USA

Little Known San Marcos Community Foundation has Funded $2 Million in Local Projects

While the foundation supports both Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, it is especially meaningful to those in the local Jewish community, as its operational and administrative processes are guided by the City of San Marcos, with funding managed through the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Miriam Gershenson, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Gov. Josh Shapiro: Everyone Has a Duty to Denounce Antisemitism

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, in a meeting in Philadelphia with Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, said “When it comes to antisemitism, it is incredibly important for everyone to understand that there is no nuance. Everyone in a position of public trust—and everyone in our communities—has a responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity and speak out against it.” [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Hillel International Honors Hillel of San Diego with Philip H. and Susan Rudd Cohen Outstanding Campus Award

In the past year, Hillel of San Diego has more than doubled the number of Jewish students participating in Jewish life across all four campuses: UC San Diego, San Diego State University, Cal State San Marcos, and University of San Diego. Hillel’s work tackling antisemitism on campus while continuing to foster Jewish pride and joy is a model across the entire Hillel movement. [Press Release]

Hillel International Honors Hillel of San Diego with Philip H. and Susan Rudd Cohen Outstanding Campus Award Read More »

California, Press Release, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

We Prepare for Chanukah

Boxes of Chanukah candles – check; chanukiyot cleaned and ready – check; oil, potatoes, sour cream, applesauce bought and ready – check. Phew, getting everything ready for the Eight Crazy Nights is a tough job, but someone has to do it, and in this house that someone is ME. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Videos

Many Jews Involved in Search for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP)

Many UAP organizations have formed since the December 2017 publication of a groundbreaking New York Times article exposing a UAP program at the Pentagon (co-authored by a Jewish journalist), and I have been fortunate to contribute to some of them. It has been surprising to meet so many fellow Jews who contribute to these same UAP organizations, sharing a passion for the topic as well as observance of the Jewish religion. Jews are indeed an “over-represented minority” in the UAP field. (Kerry Eskenas Schlossberg)

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Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Vows to Keep Fighting Antisemitism

President Joe Biden, at a White House pre-Chanukah party, said, “Next week you’ll light the eight candles on your menorahs. My final Chanukah message to you is this: As president, this is to hold onto that hope. Shine your light. Shine the light of optimism. And above all, keep the faith.” [SDJW staff]

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International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA

OpEd: Manger Display Unacceptably Portrays War in Gaza as a Religious One

How cute. We find Baby Jesus in a new environment: swaddled by a black-and-white keffiyeh, emblem of the Palestinian struggle. Not to rest in a manger but to lie amid a pile of rocks that symbolize the rocks left over from bombed-out buildings in Gaza. Thus, the label “Christ in the Rubble.” [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Trump Says Middle East Will Be in a Good Place; Lieberman, on Other Hand, says Israel May Be Headed for Civil War

U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump told a news conference Monday he had “a really good conversation” with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think we’re going to be in a good place in the Middle East,” he said. “I think the Middle East will be in a good place. I think actually more difficult is going to be the Russia-Ukraine situation.” [SDJW Staff Report]

Trump Says Middle East Will Be in a Good Place; Lieberman, on Other Hand, says Israel May Be Headed for Civil War Read More »

International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

Jews Have Pondered for Eons Whether to Assimilate or Maintain Distinct Jewish Identity

It was not easy to carry their own burdens, to be themselves. At the time of emancipation, some Jews put on other people’s togas and carried other people’s burdens of “purifying normality.” The temptation to fit in with the majority and join what was considered a civilized way of life was great. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Israel Weighs Beefing Up Defenses, Population in Golan Heights

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the government has appropriated millions of dollars to double the Jewish population of the Golan Heights, which was seized from Syria in the Six-Day War and which Israel subsequently annexed. [SDJW Staff]

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California, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

Cardin, in Farewell Senate Speech, Recalls His Campaign for Soviet Jews

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) delivered a farewell address in the U.S. Senate, in which he has served for 18 years, which included his current role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said tikkun olam and tzedakah collectively have been his North Star of public service. [SDJW staff]

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International, Israel, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Uncertainty over the Fates of Gaza and Syria

Seventy-seven Congressional Democrats, including nine Jewish members, wrote to Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, respectively Secretary of State and Defense Secretary, stating that “administrative action must be taken to ensure Israel upholds the assurances it provided in March 2024 to facilitate, and not directly or indirectly obstruct U.S. humanitarian assistance. We remain committed to a negotiated solution that can bring an end to the fighting, free the remaining hostages, surge humanitarian aid, and lay the groundwork to rebuild Gaza with a legitimate Palestinian governing body.”  [SDJW staff compilation]

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Business & Finance, International, Israel, Middle East, News Media, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA