Jewish History

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

Reminiscences of Jewish History on the Eve of Yom Kippur

One of the obstacles to Jewish self-determination seems to have been a tradition deeply embedded in the people’s self-consciousness: Jews are responsible for each other; a Jew who does a good deed does it for the good of the entire Jewish people, and, on the contrary, a Jew who does a bad deed brings harm to the entire people. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Review of ‘Reagan: His Life and Legend,’ Part 3

After David Kimche, director general of Israel’s foreign ministry, told U.S. National Security Adviser Bud McFarlane in July 1985 that Iranian “moderates” had expressed a desire to improve relations with the United States and possibly release five American hostages, President Ronald Reagan instructed McFarlane to explore the idea. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Thousands at JCC Mark First Yahrzeit of October 7, 2023 Massacre Victims

It is hard to believe that a year later, the war is still waging and 101 hostages both dead and alive are still living the nightmare in Gaza. The trauma affects Jews all around the world. This was evident at the Lawrence Family JCC lawn where thousands of people gathered to commemorate and unite. [Miriam Gershenson]

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

U.S. Jewish Wrestler, a Gold Medal Olympian, Now a Bobblehead Figure

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum on Monday unveiled the first bobblehead of 20-year-old Amit Elor, who became the youngest United States wrestler ever – male or female – to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Press Release, Sports & Competitions, USA