American Friends of Tel Aviv University holds first gathering in San Diego County

American Friends of Tel Aviv University held its first San Diego gathering at Monarch Ocean Bar in Del Mar, bringing together TAU alumni for what organizers hope will become a regular local community gathering. [Shor M. Masori]

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Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Jewish biography: Isaac Babel, a Soviet Jewish writer who mythologized the condition of his people

For a Jewish writer, mythologization becomes a defense mechanism against a hostile reality. It helps him overcome the tragedy of reality. (Alex Gordon)

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

‘Phantom’ production is spooky and memorable

At Broadway San Diego/the San Diego Civic Theatre, the chandelier was irate. It swung violently over the stage, spitting sparks as though it might break loose and land among the actors. The audience roared throughout the evening, especially after the opera performances. (Shor M. Masori)

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San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Looking beyond the favorite High Holiday traditions

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, a recent High Holiday  “Torah and Tea” class taught by Rebbetzin Chaya Andrusier at Chabad of East County, encouraged participants to look beyond the familiar traditions of the holiday and consider deeper questions of purpose, identity and connection to Hashem. (Cailin Acosta)

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

‘Three’ was the theme at Summerfest’s final concert of the season

Composer Ludwig, grandson of the great Bohemian-born Jewish pianist, Rudolf Serkin, and nephew of American pianist, Peter Serkin, has received commissions from the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra and soloists such as pianist Jeremy Denk and violinist, Jennifer Koh. (Eileen Wingard}

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

Today’s Jewish birthday: Billy Rose

Billy Rose (September 6, 1899 – February 10, 1966) was an American impresario, theatrical showman, lyricist and columnist. For years both before and after World War II, Billy Rose was a major force in entertainment, with shows such as Billy Rose’s Crazy Quilt (1931), Jumbo (1935), Billy Rose’s Aquacade (1937), and Carmen Jones (1943). [Wikipedia]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Private memoir describes an interesting Jewish life

He now lives with his wife Judy in Austin, Texas, but he spent a number of years in San Diego and Escondido, where I got to know him.  Because he is a native Hebrew speaker, he was often drafted by Ner Tamid Synagogue in Poway to be its Torah reader, and eventually the Conservative congregation’s president. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Antisemitism disguised as anti-Zionism by Democratic Socialists of America

The San Diego chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America requires those seeking its endorsement to refrain from any affiliation with what it calls “Zionist lobby groups,” a prohibition that encompasses liberal organizations that criticize Israeli policy and support Palestinian statehood. When the label attaches regardless of what a group advocates, “Zionist” has stopped describing a political position and become shorthand for “Jew.” (Jason Nevarez, Heidi Gantwerk, Sara E. Brown)

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Antisemitism, California, Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Jewish History, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Sept. 11 anniversary coincides with Erev Rosh Hashanah

The 9/11 story is the account of four coordinated terrorist hijackings by 19 al Qaeda militants on September 11, 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people and targeted the two buildings of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a fourth site thwarted by passengers. (Cailin Acosta)

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Preserving minority viewpoint assures Judaism doesn’t split into two or more religions

They ask whether teshuvah will be received. The Midrash answers with men no committee would print on a brochure. Cain speaks and half a decree is lifted. Ahab tears his clothes and a sentence is stayed. Manasseh fills the Temple with a four-faced idol; the angels shut the windows. Yet God bores a hole under the Throne, and through that passage Manasseh’s prayer is received, and he repents. (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel)

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish birthday: Drew Pinsky

Drew Pinsky (September 4, 1958), commonly known as Dr. Drew, is an American media personality, internist, and addiction medicine specialist. He hosted the nationally syndicated radio talk show Loveline from the show’s inception in 1984 until its end in 2016. On television, he hosted the talk show Dr. Drew On Call on HLN and the daytime series Lifechangers on The CW. [Wikipedia]

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

Conservative presentations outnumber moderate-to-liberal ones at Jewish American Summit

The program covered international geopolitics, local elections, anti-Zionism and antisemitism, Jewish religious practice and the changing face of Israel advocacy. The day also included appearances by former Arkansas governor and current U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, author and evolutionary behavioral scientist Gad Saad, and Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a Hamas co-founder who became an Israeli intelligence informant and outspoken critic of Islam. [Karen Klein]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA