By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — It is considered a mitzvah to place a menorah in a home’s window to publicize the miracle of the oil burning for 8 days. In the wake of the October 7th massacres and kidnappings, Jewish organizations advocate doing this to indicate support for Israel. Given the current polarization over […]
Satire: My December Dilemma Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Mark D. Zimmerman Norman Lear died last week at the age of 101. Lear was a writer and producer who created dozens of television sitcoms, including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time, among others. He received numerous awards for his work, including 6 Emmys,
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Norman Lear, Z”L Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — In the months before October 7, Israel was severely wracked by huge protests against changes in the judicial system. Disunity among Israelis was so rampant that a large contingent of Israelis were defiantly opposed to the government to the extent that, for example, many Air Force reserve fighter
Israel’s Current Objectives in Gaza Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer
By Ken Stone Times of San Diego SAN DIEGO — Barry Soper was beaming. The author and homeless advocate who spearheaded efforts to replace a vandalized menorah at the San Diego State University Chabad House was seeing it lit Thursday on the first night of Hanukkah. He and several hundred others cheered amid tragic times for Jews
Festival of Light and Steel: 20-Foot SDSU Menorah Shines on 1st Night of Hanukkah Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
Shabbat Vayeishev 5784 By Rabbi Daniel Reich LA JOLLA, California — Yosef, a handsome 17-year-old, cherished as the beloved son of the great Yaakov Avinu, was a young man dedicated to learning and growing closer to Hashem. However, his life took a challenging turn when his brothers turned against him, casting him into a pit,
Yosef’s Moral Compass: Navigating Challenges With Integrity Read More »
Daniel Reich-Rabbi, Jewish Religion
The Matzo Chronicles By Karen Galatz RENO, Nevada — I was in New York recently to see a jolly round of nine shows. A surprise favorite was the musical, Harmony, about the Comedian Harmonists, an internationally famous German singing group that was forced to disband because of antisemitism amid the rise of fascism before World
Harmony in Unharmonious Times Read More »
Holocaust, International, Karen Galatz, Opinion, USA
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Oct. 25, President Biden voiced doubt about the death toll of Gaza inhabitants in light of Hamas’ record of lies and brutality. Oct. 26, Biden reportedly apologized to five Muslim leaders for questioning Hamas’ casualty figures, even lowering himself to admit he was “disappointed in myself.” His Oct. 26
Gaza and the Vulnerable President Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A basic aspect of life in Israel is the requirement that every adult, whether male or female, must serve in the IDF for a few years upon reaching the age of 18. While serving in the military, soldiers are trained in one of the many areas in which
Family in Reserves Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Opinion
By Dana Ben Kaplan SANTEE, California — This past September, I was contacted by the Emergency Volunteers Project (EVP) and asked if I would be available for another Israel firefighter training deployment, scheduled for October. I had been participating in these firefighter events in Israel for several years now (after retiring from the Santee Fire
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — What an incredible week we’ve got coming up! With the joyous celebrations of Chanukah and the always-awaited Shabbat, it’s a whirlwind of excitement. Amidst the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and the festive happenings, it’s easy to feel like we’re constantly on the move. But
Parashat Vayeishev: Pushing the Pause Button Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
By Mark D. Zimmerman Henry Kissinger died last week at the age of 100. Born in 1923 in Germany, Kissinger and his family fled the country in 1938 to escape increasing antisemitism, including beatings he suffered by Hitler Youth gang members. He went to college in New York, studying accounting, until he was drafted into
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Henry Kissinger, Z”L Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
NEW YORK (Press Release) — JewBelong, a national nonprofit organization that fights antisemitism and makes Judaism accessible, last week put up three new billboards in San Diego reading, “Let’s be clear. Hamas is your problem too.” The new slogan is in response to the antisemitism sparked by the Israel-Hamas war, which led to a 400%
New Billboards in San Diego Bring Attention to Dangers of Hamas Read More »
Israel, San Diego County
By Stephen M. Flatow (JNS) I opened a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, and there’s a fellow in uniform with red beret and camo uniform screaming into a microphone. My Arabic being non-existent, I was glad for the simultaneous translation identifying the screamer as one Gen. Yahya Saree, the spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi
Who Are the Houthis and Why Are They Messing With Israel? Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Opinion, USA
DENVER (Press Release) — Demonstrations outside Jewish National Fund-USA’s Global Conference for Israel November-December 3 appeared to feature supporters of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization in America, displaying placards of photos of the terror organization’s attacks on Israeli civilians accompanied by the text “Resistance by any means possible.” Protesters also defaced public property and etched
Enough is Enough, Say Students Leaders and Israel Advocates Read More »
Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA