California

Oscar Predictions 2025

This year making Oscar predictions is difficult for several reasons.  Oscar prognosticators originally thought that Emilia Perez was the frontrunner in many of the 13 categories for which it was nominated.  Then past Islamophobic and racist social media posts by it its transgender lead Karla Sofía Gascón surfaced undermining its Oscar chances. [Laurie Baron]

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California, International, Israel, Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Antisemitic Ethnic Studies Classes to Cease in Santa Ana Unified School District

Major Jewish organizations on Thursday, Feb. 20, announced that the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against the school district for introducing ethnic studies courses that were developed in secret and infected with antisemitism. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, California, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education

Holocaust Education Fund Proposed by State Senator Stern

This critical legislation will establish the Holocaust and Genocide Education Grant Program to provide direct allocations to districts to help them establish relevant courses and professional development opportunities around Holocaust and Genocide Education (HGE). [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish Biography: Arnold Schoenberg, Composer and Latter-Day Jew

After the Nazis came to power, Schoenberg emigrated to the United States. On his way there, in 1933, he underwent a rite of conversion to Judaism in a synagogue in Paris. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Caucus in State Capitol Expresses Solidarity with Refugees and Immigrants

“The experience of the Jewish Community, particularly within the United States and California, is rooted in the immigrant story. Many of our families came here as immigrants and refugees fleeing persecution and in search of a better life. We see our stories reflected in the immigrants and refugees of today and we are proud to stand in solidarity with them as they are targeted in this moment of deep vulnerability…”

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California, International, Jewish History, Press Release, USA

Hillel at UC San Diego Takes Pro-Active Steps to Counter Antisemitism

One week after the annual hate-filled apartheid week organized by various student organizations at UC San Diego, pro-Israel students will get to counter-program with “joy” by sponsoring Israel week.  The on-campus celebration will open this May’s observance of Jewish Heritage Month. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Drama Concerns Family Members’ Reactions to a Memoir Spilling Their Secrets

Other Desert Cities at Cygnet theater is the story of  family members grappling with secrets from their past. Writer Brooke Wyeth (Melanie Lora) comes home to Palm Springs after finishing her second book.  Only this time her book isn’t a novel, it’s a memoir and it’s focused on the hardest time in her family’s history, when her brother committed suicide after being implicated in an anti-war protest turned deadly.  [Sandi Masori]

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California, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Internee Number 6’ Relates Story of Her Confinement in Fascist Italy for Being a Jew

The Villa Sorge was a private residence into which 75 women were crowded, speaking a variety of languages, and not all of them Jews. A topic of speculation was who was a spy among their fellow internees, who might be providing sexual favors to their captors in return for preferences, how bad the food was, and how a Jewish internee like herself could reach an understanding with another internee who was a self-described Nazi. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Taking in the Movies at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival

The San Diego International Jewish Film Festival is being held at the Lawrence Family JCC. I love going to the movies but since having twins, those typical date nights with my husband are not very common anymore. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, California, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA