Byliners

PowPac Tackles Thorny Family Dynamics

PowPAC’s production brilliantly captures the perplexing and frustrating disconnect between father and son. Gene (Steve Murdock), a young widower, attempts to carve a new path in his life, but heeds the tug of caring for his aging parents. He is quite close to his loving mother, Margaret (Linda Englund), and is attentive and patient with his cantankerous, self-centered father, Tom (Jim Clevenger). [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Israeli Choreographer Develops New Rhythmic Dances

The driving force behind DrumatiX is founder, artistic director, and choreographer Noa Barankin, a native of Tel Aviv who has dedicated her life to the art of rhythm and movement. Barankin began tap dancing at 12 and transitioned to professional performances in her 20s. Her journey took her from Israel to Boston and ultimately to San Diego, where she established herself as a prominent figure in the rhythmic arts. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Israel, Miriam Gershenson, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

San Diego Congregations Helping Southern California Fire Victims

It has been devastating to turn on the news or check social media to see the homes lost and evacuations of homeowners and animals due to the wildfires in Los Angeles.  San Diego congregations are aiding some of the victims. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, California, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

OpEd: Israeli ‘Settlements’ Convenient Targets for Arab Extremists

Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders might have prevented Monday’s tragedy – as well as many similar tragedies over the years – had they barred the construction of communities (a.k.a. settlements) in Israel’s territories in Gaza and the West Bank. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Parsha Vayechi: Transforming Suffering into Divine Purpose 

While the events of our lives are commonly beyond our control, the way we interpret them—and how we choose to react to them—are abilities within our own mind. This teaching echoes through the story of Joseph, who reinterprets the betrayal of his brothers as part of Hashem’s divine plan, and through Jacob, who blesses his children with wisdom. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Novel Depicts a Man’s Metamorphosis from a Hare to a Tortoise

The title of this book, referencing “tortoise” and “hair,” immediately brings to mind Aesop’s Fable about the race between the tortoise and the hare in which the slow and steady tortoise defeats the brilliantly fast but overly distracted hare. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors

How a Neighborhood Rallied to Save a Library’s Collection Unavoidably Soaked by Firefighters

In 1966, a fire that started on a top floor of the 10-story Jewish Theological Seminary building in New York City destroyed 70,000 books and other written items.  Many were extra copies of the books stored below; others were irreplaceable items such as the Torah scrolls sent for safekeeping from Danzig during the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Seeing What Author Tom Lamont Imagines in ‘Going Home’

The plot of this delightfully written, dreamlike narrative revolves around Joel, a preschooler whose mother Lea committed suicide after asking Teo, a male friend who admired her from afar, to look after him.  The life of Teo’s elderly father, Vic, apparently is resuscitated after Joel enters their lives. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Presidential Medal of Freedom

Ralph ‍Lauren ‍is ‍a ‍fashion ‍designer, ‍businessman, ‍and ‍philanthropist ‍who ‍is ‍particularly ‍known ‍for ‍his ‍Polo ‍line ‍of ‍menswear ‍and ‍women’s ‍fashions. ‍His ‍philanthropic ‍support ‍has ‍largely ‍focused ‍on ‍cancer ‍research, ‍education, ‍and ‍support. ‍Which ‍of ‍the ‍following ‍is ‍a ‍Jewish ‍fact ‍about ‍Ralph ‍Lauren? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA