In 1897 he helped to found the national Federation of American Zionists, a forerunner of the Zionist Organization of America. He attended the Second Zionist Congress in Basel in 1898, serving as its secretary for the English language. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Stephen S. Wise Read More »
International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Four areas of interest have shaped the life of Cantor Larry Kornit of Congregation Beth Tikvah: Religion, music, politics, and sports. In addition to serving as a spiritual leader of what he described as his Conservative/ Reform/ Eclectic congregation, he also has volunteered as a member of the City of Oceanside’s nine-member Housing Commission. The commission meets in the City Council chambers the fourth Tuesday of each month. [Donald H. Harrison]
Larry Kornit: Cantor in Shul, Social Justice Advocate Outside Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Satire and Purim go together like peanut-butter and jelly. Purim Torah stands as a unique and vibrant facet of Jewish literary tradition, showcasing the playful side of rabbinic intellect. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Get Ready for Some Purim Torah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Legitimate religions encourage honesty, transparency, and critical thinking.
Conversely, cults, and their leaders, condone the use of deception for recruitment and fundraising purposes. They also use manipulation and fear tactics to maintain control of their members. The negative characteristics of deception and manipulation distinguish a cult from a legitimate religion. [Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz]
OpEd: What Do Cults and Terrorists Have in Common? Read More »
Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
In 1945, 19-year-old Lewis met Dean Martin, who was eight years his senior, and the two developed a comedy act, in which Martin was a straight man and Lewis was a zany ad libber. The duo started with a radio show, moved to television, then to Paramount Pictures where they starred together in 14 movies between 1960 and 1956. DC Comics published The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis from 1952 to 1957. The team ended the partnership in 1956. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jerry Lewis Read More »
Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
Since October 7th, Adopt a Family Foundation has been in close contact with our adopted families all over Israel. Most of the families from the South are still displaced. They too – for more than 150 days – have been praying for the return of the hostages and are still mourning the loss of so many of their friends in their Kibbutzim. So many Israelis from the North are also displaced from their homes and live in such uncertainty of what is next. [Carine Chitayat]
Adopt-A-Family Foundation Aiding Traumatized Israeli Victims of Oct. 7 Read More »
Israel, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Purim 2024 begins at nightfall Saturday, March 23, and ends after sunset Sunday, March 24. A list of Purim activities may be found in our San Diego County Jewish Calendar. Anticipation of Purim is keeping the rabbis and rebbetzins of the many Chabad Houses in San Diego quite busy. [SDJW staff]
Our Shtetl San Diego County: Purim Preparations Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Over 4,000 in-person activists and leaders, plus 5,500 online, joined ADL last week in New York for ADL’s annual National Leadership Summit (NLS) and the Never is Now (NIN) Summit to Combat Antisemitism. This included over a dozen folks from our region [Fabienne Perlov]
What San Diegans Experienced at ADL’s ‘Never Is Now’ Summit Read More »
Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Working together, we can create a San Diego Jewish community that is not only stronger and more vibrant but also more inclusive, engaging, and enduring for years to come. [Heidi Gantwerk]
Shaping Our Jewish Future Together Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The dialogue is fast-paced and funny, both because of Rajiv Joseph’s writing and the animated faces of Foote and Echebiri. San Diegans can especially appreciate how upset and betrayed Matt and Shawn feel when James moves to the Miami Heat and leaves his hometown. I saw many in the audience nodding emphatically as Matt and Shawn lament the perceived betrayal, as memories of our own Chargers’ betrayal with their move to LA still feels fresh. [Sandi Masori]
‘King James’ Uses Sports Metaphor to Explore the Ups and Downs of a Friendship Read More »
Sandi Masori, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
The satiric comedy was originally written and performed in French, but fortunately for English-speaking audiences, it was translated by Richard Wilbur, and later, by others. The play is written and performed in rhyme. The actors are nothing short of incredible in their ability to speak the lines with meaning, each delivered naturally and logically. [Eva Trieger]
‘Tartuffe’ Pokes Fun at Our Frail and Base Tendencies Read More »
Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Even as we remain shaken by the events of a few months ago we try to continue to keep hope in our hearts, to stay positive, permit ourselves to take pleasure in the good things of life. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
OpEd: Trying to Stay Positive in the Aftermath of the Oct. 7 Massacre Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors
President Bill Clinton nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993, and the Senate confirmed her on a 96-3 vote, thereby filling the seat that had been vacated upon the retirement of Byron White. She was the first Jewish female justice of the Supreme Court, and eventually became the longest-serving Jewish justice. When Sandra Day O’Connor retired in 2006, Ginsburg temporarily became the only woman on the nine-member court. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Read More »
California, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
“We were honored to be able to put together a program of primarily Yiddish music so that we could reach this special audience with songs in the language most of them grew up with.” [Steve Mishek]
Lunch and Yiddish Songs Entertain 57 Holocaust Survivors at Congregation Beth El Read More »
Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA