Lifestyles

Survey: More Than Half of Israeli Arabs Feel a Sense of Shared Destiny with Israeli Jews

A new survey by the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University (TAU) released on December 12, 2024, reveals that, according to the survey, 57.8% of Arab Israelis believe that the ongoing war in Gaza has fostered a sense of shared destiny between Arabs and Jews in Israel. [Press Release]

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Israel, Lifestyles, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education

How Haredim Cope with Loneliness after They Break Away

Ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) who decide to leave the community and disaffiliate are at a stressful crossroads in their life. Many leave close-knit communities for an initially lonely path in a world they may not be very familiar with. One of the new aspects of that life may be social media. Studies show that less than 20% of ultra-Orthodox individuals in Israel are exposed to social media. [Press Release]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education

La Mesa’s Annual Holiday in the Village Seems to Ignore Chanukah

It was a festive occasion, but unfortunately, I did not find any decorations or events that had a Chanukah theme, so I focused on the Winter excitement. I will be mentioning this to the La Mesa Village Association that our holiday was not represented. Many Jewish residents live in La Mesa. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Fast-Moving Events in Israel and the Middle East Make Heads Spin

Our minds and hearts are still reeling from the events of the last year, starting with the vile attack on kibbutzim and towns in the south by Hamas, the subsequent war in Gaza, political division in Israel and the current trial for corruption of Prime Minister Netanyahu, when we find our northern neighbor and enemy, Syria, in turmoil as a result of the rebel groups’ overthrow of Assad’s murderous regime. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Lifestyles, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Bowl Games to Highlight College Football at the End of this Month

College football season comes to an end in the next couple of weeks. The college football playoffs are so confusing for us who grew up with just the bowls. My Dad z”l took me to the “Holiday Bowl” here in San Diego. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

‘The ABC’s of the World’s Religions’ Shows Their Similarities

With the author having grown up in western Christianity and the illustrator having experienced eastern religions, their collaboration, written in couplets on left-facing pages and with explanatory information on right-facing pages, uses the alphabet as a teaching vehicle. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Interfaith Owners of Art Store Tell Their Chanukah/ Christmas Customs

On the counter was a menorah with the shamash and the first night’s candle placed in their holders. Behind the menorah was a small pine tree with decorations. In an interfaith marriage like mine, the Oserins this year will have both a chanukiah and a Christmas tree at home.  The first night of Chanukah will coincide with Christmas. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Counting Our Blessing Every Friday Night

When my kids were very young, we had a Thanksgiving tradition (no doubt like so many other American families) of going around the table and saying what we were thankful for. The answers ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, depending on the age and mood of the three boys. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Heidi Gantwerk, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Adopt-A-Family Boutique Raises Money for Terror Victims in Israel

Held at the Loma Santa Fe Country Club, the event was buzzing with energy, filled with local vendors, live music, and an outpouring of support for the families impacted by the tragic events of October 7th in Israel. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Business & Finance, Israel, Lifestyles, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

The Matzo Chronicles: My Fountain of Youth … Time with Young People

With apologies to Ponce de Leon and plastic surgeons, I have discovered the real Fountain of Youth. It’s spending time with young people. I made this fortuitous discovery just the other day as I peered into the glowing, unlined face of a student I was working with. Actually two things hit me. The first was that I was 50 years her senior! Five-zero. A half a century. Yikes! [Karen Galatz]

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Karen Galatz, Lifestyles, News Media, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Standing Together Through It All

Then there are the times when you are trying to get into a parking garage and the pro-Palestinians surrounding your vehicle are bashing their fists on your car doors, banging on your car window, chopping huge protest signs on your hood, and then laying it on your windshield so you cannot see to drive forward. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Lifestyles, Middle East, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA