Barrett Holman Leak

An Evening with Henry Winkler

As the lights dimmed and Winkler took the stage, the audience erupted in a standing ovation (he commented humorously, “The one night my wife is not here!”). With his characteristic charm and humor, he shared anecdotes from his Emerson College days, landing commercials in New York City, his journey in Hollywood, and from his breakout role on Happy Days to his recent successes in shows like Barry. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Jewish Celebrities, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

San Diego Teen Returns From Chetz v’Keshet Trip to Israel

I spoke with Hila Baruch, 15, who relocated to San Diego with her family from Israel when she was six. The Carmel Valley teen recently returned from her Chetz v’Keshet (CVK) experience this summer and shared that it was a life-changing, transformative experience. (Barrett Holman Leak)

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Barrett Holman Leak, Holocaust, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA, Videos

Former San Diegan Fashioned Simone Biles’ Goat Necklace

She founded and operates her own business, Janet Heller Fine Jewelry, specializing in custom pieces. She doesn’t consider herself and artisan but rather a person with the ability to transform vision into story through jewelry, with meticulous skill and precision. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Lynching of Sonya Massey’s Ancestor Stirred Jewish Community to Social Action and NAACP Formation

By Barrett Holman Leak SAN DIEGO — There is deep grief, shock and trauma right now over the fatal police shooting in Springfield, Illinois of 36-year-old Sonya Massey — in her own home, after calling police for help. The nation is traumatized and angry. Calls for justice abound. What people know is the details of

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: The Black Community and Its Zionist Heritage

His overall point was that the Black community in America, which descends from Africa, knows that: Zion is Jerusalem and that since ancient times Zion has been spoken of and written about; that African/Black Americans have always sung about Zion; and that Zion was culturally embedded in Black American culture centuries before the modern state of Israel. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Hard to Keep Your Feet Still During a Sharon Katz Concert

South African music is not subtle about the beat. It hits the beats and in rapid succession. You’ve got to dance. Sharon Katz on electric guitar, her very popular Cuban bassist Ignacio Arango, and her drummer hit all the notes and bounced to the next ones. It was funky,  joyous, and rhythmically bubbling through your body. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, International, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Found: Six Women of Valor at San Diego’s JFest

It was with great excitement that we packed into Garfield Theatre at Lawrence Family JCC (a performance this Sunday, June 23, will be at the Leichtag Commons in Encinitas) to be brought into the lives of six superlative women who have contributed greatly to our San Diego community. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria opened the program with a short inspiring introduction. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Music Review: The Queen is Afire!

Last week, I was both shouting and dancing to the most marvelous violin music. There is a saying that the greatest compliment a Jewish violinist can receive is to say “Your violin really spoke to me.” We must say that to violin maven Alicia Svigals, who is releasing a new CD after more than 20 years. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Rocking, Rolling and ‘Mothaland Bouncing’ at the JCC

Black manages to integrate Jewish theology, history and culture into his lyrics. The cadence and flow of his music is similar to Jay-Z and Ice-T. He even weaves in some humor. There is a definite gospel vibe. It was spiritually transforming, transporting us out of the tension we in the Jewish community have been living under for eight months. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

OpEd: Take the Time for Self-Care Amid the Antisemitic Hate

By Barrett Holman Leak SAN DIEGO — Jewish students at UCLA are physically blocked from attending classes by Palestinian activists. Jewish students at SDSU must be escorted to and from classes in the face of antisemitic chants and threats. Palestinian protesters on American campuses burn the American flag and hoist the Palestinian flag over U.S.

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Running for the Lives of the Hostages in Gaza

The goal of this global movement is to show world leaders that we all care about this. With every step we take, we would like for these leaders to help put pressure on Hamas to release the hostages. Wonderfully, locals, who are not Israeli or Jewish and have no connection to Israel are joining this movement because of their compassion for the hostages. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, International, Israel, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Beware Efforts to Divide Jews and African-Americans

Many in the world, and especially in the United States, are ignorant of the fact that Israel is one of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world, with only a 30% White/European population. Israel has a population that is 21% Arab. If you have been to Israel then you know that there are Ethiopian Jews, Sephardic, Mizrahi and more groups throughout Israel. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Times of San Diego, USA