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‘Intimate Apparel’ Contrasts Worlds of Dreams and Reality

The title of North Coast Rep Theatre’s newest production bespeaks not simply the item, but the deep connections formed in Intimate Apparel. Lynn Nottage’s 2-time Pulitzer Prize winning play reveals what director Jasmine Bracey describes as a life in two worlds. This play explores the “world of dreams and desire, and a world of reality and compromise.” The common thread weaving this seamstress’ story together is that of wanting to be loved. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

OpEd: Mindless Embrace of Houthi Terror

Extolling Iranian-armed and trained Houthi terrorists who were firing on American and other shipping, kidnapping crewmen from the ships, and firing missiles at southern Israel, and have now fired on American warships, the minions in the West wave signs proclaiming, “I stand with Yemen.” And “Hands off Yemen.” [Shoshana Bryen]

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Israel, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Is Reincarnation a Fact, a Lie, or True?

Philo (25 BCE-50 CE) was the first Jewish philosopher to introduce the idea that there is such a thing as a soul that exists separate from the body. It contains the intellect and personality of a person. Platonic theories influenced him. He considered the soul to be eternal. However, he did not have the belief in reincarnation. The soul remained somewhere in limbo until the messianic age when it would be revived. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

From ‘Too Many Notes’ to ‘Too Many Lives’

After World War II, the Geneva Convention defined genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. In the context of Israel and Gaza, accusations have been made against Israel by some international entities. For example, South Africa has attempted to make a case in the International Court against Israel, accusing it of committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. However, it’s important to note that warfare, particularly urban warfare, inherently involves complexities and high risks of civilian casualties. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]

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International, Israel, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Biography: Gabriel Riesser, Germany’s First Jewish Judge

HAIFA, Israel — In the middle of the nineteenth century a Jew was first appointed a judge in a European state. This happened in Germany, in Hamburg. The appointed judge did little judging, but managed to govern. He was more like a charismatic ruler than a cold-blooded judge. He was more like a bold fighter

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

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Piper Laurie

At age 17, she signed a contract with Universal Studios, at that time changing her name to Piper Laurie. She starred with Ronald Reagan in 1950 in Louisa, and claimed to have had her first sexual relationship with the future President of the United States. She acted with Donald O’Connor, Tony Curtis and Rory Calhoun in subsequent films. [SDJW staff report]

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Jewish Celebrities, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Homeless People Living in Their Cars to Have ‘Comfort Facility’ at Jewish Family Service Venue in Kearny Mesa

Once completed, the new Liebermensch Family Comfort Facility will be equipped with ADA-accessible showers, baby changing stations, and full-sized restrooms—providing guests a welcoming space to care for themselves and extra room to get ready for work and school. [SDJW staff]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Israel Zangwill

His play “The Melting Pot” was credited with penning that phrase to describe absorption of immigrants in the United States. After seeing it, former President Theodore Roosevelt reportedly leaned out from his theater box and shouted, “That’s a great play, Mr. Zangwill. That’s a great play.” [SDJW staff]

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International, Israel, Jewish Fiction, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Kaspare Cohn’s Legacies: Union Bank, Cedars-Sinai Hospital

Cohn was just 20 years old when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1859 from Loebau, Prussia, to work for his uncle Harris Newmark. His introduction to the primitive banking system in 19th century California came when his uncle had him sleep on the floor of the family grocery store as a way of safeguarding the finances of Los Angeles County. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: George Burns

In 1926, he married Gracie Allen, who was Catholic, and  subsequently appeared with her in comic short films which had such stars as Bing Crosby, W.C. Fields, Jack Benny, Frest Astaire, Joan Fontaine, Bob Hope, Martha Raye, Eleanor Powell, and Robert Young. [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, Jewish Celebrities, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

July, September May Be Best Months to See Jewish Baseball Heritage in Action

The San Diego Padres will play five teams at Petco Park in May. Two of them–the Colorado Rockies and the New York Yankees — have Jewish players, Rockies pitcher Jake Bird and Yankees pitcher Scott Effross.  The Padres, who do not have a Jewish player, have designated the middle game of the May 13-15 series with the Rockies as the day to celebrate Jewish heritage at Petco Park.  May is nationally recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Charlotte’ and ‘My Father’s Secrets’ Animate the Holocaust

The animated feature film Charlotte chronicles the unfolding of her personal and creative development in Berlin between 1933 and 1939 and her temporary haven in France thereafter. While its emphasis remains on her autobiography, the dangers posed by Nazi antisemitism loom in the background with a few paintings depicting a Nazi rally, her expulsion from the Academy of Arts on racial grounds, Kristallnacht, and her father’s return as a physically broken man from being interned at Sachsenhausen after the Nazi rampage in 1938. [Laurie Baron]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast