News Sources

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

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Gary Becker

Courtesy of Wikipedia Gary Becker (December 2, 1930 – May 3, 2014) was an American economist who received the 1992 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. He was a professor of economics and sociology at the University of Chicago, and was a leader of the third generation of the Chicago school of Economics. Becker was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in

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Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Jewish Biography: Otto Weininger: A Jewish Antisemite

Sex and Character asserts that all human beings are composed of a mixture of masculine and feminine matter. “Masculine” is active, productive, conscious, moral and logical, while ‘feminine’ is passive, unproductive, unconscious, amoral and illogical. In this book, Weininger emerges not only as a misogynist but also as an antisemite. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Hounding the Headlines: The Golden Deceiver’s Cabinet

Upon declaring our independence from British bulldogs in 1776, all creatures living in this land established the United States of Animals whose government parallels that of the human USA.  This year the ostriches convinced us to put our heads in the sand and elect the Golden Deceiver while parrots incessantly repeated his lies.  Since the Deceiver is rabid, he has nominated dangerous beasts to serve in his cabinet. [Elona Baron as barked to Laurie Baron]

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Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Zoe Kravitz

Courtesy of Wikipedia Zoë Kravitz (December 1, 1988) is an American actress. She made her acting debut in the romantic comedy film No Reservations (2007). Her breakthrough came with portraying Angel Salvadore in the superhero film X-Men: First Class (2011), and she had further franchise roles in The Divergent Series (2014–2016) and the Fantastic Beasts film series (2016–2018). Kravitz earned praise for her lead roles in

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Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Mandy Patinkin

Courtesy of Wikipedia Mandy Patinkin (November 30, 1952) is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television, and film. As a critically acclaimed Broadway performer he has collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Patinkin’s leading roles on stage and screen have received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations

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Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Hamas Releases Video of U.S.-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander

Edan Alexander, a 20-year-old Israeli born, U.S.-raised hostage held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, was shown Saturday on a Hamas-released video scolding Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allegedly neglecting the hostages. He said in Hebrew, “Do not neglect us.  We want to return home.  Far and isolation is killing us.  Do not forget us.”  [SDJW staff]

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International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Israelis, Jewish Americans Comment on Israel’s Ceasefire with Lebanon

Israel’s Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi, the IDF’s chief of staff, says if Hezbollah violates terms of the ceasefire, “any deviation from this agreement will be enforced with fire.  We are now moving toward a new phase, where the same determination that brought us to this agreement will be applied to enforcement.” [SDJW staff]

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International, Israel, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Parsha Toldot: The Biblical View of Love and Marriage

If you’re looking for a love story, this week in Toldot, we read a magnificent one, in fact, the first. You see, we are told that husband and wife are to “cleave to each other and become one flesh.” This is precisely what Isaac and Rebecca teach us so perfectly. In fact, they even prayed as one. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, 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