News Sources

Seacrest Foundation Schedules Next Gala for Saturday evening, July 26

All proceeds from the Gala will support the Seacrest Village Resident Assistance Fund which provides charitable care for residents in need. These critical funds will provide housing, healthcare, and supportive services to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the residents. [Press Release]

Seacrest Foundation Schedules Next Gala for Saturday evening, July 26 Read More »

Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, San Diego County

‘The Accusation’ at SD International Jewish Film Festival Tells Story of a Rape Trial

Rape survivors are questioned about their mental health, their ability to tell reality, their veracity and their recollection of events. Their dignity is diminished and they are accused of nefarious motives for reporting a crime. In The Accusation the blurry, dark hinterlands between “he said” and “she said” are vivid in this entry in the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival. [Barrett Holman Leak]

‘The Accusation’ at SD International Jewish Film Festival Tells Story of a Rape Trial Read More »

Barrett Holman Leak, International, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Young Readers Get a Taste of the Holocaust in ‘One Day’

“One day at a time. One day after another” was the motto of Holocaust escapees Eugene Handschuh and his father Oscar. Accordingly, father and son submitted to the brutal schedule the Nazis forced on them until they perceived an opportunity to escape — not once, but twice. [Donald H. Harrison]

Young Readers Get a Taste of the Holocaust in ‘One Day’ Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Avenue of the Giants’ Connects Younger Generation with Older Ones

Avenue of the Giants shown Monday morning at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival describes the unlikely friendship of Herbet Heller and teenager Abbey.  The drama is directed by Finn Taylor.  [Cailin Acosta]

‘Avenue of the Giants’ Connects Younger Generation with Older Ones Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Drumatix Performance Features Percussion and Improvisation

The ensemble consisted of seven members, one being a male. Each one had a unique style and “voice” in their way of dancing, interacting with the audience, and the general presence on stage. While each was different, together they created a cohesive experience for the viewers that was incredibly engaging. The performance was full of surprising props that one would not consider instruments such as spoons and bubble wrap as well as traditional instruments such as drums, and a keyboard. [Miriam Gershenson]

Drumatix Performance Features Percussion and Improvisation Read More »

Albert Kreimerman, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

AJC Calls for Standing Together, Fighting Antisemitism through Alliances

What spoke loudly throughout the February 2 event was the realization among the American Jewish community that standing strong in the fight against the pervasive antisemitism ravaging American society (including school and university campuses) means standing together with non-Jewish allies. [Barrett Holman Leak]

AJC Calls for Standing Together, Fighting Antisemitism through Alliances Read More »

Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Trump’s Department of Education to Investigate Antisemitism at 5 Universities

The U.S. Department of Education on Monday, Feb. 3, announced investigations into five institutions of higher education where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported. The investigations are in response to the explosion of antisemitism on American campuses following the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023.    [Press Release]

Trump’s Department of Education to Investigate Antisemitism at 5 Universities Read More »

Antisemitism, Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Curator of ‘RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust’ A Guest of Honor at Surprise Luncheon

Holocaust Survivors and staffers for the Jewish Federation of San Diego conspired with Ron Cohn of the Cohn Restaurant Group on Friday, Jan. 31, to surprise Sandy Scheller, curator of the exhibit RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust, now being shown at the La Jolla Library. [Mike Wallenfels]

Curator of ‘RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust’ A Guest of Honor at Surprise Luncheon Read More »

Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Janis Ian in ‘Breaking Silence’ Tells of Being an Ugly Girl at 17, Interracial Dating, Her Lesbian Choice

The audience at the Jewish Community Center who attended Breaking Silence: The Story of Janis Ian truly got a special treat, with the singer/ songwriter herself in attendance to answer questions from the crowd. [Sandy Scheller]

Janis Ian in ‘Breaking Silence’ Tells of Being an Ugly Girl at 17, Interracial Dating, Her Lesbian Choice Read More »

Jewish Celebrities, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

OpEd: Why Young People Distrust the Democratic Party

People in my generation (and younger) don’t really trust those in power or our institutions. And we have good reason for that. I was in 7th grade when the September 11th attacks happened, and then I watched the U.S. spend billions of dollars – and deploy millions of servicemembers – to fight endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. … (Congresswoman Sara Jacobs)

OpEd: Why Young People Distrust the Democratic Party Read More »

International, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Tariffs

As ‍a ‍result ‍of ‍The ‍United ‍States–Israel ‍Free ‍Trade ‍Agreement ‍signed ‍in ‍1985, ‍there ‍are ‍few ‍tariffs ‍or ‍duties ‍on ‍goods ‍traded ‍between ‍the ‍United ‍States ‍and ‍Israel. ‍But ‍there ‍are ‍still ‍some ‍tariffs ‍in ‍effect ‍between ‍the ‍two ‍countries. ‍This ‍includes ‍United ‍States ‍tariffs ‍on ‍Israeli ‍“meat ‍of ‍bovine ‍animals,” ‍and ‍Israeli ‍tariffs ‍on ‍live ‍fish ‍including ‍tilapia, ‍carp, ‍and ‍trout. ‍What ‍tariffs ‍has ‍Israel ‍imposed ‍on ‍other ‍countries? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Tariffs Read More »

International, Israel, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Gymnast Survived Nazis; Went on to Become Gold Medalist in Olympics

This book, written in simple language for children between the ages of 5 and 9, tells of Ágnes being banned from the national gymnasium because she was Jewish.  In response, she secretly practiced early in the morning at an unlit, unheated high school gym with her friend Istvan Sarkany. [Donald H. Harrison]

Gymnast Survived Nazis; Went on to Become Gold Medalist in Olympics Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Biography: Fromental Halévy, Composer of Operas and Jewish Sacred Music

Halévy’s seminal work is the opera The Jewess (La Juive), which became one of the cornerstones of the French repertoire for a century. It was a grand opera in five acts, including ballet, choruses, spectacular processions and festivities. The premiere of the opera, based on a libretto by the famous French playwright Eugène Scribe, was a colossal success at the Grand Opera House in Paris on February 23, 1835. [Alex Gordon]

Jewish Biography: Fromental Halévy, Composer of Operas and Jewish Sacred Music Read More »

Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors