A former San Diego summer camper was among the first three hostages released by Hamas after being held for more than a year. British-Israeli citizen Emily Damari, 28, was released Jan. 19 and returned home Tuesday … (Kira Caspers, Times of San Diego)
Former Hostage Emily Damari Once Was a Mountain Chai Camper Read More »
California, Israel, San Diego County, Times of San Diego, USA
Trump’s November 2024 victory is seen as a game changer for Israel, nullifying much of the Biden agenda and installing a much needed, friendly American ally to back up Israel. But not all signs indicate that outcome. On the plus side are very Zionist appointees: Marco Rubio, Secretary of State; Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense; Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor; Elise Stefanik, US Ambassador to the UN; Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel; and many others. [Steve Kramer]
After 477 days of agony in Gaza, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, and Karina Ariev were returned on Saturday to Israeli soil and to the loving arms of their family and friends. [Julie Rayman, American Jewish Committee]
Welcome Home, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa & Karina Ariev! Read More »
Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin PIKESVILLE, Maryland — I have been reading and reviewing the inspiring, fascinating books by the brilliant writer Rabbi Dr. Charles H. Freundlich for over ten years and have enjoyed them all. Sol’s Journey, his eleventh fiction book since he started writing them at age eighty, is no exception. It is
‘Sol’s Journey’ Contains Good Advice for American Jews Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, was supposed to be routine. After our daily Minyan at Chabad RB, I buckled my son into his car seat and headed out for the familiar drive to school. The morning commute usually offered a few quiet minutes to myself, but that morning, something broke the peaceful routine. As I crested a hill, I saw it. A massive pillar of smoke rose in the distance, dark and thick against the clear blue sky. My stomach dropped. This wasn’t a barbecue gone wrong or a brush fire far from home. It was close—too close. [Rabbi Hershy Weinstein]
Threatened by Fire, Neighbors and Strangers Pull Together Read More »
Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Although Vice President J.D. Vance recently assured an interviewer that Trump would decide to pardon the 1/6 rioters on a case-to-case basis, Trump pardoned all of them, even those convicted of assaulting Capitol police. The Pride Boys and Oath Keepers immediately disbanded and reconstituted themselves as the Stormtroopers under
Satire: Trump’s First Three Days Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
During her Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Jan 21, to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) affirmed her belief in Israel’s biblical right to Judea and Samaria, sparking heated exchanges with Senate Democrats. Stefanik vowed to use her position to combat antisemitism within the U.N. and defend Israel’s sovereignty on the global stage. [Israfan]
Stefanik Asserts Israel Has Biblical Right to Judea and Samaria Read More »
Antisemitism, International, Israel, USA
The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) on Thursday, Jan. 23, released the first-ever, eight-country Index on Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness, exposing a global trend in fading knowledge of basic facts about the Holocaust. The countries surveyed include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Hungary and Romania. [Press Release]
Claims Conference Reports Growing Gaps in Holocaust Knowledge in 8 Countries Read More »
International, Jewish History, Press Release, USA
Weiss administered emergency care, providing oxygen and medication, and instructed the crew to divert the flight for an emergency landing in Athens so the patient could be transferred to a local hospital for further treatment and monitoring. [Press Release]
Hadassah Medical Center CEO Saves Passenger on Flight from Israel to U.S. Read More »
Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
Voice of the People, a global initiative tackling key challenges facing the Jewish people spearheaded by President Isaac Herzog, announced on Thursday, Jan. 23, the formation of its inaugural 150-member global Jewish council. This diverse and dynamic cohort will lead a two-year mission to address the most pressing challenges facing the global Jewish community. [Press Release]
Israel’s President Herzog Names 150 Jews to Address Global Jewish Challenges Read More »
Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, USA
After the celebration of Donald Trump’s victory, Musk expressed gratitude with the statement, “This one matters, thank you, I give you my heart,” followed by a gesture perceived by some as resembling a Nazi salute. This incident quickly overshadowed his remarks about his ambitions for space exploration with SpaceX and Tesla. Musk’s actions sparked intense debate across political lines, particularly among left-wing commentators. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
OpEd: Elon Musk is a Friend of the Jews and Not a Nazi Read More »
Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
This novel is a collection of sequential short stories about the Toplansky family, whose patriarch Shlomo immigrated in 1920 from Bialystok, Poland, to Louisville, Kentucky. He changed his first name to Sol and eked a living from his tailoring shop supplemented by singing and gambling. He served as the chazzan at the Orthodox synagogue. [Donald H. Harrison]
Novel Explores an Immigrant Jewish Family’s Life in Louisville Before World War II Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Donald Trump pledged to be a “dictator on day one,” and, for once, he’s making good on his promise. He is consolidating power, creating loyalty tests and enacting political retribution, rewarding convicted insurrectionists, co-opting the media and tech oligarchs, preparing for mass deportations and detentions, denying birthright citizenship enshrined in the Constitution, withdrawing from international agreements, and aligning with dangerous criminals and violent extremists. [Halie Sofer]
OpEd: Trump Acting Like a Dictator Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Distinguished Professor Thomas E. Levy’s 40-year-plus career has been shaped by what he calls archaeo-diplomacy: using archaeology as a tool to build bridges between international research teams, foster connection and cooperation and safeguard cultural heritage and history. A prime example? The new Jacobs UC San Diego – University of Haifa Marine and Cyber-Archaeology Project. [Phoebe Skok]