California

California Tested Hotline for Harassed Jewish Students Now in Massachusetts and New York

Carly Gammill, Director of Legal Policy at the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department, said: “The expansion of the initiative into Massachusetts and New York comes at a time when antisemitism continues to plague students in our nation’s schools and will help ensure broader access to legal resources for students seeking to address attacks against their Jewish identity.” [Press Release]

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

Gov. Newsom Signs Three Education Bills Sought by Jewish Public Affairs Committee

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Saturday, Sept. 28, that he was signing three of JPAC’s top priority bills into law. These new laws counter campus antisemitism and expand Holocaust and genocide education in K-12 education. This announcement comes just days ahead of the Governor’s September 30th deadline to sign or veto bills. [Press Release]

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

AMCHA Initiative: Faculty Chapters Spur Campus Antisemitism

A report released Thursday, Sept. 26, highlights the role Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP), a nationwide network of over 100 faculty chapters, plays in escalating antisemitic incidents, fomenting chaos and pushing forward the academic boycott [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, California, Israel, Middle East, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Academic Journal Takes Note of San Diego’s Comic-Con

Klickstein’s book tells of Comic-Con’s growth “from an informal gathering of ‘geeks’ into a centerpiece of San Diego’s bustling, gentrified, tourist-trapping downtown area,” Friedmann writes. He goes on to quote one of 50 interviewees quoted in Klickstein’s book, the late Trina Robbins, as explaining why San Diego is the Comic-Con venue. “San Diego’s a great city for a vacation. Much better for a vacation in mid-summer than New York.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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

SF Bay Area Flash Dancers Put on Pro-Israel Performance in San Diego

“One Tribe/ One Star” cofounders Isa Marcus and Laurence Mechali said they formed their dance group in April to show support for Israel which had been suffering the traumatizing after-effects of the Oct. 7 massacre for a half year. [Donald H. Harrison and Nevó Bowne Mathis-Masury]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nevó Bowne Mathis-Masury, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Coalition Calls on Gov. Newsom to Sign ‘Stop Hate Littering Act’

Elected officials and Jewish communal leaders on Monday, Sept. 9, asked San Diegans to write to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and urge him to sign Assembly Bill 3024, the Stop Hate Littering Act which had its genesis here in San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Holocaust, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Four Bills to Curb Antisemitism Await Governor Newsom’s Signature

The California Legislative Jewish Caucus announced on Friday that four bills from its 2024 Priority Bill Package have successfully passed the State Legislature. If signed by Governor Newsom, these bills will help protect Jewish students on campus, better educate young people about the Holocaust and modern forms of antisemitism, and address the concerning rise in hate crimes. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, California, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

Activities Resume Following Labor Day in Schools, Sports and Some Jewish Organizations

Monday was Labor Day and many celebrated by working as little as possible and celebrating the “unofficial end of summer.” Why is it called the “end of summer,” yet summer technically ends Sunday, September 22? [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, California, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Exhibition Captures Horror of Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival

An exhibit has opened that captures the horror and heartbreak of a day that will forever be etched in the memories of many. The Nova Exhibit, running until October 8, 2024, is a powerful and somber tribute to the Nova festival in Israel, where a day of celebration was shattered by an unspeakable act of violence. [Miriam Gershenson]

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California, Israel, Jewish History, Miriam Gershenson, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Preparing in Elul for Next Month’s High Holidays

September and the Jewish month of Elul are upon us. Traditionally, the month before the High Holy Days is supposed to be occupied with reflection about the last year and the anticipation of the New Year. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, California, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire

African Art, Jewish Folk Customs Enliven Intercultural Conversation

Two worlds apart but we speak the same language of art.  Olga Worm met artist Bongani Lincoln Khumalo of Cape Town, South Africa, at the Laguna Beach Art-A-Fair Summer Fine Art Festival. Subsequently he came to San Diego County to deliver a piece of art that Worm had purchased. We met at a restaurant in La Mesa. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, California, International, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors