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Our Shtetl San Diego County: The Local Jewish Political Scene

County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer was re-elected as vice chair of the County Board of Supervisors, which once again will be chaired by Supervisor Nora Vargas.  There’s an interesting split among three Democrats and two Republicans on the technically non-partisan Board of Supervisor.  The Democrats are all women – Vargas, Lawson-Remer, and Monica Montgomery-Steppe – while the Republicans are both men: Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond. [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, Business & Finance, California, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Deforestation in the Amazon Led to Reduced Thunderstorms, Tel Aviv Researchers Repor

“These findings are worrying because a decrease in the amount of storms leads to a decrease in the amount of rain, which in turn causes further damage to the forests. This is a dangerous feedback loop, which could severely damage the forests that provide the earth with a significant portion of the oxygen in the atmosphere and absorb a large portion of the carbon dioxide emitted by us into the atmosphere.” [Tel Aviv University Press Release]

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Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share

StandWithUs Unites Diverse Ethnic Groups in Defense of Israel

Laniado, the regional director, told me that correcting lies and misinformation about Israel while fighting domestic antisemitism are missions so urgent that without such an effort, “in five years, we won’t be able to put the mezuzahs on our doors,” maybe even sooner than that. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Hebrew Calendar Based on Controversial Approximations

Scholars, such as Azariah de’ Rossi, in his The Light of the Eyes, speculate that the anno mundi — also known as the Hebrew calendar — may have originated around the sixth century, after the Talmudic Period. While this seems to be the date of its origin, it was not until relatively recently that Jews began to use it. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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

Parasha Va’eira: Accepting Life’s Challenges

This week we learn of Abraham’s test to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. It’s the only challenge of the ten trials in the Torah clearly identified as a “test.” Hashem needed to test Abraham? After all, isn’t He omniscient? Yes, but the purpose of these tests are to elevate Abraham, to help him grow. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Israel and Arab Nations Reps. Discuss Mideast Coexistence Jan. 16

A delegation representing Israel, Bahrain, Egypt, and Morocco will discuss the Abraham Accords, the Hamas attack on Israel Oct. 7, the subsequent war in Gaza, and the prospects for encouraging “a constructive and positive way forward for Arabs and Israelis.” [SDJW staff]

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California, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Baruch Spinoza: The Universal Anti-Hero

Spinoza was regarded in the Amsterdam community as what the rabbis call an “illui” ̶ outstanding disciple. However, the “illui” had a critical view of the Bible and Talmud, not treating them as sacred books, but subjecting them to analysis. He scoffed at the Jewish chosenness and questioned the chronology of the Bible. He argued that Moses could not be the author of the Pentateuch. The books of Moses, in his judgment, were not written by one man and not for the people of one era. [Alex Gordon, Ph.D]

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Running for the Lives of the Hostages in Gaza

The goal of this global movement is to show world leaders that we all care about this. With every step we take, we would like for these leaders to help put pressure on Hamas to release the hostages. Wonderfully, locals, who are not Israeli or Jewish and have no connection to Israel are joining this movement because of their compassion for the hostages. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, International, Israel, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Soupy Sales

The national Soupy Sales Show featured non-stop jokes, slapstick, and signature pie-in-the-face routines.  Famous musicians often appeared as guests on the show, which also featured such puppets as  “White Fang,” “Black Tooth,” “Pokie the Lion,” and “Hippy the Hippo.” [SDJW staff report]

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