Jacob Kamaras

Jacob Kamaras

La Jolla, California, based public relations executive Jacob Kamaras is a former editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).  He is an active member at Adat Yeshurun Synagogue.

Latke Defeats Hamantash in Rematch Debate in La Jolla

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — In a rematch of our legendary (in relative terms) Chanukah 2021 debate, in which I defeated Rabbi Eric Ertel of the San Diego Jewish Experience (SAJE) but sustained a fractured heel in the process, Rabbi Ertel and I duked it out once again on Wednesday night at the […]

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Speaking in San Diego, Former US Envoy Remains an ‘Optimist’ on Grim Subject of Antisemitism

By Jacob Kamaras SAN DIEGO — Rising antisemitism is a natural concern in the Jewish community for a variety of reasons, many of which Elan S. Carr outlined on Monday at Jewish National Fund-USA’s Legacy Luncheon. Yet Carr, who has worked on countering Jew-hatred worldwide from the upper echelon of government, somehow remains an optimist

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California, International, Israel, Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, USA

Composer Behind Songs in ‘Wild Kratts,’ ‘PJ Masks,’ and Other Iconic Children’s TV Shows Brings New Musical to San Diego

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — The co-creator of the songs for some of the most popular children’s shows on television is bringing a new musical to San Diego. Actually, it’s a musical about putting on a musical. Ensemble: The Musical — which will be performed live for the first time at the Tenth

Composer Behind Songs in ‘Wild Kratts,’ ‘PJ Masks,’ and Other Iconic Children’s TV Shows Brings New Musical to San Diego Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Young Entrepreneur Joey Aron Brings LA’s Bustling Kosher Food Scene to San Diego

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Kosher-observant San Diegans are perpetually starved for kosher restaurants. Joey Aron decided to bring the restaurants to them. La Jolla native Aron, 24, who graduated from Yeshiva University’s (YU) Sy Syms School of Business and is now working at Citibank in New York, launched and now operates a

Young Entrepreneur Joey Aron Brings LA’s Bustling Kosher Food Scene to San Diego Read More »

Business & Finance, California, Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County

Confronting Antisemitism, Celebrating Survival: International Holocaust Remembrance Day at UCSD

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Coming on the heels of a major milestone for the school’s Jewish community as well as amid the rising tide of antisemitism on campus and nationwide, International Holocaust Remembrance Day was even more poignant than usual at UCSD this year. Marking the first large-scale event at the Beverly

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Holocaust, Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Sesame Place San Diego Makes Chanukah the Centerpiece of a Day at the Theme Park

By Jacob Kamaras CHULA VISTA, California — How does it feel to be included? Southern California’s Jewish community experienced precisely that feeling December 19 on the first day of Chanukah at Sesame Place San Diego, which hosted a Chanukah celebration that featured a menorah candle lighting ceremony, a dance party with Chanukah music, dreidel playing

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

How Do You Spell Chanukah? (Hanukkah?)

By Jacob Kamaras After using “Hanukkah” so far this holiday season—as I’ve used throughout my journalistic career, in line with AP style—on Monday I was informed by our founder and editor emeritus, Don Harrison, that we’ve used “Chanukah” over the years.” San Diego Jewish World will now be switching back to Chanukah. But remember, ultimately,

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Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion

Visiting Israelis Witness ‘Integrated’ Educational Experience at San Diego Jewish Academy

By Jacob Kamaras SAN DIEGO — Israeli representatives from the Sha’ar HaNegev region got a firsthand look at the American Jewish day school landscape last Wednesday as part of their six-day visit to San Diego. During a tour of the San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA), Sha’ar HaNegev delegation member Tzachi Levy said he was struck

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Israel, Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Gold Finch Deli Strikes Artful Balance Between Tradition and Modernity

By Jacob Kamaras SAN DIEGO — San Diegans in search of a unique blend of tradition, modernity, and creativity can find it at Gold Finch, the recently opened quick-service delicatessen and full-service restaurant in Torrey Pines. The menu is a nod to the childhood memories of owner Tracy Borkum, who grew up in London’s Jewish

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Jacob Kamaras, Travel and Food

Abraham Accords-Focused NGO Plans to Combat Jew-Hatred with Holocaust Education

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California (JNS) — On Oct. 27, the fourth anniversary of the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, hatred of Jews was a palpably inescapable reality in America—from the Kanye West scandal, to a series of antisemitic incidents in Los Angeles, to the discourse

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California, Holocaust, Israel, Jacob Kamaras, Middle East, San Diego County

International Diplomat Looks Forward to Celebrating Diversity as ADL’s New Regional Director in San Diego

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Fabienne Perlov, who on Monday assumes the position of regional director at the Anti-Defamation League’s San Diego office, brings an approach shaped by diplomacy and diversity to a high-profile organization known locally and nationally for combating antisemitism and all forms of hate. In her first media interview pertaining

International Diplomat Looks Forward to Celebrating Diversity as ADL’s New Regional Director in San Diego Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County

Congregation Adat Yeshurun Grows Through Spiritual Connection, ‘Cohesive Diversity’

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — Amid a return to relative normalcy following two-and-a-half years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congregation Adat Yeshurun of La Jolla is growing its community through what Rabbi Daniel Reich calls the “three Fs” — family, friends, and faith. “People are not feeling connected on a spiritual level and to

Congregation Adat Yeshurun Grows Through Spiritual Connection, ‘Cohesive Diversity’ Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

The Dollar Heard ’Round the World Has Finally Changed Hands

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — First, there was the Revolutionary War’s “shot heard ’round the world” in 1775. Then, there was Bobby Thomson’s shot heard ’round the world to win the 1951 National League pennant for the New York Giants. But for San Diego Jewish World this past year, the focus has been

The Dollar Heard ’Round the World Has Finally Changed Hands Read More »

Jacob Kamaras, Opinion, San Diego County

San Diego Finds Itself at the Center of the Jewish Community Center Universe

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — It’s relatively rare for the top lay leader of a Jewish organization with national or continental reach to be based on the West Coast, let alone in San Diego. That makes the leadership trajectory at the JCC Association of North America all the more unique. In late May,

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Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, USA