Jewish History

Jewish Biography: Herbert Marcuse, Anti-Western Revolutionary

Marcuse was born into an assimilated Jewish family. After the Nazis came to power in Germany, he emigrated to Switzerland and then to the United States. From 1940-50 he worked for the Office of Strategic Services and the State Department. Since 1950, Marcuse devoted himself fully to academic teaching as a professor at Columbia, Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of California-San Diego. [Alex Gordon]

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

Diverse days in Israel

How were Jews supposed to celebrate Simhat Torah (simcha means joyous) on the anniversary of the massacre? At our synagogue, ordinarily we would go outside and take turns dancing with the Torah scrolls. This year, in a more sedate manner, we stayed inside and made do with circling around the sanctuary. This was done to denote the subdued atmosphere and for safety reasons, because of the daily rocket attacks, mostly from Lebanon, which attack many areas of Israel. [Steve Kramer]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food

Comparing Trump to Hitler is Immoral, Misleading, and Potentially Dangerous

Comparing Trump—or any modern figure—to Hitler ignores the unique atrocities committed by Hitler, who orchestrated the genocide of six million Jews and millions of other marginalized people. The Nazi regime’s campaign of systematic extermination is unprecedented and incomparable to any contemporary American political situation. Equating Trump’s actions with Hitler’s dilutes the severity of the Holocaust and risks turning its horrors into mere political rhetoric, disrespecting the memory of those who suffered under the Nazis. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Stories of Oct. 7, 2023 Losses and Resilience at San Diego Event

These stories, spoken with raw emotion and courage, offered a window into the profound loss and resilience of a community forever changed by the tragedy. As voices broke and tears were shed, the room was united not only in grief but also in the hope that these memories would ensure the lives taken would never be forgotten. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Israel, Jewish History, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Simchat Torah: Should We Dance or Cry?

As we approach the one-year anniversary [on the Hebrew calendar] of the devastating attack on Simchat Torah, a day celebrated as one of the most joyous in the Jewish calendar, we are confronted with a profound paradox. Over 1,200 people were murdered, and hundreds more were taken hostage. How can we reconcile such joy with such deep sorrow on this powerful day? [Rabbi Shmuly Begun]

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Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Semyon Nadson, Philosemitic Russian Poet

The poet Semyon Nadson (1862 – 1887) lived for 24 years. He is known for being the first poet of Jewish descent to achieve national prominence in the Russian Empire. In 1886, Nadson was awarded the Pushkin Prize of the Academy of Sciences, the most prestigious literary award in pre-revolutionary Russia. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

5785: A good year for the Jews? 

Will the new year be better than the previous horrible one? It’s hard to believe that it won’t be, given the last year’s continuous warfare. At this juncture, Israel has ruptured Hamas in Gaza and killed its leader Yahya Sinwar, leaving the major problems returning our hostages and eliminating the remnants of the Hamas fighting forces. [Steve Kramer]

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Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer

Today’s Jewish Birthday: David Ben-Gurion

Courtesy of Wikipedia David Ben-Gurion (October 16, 1886 – December 1, 1973) was the primary national founder of the State of Israel as well as its first prime minister. As head of the Jewish Agency from 1935, and later president of the Jewish Agency Executive, he was the de facto leader of the Jewish community in Palestine, and largely led the movement for an

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

A Lesson for Indigenous People’s Day/ Columbus Day

Today, the second Monday in October, is known as “Indigenous People’s Day” which honors the native people whose communities, health and culture were decimated by Europeans who arrived on ships to “discover” the New World. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Jewish Federation Cosponsors March of the Living Trip for San Diego County Residents

Jewish Federation of San Diego alongside trip co-chairs Sonia Israel, Shari Schenk, and Jeff Schindler, invite members of the local Jewish community on a deeply meaningful journey marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps during the International March of the Living in Poland. [Press Release]

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Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Press Release, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Free Holocaust Memorial Garden Offered to City of San Diego

The Opportunity and the Challenge for San Diego is; does San Diego want to have a Daffodil Garden?  JASHP is willing to fund one for San Diego. We will pay for the bulbs, the stone, and the marker. The condition of the gift is that the garden must be sited in a significant, publicly accessible location, such as a park.  We want the message to be viewed by as many people as possible.  Our common future is the Challenge. [Jerry Klinger]

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Holocaust, International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Threads of Legacy: A Family Weaving Their Mark on Israel

During this meaningful journey and in partnership with Jewish National Fund-USA, they honored Marcia’s late father with a plaque at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem and dedicated a bomb shelter in Sha’ar HaNegev near the Gaza border in memory of her mother. The next generation was present to witness the touching tributes by Marcia and Debbie, and be inspired by these two remarkable women. (Tania Shalom Michaelian)

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Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA