. Always be mindful of those struggling at work or at synagogue and to practice patience. You never know a person’s struggle so just be kind. A smile really does go a long way. [Cailin Acosta]
Mental Health Illness Awareness Week is In Progress Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Back in the beginning of the summer I had the opportunity to attend a Jewish Italian culture night through San Diego JFest. Part of that event was a reading of an excerpt of Ali Viterbi’s play In Every Generation. In that reading, Marco Barricelli and his real-life wife Beatrice Basso read the parts of Davide and Paola in the scene that depicts them as post-World War II, newly-married immigrants to America, exploring their new freedom to publicly practice Judaism without fear of pogroms or Nazis. [Sandi Masori]
Although It Was Just a Reading, It Had Lage Emotional Impact Read More »
Jewish Fiction, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
For many readers, the takeaway from the 731 pages of text in Max Boot’s Reagan: His Life and Legend will be that President Ronald Reagan took direction from his subordinates, and depending on which ones he listened to, the results either were very good or disastrous. [Donald H. Harrison]
Poring Through a New Reagan Biography to Glean His Relationships with Jews Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The saying “one man’s (or in this case, woman’s) trash is another person’s treasure” takes on a whole different meaning. Local San Carlos artist, Roni Breite held an open house at her private residence on Sunday, Sept. 29 for friends and family to view her creations and purchase them if they so desired. Every room in the house, even the bathrooms, had items on display on the walls. [Cailin Acosta]
Treasures Can Be Found Everywhere if You Look for Them Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In the wake of the IDF’s incursion into Lebanon, accompanied by its advice to residents there to leave in order to avoid civilian casualties, the far-from-objective Sky News correspondent bewailed the exodus of the population there after having ignored the similar fate suffered by tens of thousands of Israelis in the north of Israel for the past year. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Britain’s Sky News’ Reporter’s Bias is Obvious in Wake of IDF’s Incursion into Lebanon Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Middle East, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
He examines the Torah text from Jewish and non-Jewish sources. He follows the rational view that Maimonides (1138-1204) taught in his introduction to his Guide of the Perplexed: that the truth is the truth no matter its source. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Themes of economic strife, marital disconnection, split allegiances and xenophobia were certainly prevalent in post-Korean-war America. But couldn’t the same be said of today? [Eva Trieger]
‘A View from the Bridge’ Deals with Immigrant and Marital Concerns Read More »
Eva Trieger, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
The City of Lodz, Poland, declared 2023 the Year of Chava Rosenfarb, with displays and readings highlighting the life of the well-known Yiddish writer. Meanwhile, Goldie was translating some of the short stories her mother had written after immigrating to Canada called In the Land of the Postscript, which I was able to review on July 6, 2023. [Donald H. Harrison]
Yiddish Translator Saluted with Canadian Jewish Literary Award Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The Toby Press 2024 English translation of Israel’s number one Hebrew bestseller, One Day in October, tells the stories of forty heroes who performed remarkable acts on that bloody Shabbat. The stories are dramatic and inspiring. The heroes usually tell them, but a surviving relative or friend narrates the tale if they were killed during their heroism. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Israeli Book Records October 7, 2023 Actions and Reactions Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Staff and Bylined Contributors
The two major party candidates for the vice presidency of the United States — Democrat Tim Walz and Republican J.D. Vance — met each other on a CBS stage for their first and thus far only scheduled debate. The first question from reporters Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell demanded to know if they would support Israel launching a preemptive strike on Iran. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Yael Ridberg, spiritual leader of Congregation Dor Hadash, the lone Reconstructionist congregation in San Diego County, has announced she will retire from the pulpit at the end of June 2025. [Cailin Acosta]
Rabbi Ridberg to Retire from Dor Hadash Pulpit Next June Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Seymour remembers the menorah but doesn’t remember the candles. He only knows that what he was supposed to bring started with the letter “C.” So, he stuffs his backpack with a cantaloupe. … carrots … cookies … cashews… cauliflower… and candy in the form of Hanukkah gelt. [Donald H. Harrison]
Squirrel and Chipmunk Decide to Celebrate Hanukkah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsPrejudice is defined as a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or experience. It is favoring or disliking something without good reason. It is irrational. It destroys people, both the person feeling and doing it and the person or group affected by it. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Prejudice Is More than We Think It Is Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAIn a telephone interview I caught up with Tonya Mantooth, CEO/Artistic Director of this nonprofit festival. This curious empath has a passion for films that encourage social consciousness and provocative issues that impact all people. To this end, the committee received 3200 film entries from 83 countries. Mark your calendars now for October 16-20th. [Eva Trieger]
A Preview of the San Diego International Film Festival Read More »
Eva Trieger, International, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast