Judaism

Why I Didn’t Become French

After my repatriation to Israel, I traveled to France frequently for research work in physics. There I met a French physics professor, a Jew who knew my stepfather and claimed that I could obtain French citizenship because I had French historical roots. I loved the language and culture of France, but I preferred to be an Israeli, if only because of my thoughts on “Where is France going?” [Alex Gordon]

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

Finding Lots of Jewish Stories at San Diego County Fair

The Acosta family set out on Friday to conquer the San Diego County Fair. We arrived and were on a scavenger hunt to find hidden Jewish items. We laced up our running/walking shoes, filled up our water bottles, cellphones all charged and were ready to take on the challenge. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Emotional Times Take Toll; Rabbi Mathew Marko Resigns Tifereth Israel Synagogue Pulpit

This weekend Rabbi Mathew Marko will lead his last Shabbat services as the spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. He resigned at the two-year mark of a three-year contract. His explanation, in a letter to the Conservative synagogue’s congregants, should help us understand how sometimes life brings extraordinary pressures and stresses upon a congregational rabbi. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Biden, Trump Clash in First Debate Over Israel, Charlottesville Neo-Nazis

President Biden accused former President Trump of being an admirer of Adolf Hitler, and Trump accused Biden of favoring Palestinians over Israelis in a wild, hard-swinging debate Thursday night moderated by CNN reporters/ anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, who are both members of the Jewish community. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Parsha Shelach: Don’t Let Your Fears Get in Your Way

Imagine the scene – the Jewish People, fresh out of the incredible Exodus experience, find themselves faced with a choice: embrace the positive or succumb to the negative. Tragically, they chose the latter, disqualifying the miracles they had witnessed and viewing life through a filter of excessive bleakness. It’s a cautionary tale that resonates even today with a world filled with depression and anxiety. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Dubrow’s Cafeteria Comes Back to Life in ‘Kibbitz & Nosh’

History, culture and gastronomy collide in this collection of photographs that depicts the American Jewish palate, fashion and routines of Brooklynites from 1970 to 1985. As an art major of Brooklyn College Halperin sought out subjects for her medium. She landed on Dubrow’s cafeteria as a spot to hone her skill. Though it was in her own Flatbush neighborhood, she’d never been inside. [Eva Trieger]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

American Offers to Finance Sculpture to Honor Women of the IDF

Sam came up with a concept sketch showing two women soldiers in full battle uniforms. One represented 1948, and the other 2024. They stood shoulder to shoulder, their weapons aimed downward, not up in aggression but down in defense, at the ready. [Jerry Klinger]

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Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Ner Tamid Bids Farewell to its Rabbi and Cantor

Ner Tamid Synagogue’s Farewell Shabbat Weekend for Rabbi Sammy Seid and Cantor Heather Seid will begin at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, June 29. Additional farewell opportunities include Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Oneg at 7 p.m., Friday, June 28 and Minyan, Torah Café at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, June 30. Click here to let the caterer know you’re coming. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Comedy for Koby: Laughter Helps Victims of Terror to Heal

All three of them did a fair amount of crowd work, and I’ll admit I was relieved not to be in the “splash zone” of the first few rows.  I especially liked Liberman’s riffing on the Jewish holidays.  How do you explain Sukkot to someone who’s not Jewish?  [Sandi Masori]

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Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Visits to Cities along the Danube: Both Depressing and Enlightening

The tour guides were not Jewish and referred to the inhabitants of the quarter as “Our Jews.”  They would point out highlighted areas in the German towns where the synagogues had been. One town even had a memorial in what had been the Jewish quarter that consisted of a permanent cement outline, 40 x 20 feet, of a former shul. [Ben Dishman]

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Antisemitism, Ben Dishman, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

World War II Jewish American Heroes Finally Rest under the Star of David

Its mission, “to locate Jewish personnel at American military cemeteries all over the world who, for various reasons, were buried under markers incorrectly representing their religion and heritage” and to “correct these mistakes and provide, these many decades later, comfort to the families of the fallen…” [Dorian de Wind, The Moderate Voice]

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Dorian de Wind, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, The Moderate Voice

Anti-Israel Protesters Now Targeting Holocaust Education Programs

Alongside Holocaust denial and expressions of antisemitism, which have both been increasing around the world, the prestigious Weiss-Livnat International Program for Holocaust Studies at the University of Haifa is currently experiencing a global cyber-attack, in response to the registration campaign for the academic year 2024-25. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Press Release, USA

Jews are an Eternal People — So Far!

What makes the Jews “eternal?” First of all, genetics: “A team led by geneticist Harry Ostrer of the New York University School of Medicine concludes today that all three Jewish groups—Middle Eastern, Sephardic, and Ashkenazi—share genome-wide genetic markers that distinguish them from other worldwide populations.” [Steve Kramer]

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