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Jewish Biography: The Love and Death of Ferdinand Lassalle

Lassalle was a “wunderkind” of the socialist movement. At the age of 23, during the revolution of 1848, he was already a prominent figure in the radical Democratic Party in Prussia. As an employee of the radical New Rhine Gazette, whose editors were Marx and Engels, he claimed to be a follower of their ideas. Lassalle defied the authorities by “challenging them to a duel” with his vivid sociopolitical agitation. His fame was aided by the charge of high treason for this activity. He was arrested, the jury acquitted him, but the correctional police court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment. In 1858 he became known as a philosopher by publishing a work on the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. Three years later he became famous as a jurist through the publication of a major work, The System of Acquired Rights (1861). In 1863 Lassalle founded the workers’ union, from which today’s Social Democratic Party of Germany grew. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D]

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

Comedic ‘Fiddler’ Uses Clever Staging

Whether it was Tevye mugging during the dance off with the Russians for “To Life” or even the usually scary dream sequence about “Fruma-Sarah,” director Omri Schein really brought out the physical comedy and rubber faces of the cast.  And it worked.  I don’t remember hearing the audience laugh during Fiddler as much they did for this show. [Sandi Masori]

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Leo Szilard

In 1938, Szilard moved to the United States, where he worked at Columbia University to demonstrate the concept of nuclear fission.  He drafted a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which he got his more famous mentor, Albert Einstein, to sign warning of Germany’s nuclear weapons project.  This eventually prompted the creation of the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago. [SDJW Staff]

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Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Alex Grass: Rite Aid’s Success Led to His Many Philanthropies

Editor’s Note: This is the 21st chapter in Volume 3 of Publisher and Editor Donald H. Harrison’s 2022 trilogy, “Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5.” All three books as well as others written by Harrison may be purchased from Amazon.com. Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5, Volume 3, Exit 49 (Tamarack Avenue): Rite

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Ben Dishman, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Mark Spitz

At Indiana University under coach Doc Counsilman, he won eight individual NCAA titles. In 1971, he won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the U.S. Then came the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, where he won seven gold medals, setting new world records in each of them. They were the 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 300-meter butterfly, 4×100-meter freestyle relay, 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay and 4 x 100-meter medley relay. [SDJW staff]

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International, Israel, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Carole King

With King composing the music and Goffin writing the lyrics they wrote a string of hits for various groups including “Chains,” “The Loco-Motion,” “Half Way to Paradise,” “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “Up on the Roof,” “I’m into Something Good,” “One Fine Day,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” and “(You make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” [SDJW staff]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

‘Fun House’ is Not What the Title Suggests

Tony award-winning Jewish playwright Lisa Kron uses a clever narrative device in which the main character Alison Bechdel (Rae Henderson-Gray) watches herself as a little girl (Lena Palke) and as a college student (Priya Richard) as she crafts autobiographical graphic novels. [Sandi Masori]

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Our Arab Neighbors

When I need to collect my prescription medicines for the local medical clinic I am almost invariably attended to by one of the Arab pharmacists, both male and female, who work there. The same applies to many of the nurses and even some of the doctors who provide my various medical needs in this and other clinics. Not to mention the many physicians and surgeons in our hospitals. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Argentine President Milei Visits Aish World Center in Jerusalem

Between meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, visits to the Western Wall, Yad Vashem, and a trip south to Kibbutz Nir Oz, President Milei made sure to visit the Aish rooftop and new center for Jewish learning for our Spanish-speaking program dedicated to students from Latin America and led by the Director of the Aish Latin American program, Rabbi Zvi Klor. [Aish Press Release]

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International, Israel, Press Release, Travel and Food

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Dealing with Workplace Antisemitism

The regional office of the Anti-Defamation League is offering to bring workshops to places of employment in San Diego and Imperial Counties on such topics as 1) Jewish identity; 2) Contemporary and historical manifestations of antisemitism; 3) Comparing and contrasting antisemitism with other forms of hate; 4) The rise in antisemitism and hate post-October 7th, and 5) Tools to be upstanders against antisemitism and hate. [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, Business & Finance, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Florida Holocaust Museum to Permanently House Elie Wiesel’s Collection

The Florida Holocaust Museum has been chosen as the permanent home of Elie Wiesel’s entire collection, including his Nobel prize, the  contents of his personal office and library, unfinished manuscripts, letters from world leaders and other luminaries, and a variety of artworks, photographs, recordings – some of which have never been seen. [Press Release]

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Holocaust, Jewish History, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jewish Communal Leaders: Remain Hopeful While Combating Antisemitism

A series of engaging breakout sessions followed – all devoted to discussion, coalition building, and learning how to implement strategies included in the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism at the local level. The day concluded with a plenary session featuring author and thought-leader Eric K. Ward on the importance of diversity and communal allyship in the fight against antisemitism. We were thrilled to see our community show up in a profound way and contribute to lively Q&As in every workshop. [Sara E. Brown and Heidi Gantwerk]

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Antisemitism, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Videos