By Abby J. Leibman LOS ANGELES — For Jews across America, Chanukah offers an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to our highest Jewish ideals. Amid eight days of joyous celebration, shared meals of latkes and sufganiyot, and gift exchanges, the miracle of the Maccabees — a group of Jews lacking resources to survive who prospered against […]
During Chanukah, Shining a Light on Hunger Read More »
California, Opinion, USA
So, about two months ago, Rabbi Labkowski and his wife Tzipora opened Bay Kosher in the front part of the building that also houses their shul, Chabad of Lamorinda. He engaged Mendel Schiffer, a native of Akko, Israel, to manage the store for him. Schiffer, who didn’t care for retirement, had been in sales most of his life, and yearned for something new to do. [Donald H. Harrison]
Chabad Opens Kosher Market in Lafayette Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
Published by The Mercury News New attention shined on a decades old program at Stanford University this week, when a political writer raised questions about an internship named for a long-dead industrialist who used slave labor to support the Nazi regime and was convicted of war crimes. The Krupp Internship Program at Stanford University allows
Stanford Fields New Questions About Internship Program Named for Nazi War Criminal Read More »
California
My friend Susan Ferraro, who lives in a rural part of Northern California. tells me that since about the age of 7, she had fantasized about becoming a Jew. It started, she said, when she read Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. As children often do, she imagined herself invulnerable; death being something that unfortunately happened to other people. If she had been born Jewish, and living at that time, she could have prevented those Nazis from hurting Anne and her family and those hidden with them in the secret annex. [Donald H. Harrison]
Postwar Encounters with the Holocaust Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
(JNS) The Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Education (OCR) has launched a formal investigation into UC Berkeley Law School over a controversial anti-Zionist bylaw adopted by some of its student groups in August. The investigation comes in response to a Nov. 18 complaint filed by Gabriel Groisman, a Florida-based attorney and
Office of Civil Rights Opens Investigation Into UC Berkeley Law for Anti-Zionism Read More »
California, Israel, USA
I am what some people call a “compulsive reader.” If it is printed, and in front of me, I will read it. Flyers. Cereal boxes. Newspapers. Blogs. And most of all, books, books, and more books. [Donald H. Harrison]
Observing, Reading, and Kvelling Over Grandchildren Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison
(JNS) StandWithUs (SWU) welcomed more than 600 Israel supporters of all ages, faiths and political persuasions to its annual “Festival of Lights” gala held on Dec. 4 in Los Angeles. Celebrating the 21st year anniversary, this year’s theme for the non-profit, non-partisan organization was “Standing Together Against Antisemitism.” The gala featured world renowned speakers and
StandWithUs ‘Festival of Lights’ Gala 2022: ‘Standing Together Against Antisemitism’ Read More »
California, Israel, USA
Two major factors in the growth of antisemitism are the weaponization of technology and the emboldening of extremists, Seth Brysk, the ADL Central Pacific Regional Director serving Northern California, Utah, and Hawai’i, told a Temple Isaiah audience on Wednesday evening, Dec.7. [Donald H. Harrison]
Antisemitism Awareness, Protests Spreads Coast-to-Coast Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
SAN FRANCISCO (Press Release) – The Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties (JCRC Bay Area) today announced the first-ever Survey of Bay Area Jewish Identity. Conducted by EMC Research, a well-respected national public opinion firm with Bay Area roots, the survey included 828 total completed
JCRC Releases Survey of Bay Area Jewish Identity Read More »
California
San Francisco State historian Marc Dollinger said only one Jewish group – the Reform rabbis of San Francisco – publicly objected to the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The rest of the organized Jewish community acquiesced to the imprisonment of these innocent American citizens, Dollinger said during the 18th annual Mimi Epstein Memorial Lecture at Temple Isaiah on Sunday, Dec. 4, here. [Donald H. Harrison]
San Francisco Rabbis Protested WWII Japanese-American Incarceration Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Karmel Melamed (JNS) With the red carpet rolled out and Moroccan music filling the Em Habanim synagogue in Los Angeles last week, more than 400 of the city’s Moroccan and Sephardic Jews gathered to honor Moroccan Muslim anthropologist Aomar Boum for his two decades of promoting Moroccan Jewish history and encouraging warm relations between
Los Angeles Jews Honor Muslim Scholar of Moroccan Jewry Read More »
California, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
ROCKVILLE, Maryland (Press Release) — Katie Roth of Los Angeles was selected as one of the dozens of Jewish women from around the world to share their story on Yomm, a website and complimentary app launched by the Momentum organization. Last week, Momentum, a global movement for Jewish mothers, launched its first mobile app and
Southern California Mother Featured in First App Exclusively Tailored for Jewish Women Read More »
California, Israel, Jewish Religion, USA
SAJAC President Pamela Nathan said the exhibit was created by the South African Jewish Museum which is located in the Museum Mile of Central Cape Town. She said she hopes that American-born visitors to the exhibit “will get a slice of South African Jewish life.” For members of San Diego’s sizeable South African Jewish community, “it is nostalgic because we grew up in it, but I am hoping that the children will be here because it is their heritage, their history. When I make calls, I say ‘bring the kids, bring the kids.’” [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Goldene Medina’ Exhibit Provides Anecdotal History of South African Jewry Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
Rachel’s name was extracted from the records of USC’s Student Health Service. An official letter informed her that a lawsuit had been brought successfully against Tyndall, and that she was entitled to damages depending on the extent of her injuries. She was required to fill out an explicit questionnaire. One question at the end of the questionnaire brought back another suppressed memory: “Have you had any experience prior to your visit(s) with Dr. Tyndall that you felt constituted inappropriate sexual behavior or abuse? If so, please describe.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Memoir Tells of Sexual Abuse, Mental Trauma Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, Science, Medicine, & Education