Staff and Bylined Contributors

Elisha Expanded on His Mentor Elijah’s Role as Prophet

Israel Drazin’s Who Was the Prophet Elisha? is a thought-provoking exploration of one of the Bible’s most enigmatic figures. Through a blend of scholarly rigor and accessible analysis, Drazin offers a comprehensive examination of Elisha’s life, ministry, and legacy, presenting new insights into the prophet’s role in biblical narratives. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Future U.S. Middle East Envoy’s Message to Hamas: Listen to Donald Trump

Steve Witkoff, President-elect Trump’s designee as his Middle East envoy reiterated at a conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that Hamas had better release the hostages prior to Jan. 20, when Trump takes office.  “Listen to what the president has got to say.  It’s not a pretty day if they’re not released.” [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Bowl Games to Highlight College Football at the End of this Month

College football season comes to an end in the next couple of weeks. The college football playoffs are so confusing for us who grew up with just the bowls. My Dad z”l took me to the “Holiday Bowl” here in San Diego. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Seismographs Able to Detect Troop Movements

A groundbreaking study conducted by Tel Aviv University (TAU) researchers has identified the seismic signature of Hamas forces’ movement before the October 7th attack, analyzing data recorded at three seismic stations in southern Israel. They believe the discovery demonstrates the potential usage of seismic-based sensing technology to provide early warnings of terrorist activity. [Press Release]

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Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology

OpEd: The Iranian ‘Ring of Fire’ Around Israel Has Been Doused

There was a time, not so long ago, when the Iranian mullahs seemed to be on top of the world. Their vision of an Iranian Caliphate stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea was succeeding. Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon – all were lined up and ready with Gaza to activate Iran’s “Ring of Fire” circling Israel. Israel’s destruction by the “axis of resistance” would have made Iran the preeminent power in the Middle East, eclipsing both Turkey and Egypt. [Steve Kramer]

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Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: South Korea

The ‍first ‍Jews ‍to ‍settle ‍in ‍Korea ‍included ‍Jewish ‍soldiers ‍who ‍fought ‍there ‍during ‍the ‍Korean ‍War ‍in ‍the ‍early ‍1950’s. ‍A ‍Chabad ‍House ‍was ‍established ‍in ‍2008, ‍and ‍a ‍mikveh ‍was ‍opened ‍in ‍2019. ‍What ‍book ‍that ‍is ‍connected ‍to ‍Judaism ‍or ‍Israel ‍is ‍a ‍best ‍seller ‍in ‍South ‍Korea? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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International, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Jewish Biography: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosopher and Logician

At the age of 14, Ludwig left his parents’ home to attend a real gymnasium in Linz, where his fellow student was Adolf Schicklgruber, the future Hitler, who was born six days earlier than Wittgenstein. Although the Wittgenstein family had converted to Christianity, they were considered Jews throughout the neighborhood. Therefore, the appearance of a Jew in the classroom provoked the ill-will of his classmates and the hatred of Hitler. “This Jew we did not particularly trust, […] we doubted his trustworthiness,” Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Racheli Boudjnah Paints with a Jewish Heart

This emotional piece captured the poignant moment of young children and women lighting Chanukah candles before facing the unknown. As a self-taught artist, Racheli seamlessly weaves her Jewish family tradition into her artwork, reminiscent of how Holocaust prisoners expressed their experiences through drawing what they saw. [Sandy Scheller]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Dec. 12 LFJCC Program Features Broadway Show Tunes with Music and Lyrics by Jews

“Jews on Broadway,” the next Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library program, will be presented at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec 12, at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center.  [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

House of Israel Serves Up Latkes During December Nights

The family and I attended the “December Nights” event in Balboa Park on Friday, Dec. 6 in historic Balboa Park. Through the crowds of hungry and thirsty attendees, we made our way to the House of Israel. We were greeted by a security guard at the front door and there was also another guard at the back of the house. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Middle East, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Miracles of Oil Happened Several Times in Jewish Religious History

There are two miracles in the story of Chanukah, Rebbetzin Chaya Andrusier of Chabad of East County stated during a “Torah and Tea” discussion on Thursday, Dec. 5.  The first was the military victory of the Maccabees who gathered up volunteers to defeat against the Syrian Greeks who wished to impose their Hellenist religion on the Jews. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors