SCOTUS agrees to hear case of a city barring a minyan in a private home

Grand, who lives with his family a distance from the nearest Orthodox synagogue, sought to gather a minyan, a group of ten Jewish adults required for key prayers, at his home on Shabbat and holy days when Jewish law prohibits driving. Before Grand held even a single prayer gathering, a neighbor complained to the city’s mayor and asked him to “put a stop to this.” [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Press Release

Miliband’s actions belie his self-description as a ‘proud Jew’

Ed Miliband has just introduced legislation banning imports from the “settlements”, which are Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria (aka West Bank). What he and other Labour Party members do not recognize is that what they call the “West Bank” is a term which was coined in 1950 by the Hashemite rulers of Jordan. Archaeological remains and Biblical documents prove that the Israelites go back at least to King David’s era (circa 1,000 BCE) in the area known as Judah (then later, Judea) as well as in areas of the Golan Heights and southern Lebanon. [Steve Kramer]

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

Two-year residency at Central Library begins for Holocaust exhibit

Remember Us The Holocaust (RUTH) is entering an exciting new chapter with a new exhibit slated to open on September 29 at the San Diego Central Library downtown, new leadership and a renewed commitment to establishing a permanent Holocaust museum in San Diego. (Press Release)

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Press Release, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller

Cygnet’s ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is the Olympics of awkwardness… but in a good way. 

Who doesn’t remember those awkward high school years? Thinking that you’re the only lonely kid in the school while everyone else is feeling just as awkward and lonely. Dear Evan Hansen currently playing at Cygnet takes those feelings and multiplies them by 1000. [Sandi Masori]

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jewish biography: Joseph Roth, novelist

The novel The Radetzky March, written in 1932, is a text of astonishing beauty and inner coherence, permeated by a sense of sadness, disintegration, and loss. The novel’s title refers to Johann Strauss’s famous march The Radetzky March, composed in 1848. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D.]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Wonderful feelings of togetherness and learning at JCC

We shared moments of joy and celebration. We learned together, moved together, laughed together, and showed up for one another. We gathered around Jewish culture, ideas, music, stories, holidays, and traditions. We watched children grow, friendships deepen, families connect, and people of every age find a place to belong. [Liz Nederlander Coden and Hannah Cohen]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

High Holiday wisdom in poetry and prose

Rav Nahman of Breslov taught: The whole world is a narrow bridge— and the essential thing is not to be afraid. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

It’s a custom to refrain from napping on Rosh Hashanah

Should you take a nap on Rosh Hashanah? It is a praiseworthy custom not to sleep during the day on Rosh Hashanah, as the day is considered the “New Year” and a time for spiritual preparation. The Talmud notes that if one sleeps at the beginning of the year, “his good fortune also sleeps.” [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

JNF-USA and Chabad Hebrew Academy team to honor first responders

During the ceremony, representatives from the two organizations presented the first responders and members of the United States Navy with a certificate featuring Jewish National Fund-USA and KKL-JNF’s 9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem — the only memorial of its kind outside the United States that lists the names of all those who perished on that infamous day. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Lifestyles, Press Release, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA