Jews of no religion. (Press Release)

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California, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Press Release, USA

Increasingly western democracies decline to sell arms to Israel

In recent years, several countries have imposed restrictions or suspensions on arms sales to Israel, including the United Kingdom, which suspended 30 out of 350 export licenses in September 2024 due to concerns over international humanitarian law “violations” (Steve Kramer)

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, USA

Jewish dilemma in popular media portrayals of Nazis

While watching Peacemaker, season 2, I thought about how the portrayal of Nazis in popular media creates a dilemma for the Jewish people. The DC Comics television show was about an obscure anti-hero who found an alternate universe in which the Nazis won World War II and became the prevailing political party in America. The Nazis were the villains of the story. But no Jewish people were portrayed in the show. [Evan R. Goldman]

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Israel’s Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi visits the Hamptons to dedicate a Torah

Rabbi Marc Schneier celebrated his 36th anniversary as founding senior rabbi of The Hampton Synagogue on Sunday evening. He was joined by Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber and by his father, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, a child Holocaust survivor from Vienna and the rabbi of Park East Synagogue. (Press Release)

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Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, USA

‘Blurred Vision’: A suspense-filled examination of the working of cults

The sto­ry ignites when vet­er­an Atlantic City Detec­tive Alex Wald­man answers an ear­ly-morn­ing homi­cide call and dis­cov­ers a Black teenag­er with a knife pro­trud­ing from his ribs. The grue­some scene instant­ly res­ur­rects psy­cho­log­i­cal ghosts and unre­solved PTSD Alex has spent twelve years try­ing to bury. [Amy Neustein]

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Amy Neustein, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

September 11: From darkness to light, a Jewish way

There is no single Jewish way to experience September 11. Some will pray. Some will attend a communal gathering. Some will read names or stories. Some will prefer quiet reflection. Some may find the anniversary difficult enough that they need to step away from the news and give themselves space. All of these can be legitimate ways of remembering. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]

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Antisemitism, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA