Last week, I was both shouting and dancing to the most marvelous violin music. There is a saying that the greatest compliment a Jewish violinist can receive is to say “Your violin really spoke to me.” We must say that to violin maven Alicia Svigals, who is releasing a new CD after more than 20 years. [Barrett Holman Leak]
Music Review: The Queen is Afire! Read More »
Barrett Holman Leak, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Courtesy of Wikipedia Mordecai Kaplan (June 11, 1881 – November 8, 1983) was a Lithuanian-born American rabbi, writer, Jewish educator, professor, theologian, philosopher, activist, and religious leader who founded the Reconstructionist branch of Judaism along with his son-in-law Ira Eisenstein. He has been described as a “towering figure” in the recent history of Judaism for his influential work in adapting it to modern society, contending that Judaism should be a unifying
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Mordecai Kaplan Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
The current holiday called Shavuot is not a biblical holiday. No Jewish holiday is practiced today as the Bible mandates. Shavuot, called Pentecost in English, is a good example. The current observance of the holiday has no relationship to its biblical ancestor and doesn’t even occur at the same time. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Secrets of Shavuot Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The trauma remained with her, influencing the rest of her life. Working as a translator of Polish, Yiddish, and Russian at the Bund offices, she was exposed to frequent reports of antisemitic incidents in Poland, heightening her sense of danger. She took comfort in the strength of her boss at the Bund, Leopold. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Jewish Immigrant Mother’s Tale Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department sent a demand letter on Monday to Santa Monica College (SMC) after two professors issued mandatory class assignments compelling students to adopt anti-Israel political propaganda as objective truth in order to complete the assignments. [Press Release]
Santa Monica College Professors Demand Students Take Anti-Israel Viewpoint on Tests Read More »
California, Israel, Press Release, USA
A Jewish man named Hernando Alonso holds what distinction in Mexico? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Mexico Read More »
International, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Amid a sometimes raucous public debate around U.S. support for Israel, 85% of American Jewish adults believe it is important for the U.S. to support Israel in the aftermath of October 7 and 57% of American Jews report feeling more connected to Israel or their Jewish identity after October 7 than before. [Press Release]
AJC Survey: American Jews Feel Increasingly Connected to Israel Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Press Release, USA
Pasternak’s feelings about Jews and Jewry in the first 22 years of his life are ̶ negative: humiliation, oppression, pogroms. A different vision of the Jewish problem was revealed to him in Marburg. Pasternak encountered Jewish thinking for the first time in his life: Cohen’s teachings were based on the ethics of Judaism. Plagued by Jewish complexes in Russia, he was apparently shocked by the position of the Jewish thinker and rejected Cohen’s offer to continue his philosophical studies. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Boris Pasternak Avoided, Denied, His Jewishness Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Courtesy of Wikipedia Leelee Sobieski (June 10, 1983) is an American artist and retired actress. She achieved fame in her teens with roles in films such as Deep Impact (1998), Never Been Kissed, Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Here on Earth (2000), Joy Ride and The Glass House (both 2001). She received Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for her portrayal of the title character in the television film Joan of Arc (1999), and
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Leelee Sobieski Read More »
Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Mom (Lesa Sailors) has been a widow for two years, and though she loved her husband, has found new facets and interests and is allowing herself to live a more fully expressed life, which is equal parts unexpected and devastating to her daughter, Ellie. [Eva Trieger]
In This Play, Daughter is Overbearing, Not Trusting of Mother’s Choices Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast“It’s the final countdown” … of counting the Omer and the celebration of Shavuot starting Tuesday, June 11! This is a busy week around the area with many celebrations for Shavuot but also the last day of school for those in the San Diego Unified School District. A well-deserved break “from the books” should be celebrated with some cheesecake or cooling off with some ice cream, am I right? [Cailin Acosta]
Count Down to Shavuot Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
The joke is that my wife has been an unflagging downsizer, in resisting my acquiring new books, but gifts may be different. I thanked my friend, “Never seen Karen so pleased to get a book in an age where she is trying to get them out of the house.” [Oliver B. Pollak]
‘101 Treasures’ from Israel Library is also a Treasure for Home Collections Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Oliver Pollak, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The Rat’s Dilemma takes only minutes but the emotions it stirred up were unbelievable. Perhaps because it took place during the Holocaust or that it’s in Hebrew, or maybe because we connect to losing someone, or perhaps all things combined. Whatever it is, filmmaker Meningher did a phenomenal job with this creation. [Miriam Gershenson]
The Power of Science Fiction at the Comic-Con Museum Read More »
Albert Kreimerman, Holocaust, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
It was a surreal parallel of reality, courage, and life that refused to give up. The mayors of Beit She’an, Kiryat Shemona, Beit Jann, and the Council Rep from the Golan Regional Council came to join us. Each of their communities is under attack by Hezbollah. Each of their communities has a Lion. Each of their communities determinedly endures. [Jerry Klinger]
The Lion’s Trail: Beit She’an Read More »
Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors