Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Piper Laurie

At age 17, she signed a contract with Universal Studios, at that time changing her name to Piper Laurie. She starred with Ronald Reagan in 1950 in Louisa, and claimed to have had her first sexual relationship with the future President of the United States. She acted with Donald O’Connor, Tony Curtis and Rory Calhoun in subsequent films. [SDJW staff report]

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Piper Laurie Read More »

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

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Homeless People Living in Their Cars to Have ‘Comfort Facility’ at Jewish Family Service Venue in Kearny Mesa

Once completed, the new Liebermensch Family Comfort Facility will be equipped with ADA-accessible showers, baby changing stations, and full-sized restrooms—providing guests a welcoming space to care for themselves and extra room to get ready for work and school. [SDJW staff]

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Homeless People Living in Their Cars to Have ‘Comfort Facility’ at Jewish Family Service Venue in Kearny Mesa Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Israel Zangwill

His play “The Melting Pot” was credited with penning that phrase to describe absorption of immigrants in the United States. After seeing it, former President Theodore Roosevelt reportedly leaned out from his theater box and shouted, “That’s a great play, Mr. Zangwill. That’s a great play.” [SDJW staff]

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Israel Zangwill Read More »

International, Israel, Jewish Fiction, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Kaspare Cohn’s Legacies: Union Bank, Cedars-Sinai Hospital

Cohn was just 20 years old when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1859 from Loebau, Prussia, to work for his uncle Harris Newmark. His introduction to the primitive banking system in 19th century California came when his uncle had him sleep on the floor of the family grocery store as a way of safeguarding the finances of Los Angeles County. [Donald H. Harrison]

Kaspare Cohn’s Legacies: Union Bank, Cedars-Sinai Hospital Read More »

Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: George Burns

In 1926, he married Gracie Allen, who was Catholic, and  subsequently appeared with her in comic short films which had such stars as Bing Crosby, W.C. Fields, Jack Benny, Frest Astaire, Joan Fontaine, Bob Hope, Martha Raye, Eleanor Powell, and Robert Young. [SDJW staff]

Today’s Jewish Birthday: George Burns Read More »

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

July, September May Be Best Months to See Jewish Baseball Heritage in Action

The San Diego Padres will play five teams at Petco Park in May. Two of them–the Colorado Rockies and the New York Yankees — have Jewish players, Rockies pitcher Jake Bird and Yankees pitcher Scott Effross.  The Padres, who do not have a Jewish player, have designated the middle game of the May 13-15 series with the Rockies as the day to celebrate Jewish heritage at Petco Park.  May is nationally recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month. [Donald H. Harrison]

July, September May Be Best Months to See Jewish Baseball Heritage in Action Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Charlotte’ and ‘My Father’s Secrets’ Animate the Holocaust

The animated feature film Charlotte chronicles the unfolding of her personal and creative development in Berlin between 1933 and 1939 and her temporary haven in France thereafter. While its emphasis remains on her autobiography, the dangers posed by Nazi antisemitism loom in the background with a few paintings depicting a Nazi rally, her expulsion from the Academy of Arts on racial grounds, Kristallnacht, and her father’s return as a physically broken man from being interned at Sachsenhausen after the Nazi rampage in 1938. [Laurie Baron]

‘Charlotte’ and ‘My Father’s Secrets’ Animate the Holocaust Read More »

Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Turning the Grading Tables on Local Universities

The shoe will be on the other foot for San Diego State, UC San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, the University of San Diego and other 4-year colleges and universities throughout the nation. The Anti-Defamation League has announced it is “developing a new tool to evaluate the climate of antisemitism on individual campuses.” [SDJW staff]

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Turning the Grading Tables on Local Universities Read More »

Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

‘Reclaiming the Sacred’ Shuns Materialism in Favor of Love

The book’s strength lies in its combination of poetic moments and solid policy arguments, reflecting Golden’s diverse background as a professor and nonprofit director. These elements are woven together to form a narrative that is both magical and logical, showcasing Golden’s range as a writer. His varied experiences lend credibility and depth to his insights, making the book not just another spiritual guide, but a substantial piece of literature that offers real, implementable solutions. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]

‘Reclaiming the Sacred’ Shuns Materialism in Favor of Love Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: J.B. Pritzker

As a Democratic  candidate, Pritzker finished third in a 1998 bid for the congressional seat won by Jan Schakowsky, and 20 years later, he ran successfully for governor of Illinois, spending an estimated $42 million of his own money through the primary and $171.5 million to defeat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in the general election.  He was easily reelected in 2022. [SDJW staff]

Today’s Jewish Birthday: J.B. Pritzker Read More »

Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Leaping Into Marriage?

Have you ever met a couple who say, with a smile, that this is their tenth wedding anniversary, but in actuality have been married 40 years.  They are not lying, just bending the truth a little bit.  These are the couples who were married on February 29, which comes around only once in four years — the leap year. [SDJW staff]

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Leaping Into Marriage? Read More »

Holocaust, Israel, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Israel’s Bell Pepper Crop Picked by International Corps of Volunteers

Mojja joined a group of 22 Jewish volunteers from a diverse group of countries including Brazil, France, Uruguay, Spain, U.S, Germany and Argentina. The volunteer experience really brought them together as friends. “Most volunteers knew English but we taught some to whoever didn’t know.” Mojja recalled with a laugh, “Even the Russian and the Ukrainian got along well!” [Shoshana McKinney]

Israel’s Bell Pepper Crop Picked by International Corps of Volunteers Read More »

International, Israel, Shoshana McKinney, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Danny Kaye

Most of Kaye’s films were light-hearted including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Inspector General, White Christmas, On the Riviera, The Court Jester, and the biographical Hans Christian Andersen and The Five Pennies about jazz musician Red Nichols. But he also had a serious side, playing a Holocaust survivor in the TV film Skokie. [SDJW staff]

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Danny Kaye Read More »

Holocaust, Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA