Staff and Bylined Contributors

SF Bay Area Flash Dancers Put on Pro-Israel Performance in San Diego

“One Tribe/ One Star” cofounders Isa Marcus and Laurence Mechali said they formed their dance group in April to show support for Israel which had been suffering the traumatizing after-effects of the Oct. 7 massacre for a half year. [Donald H. Harrison and Nevó Bowne Mathis-Masury]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nevó Bowne Mathis-Masury, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Cygnet’s ‘Rocky Horror Show’ Prompts Happy Audience to Dance

Newly engaged couple Brad Majors (Drew Bradford) and Janet Weiss (Audrey Deubig) break down in the middle of nowhere and find themselves seeking a phone and shelter in a creepy castle.  There they meet Dr. Frank n’ Furter (Nathan Madden) who, like the Dr. Frankenstein he is based on, has a laboratory where he’s making creatures out of parts, except he’s trying to create the perfect romantic/ sexual partner.  [Sandi Masori]

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

JFS to Shut Down College Avenue Senior Center Sept. 27

Whereas in its heyday, the College Avenue Senior Center drew between 80 and 120 people for a full day of programming, including lectures, exercise, movies, and an inexpensive kosher lunch, since its resumption after the COVID pandemic, the center’s attendance has averaged only 15 people, and even fewer for the lunch program, according to JFS Chief Operating Officer Dana Toppel. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Orient Express’ Train Set Almost Steals The Show From All-Star Cast

For those unfamiliar with the story by Agatha Christie, it’s a classic who-dunnit set in 1934. Eclectic guests from around the world board a luxury train in Turkey bound for London. One of the guests is murdered and everyone is a suspect. [Sandi Masori}

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Why Apples and Honey are Eaten at Rosh Hashanah

Why do we eat apples and honey during the High Holidays? This was the fruit that was most available in many parts of the world. The combination has been used for centuries to wish everyone a sweet New Year. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Reserve IDF Officers, Speaking for Themselves, Describe Israel’s Situation

Two reserve Israel Defense Force officers, speaking for themselves only, are touring the United States discussing the statuses of the military war and the propaganda war against Israel.  Maj. Ilan Shulman discussed Israel’s precarious military and strategic situation, and Lt. Col. Amit Grinfeld described Palestinian techniques in creating blatantly false propaganda against Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Let’s Not Help Portland, Maine’s Economy Following its Anti-Israel Resolution

As a Jewish visitor to Maine, I am anxious to seek ways to divest from the city of Portland since its City Council voted to divest from up to 85 companies conducting business with Israel. We must wonder how this measure will harm Israel because Portland does not currently hold investments in even one of these companies. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Business & Finance, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A Profound Choice Faces Israel, Visiting Israeli Professor Declares

One choice, he told an audience at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Wednesday evening, Sept. 12, is to continue its war with the Palestinians. “It means that it (Israel) will become a pariah state and in the long term, perhaps also an apartheid state,” he said.  “It will lose what is left of its authority in the Jewish world. What’s more, it means giving up on the original Zionist dream of creating a safe haven for Jews.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Leap Year ‘Delays’ Rosh Hashanah

Why is Rosh Hashanah so “late” this year? I have many memories of Rosh Hashanah occurring around going back-to-school and the end of summer. But some years it starts in October. Some Jewish years are leap years, in which an entire extra month is added to the calendar. This can result in certain Jewish holidays coming much later than in non-leap years. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Return to Israel after a Vacation a Pleasure Despite All

Life in Israel is anything but sweet at the moment, with a difficult political situation, war in Gaza, over one hundred hostages still being held by Hamas and the heat of high summer. And yet, coming back to our home after being away for over a month was sweet and enjoyable. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Parsha Ki Teitzei: Mother Bird’s Feelings are a Jewish Concern

In our world today, there’s a pressing need for greater compassion and empathy. Many are suffering silently, and it’s crucial that we learn to listen with open hearts and minds. Leave it to the wisdom of the Torah, of Hashem, to guide us to do so, with the mitzvah of sending away a mother bird before taking her eggs or young. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Play Adds Much Needed Laughter to Political Season

Now some folks feel that politics is no laughing matter. Our leaders must be smart, charismatic, trustworthy and cool under pressure. There is little room for levity or indecisiveness. Luckily for San Diego audiences, PowPac Theatre believes the polar opposite. Directed by Melissa Malloy, The Outsider provides a delicious comic relief to the tug-of-war we’ve been watching in this election year. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast