“May the Lord bless you and watch over you. May the Lord cause His countenance to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace.” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Parsha Naso: The Origin of the Priestly Blessing Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The silencing of his Jewishness has characterized his entire tenure as president. Mentioning his Jewishness became taboo. Benjamin Disraeli, a baptized Jew, was Prime Minister of Great Britain and openly discussed Jewish issues and wrote novels with Jewish characters. Léon Blum was Prime Minister of France and spoke freely about his Jewishness. Bruno Kraisky was Chancellor of Austria and made no secret of his Jewishness. Walter Rathenau was Foreign Minister of Germany and spoke proudly of his Jewish ancestry. None of them were ashamed of their Jewishness as Zelensky was. [Alex Gordon]
OpEd: Zelensky Keeps a Distance from His Jewishness and from Israel Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & BroadcastYouth Summer Music Camp (6th-12th grade) with Sharon Katz will be at 1 p.m., Monday, June 17 until Saturday, June 22 (no camp on Wednesday, June 19) at the San Diego Central Public Library. Katz is the founder of The Peace Train Project and Band and will direct this summer camp at the library. [Cailin Acosta]
Shavuot Wishes and Some Fascinating Upcoming Events Read More »
Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
In response to the conviction of his son for lying about his drug addiction when purchasing a gun, Joe Biden reiterated that he would “accept the outcome of this case and continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.” What he did not say was … [Laurie Baron]
Satire: What Joe Biden Didn’t Say Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
No guilt, no apologies, no regrets, no questions, not even confusion. Rescuing four of our brethren was worth everything Israeli forces needed to do Saturday morning. [Bruce S. Ticker]
OpEd: No Apologies for Freeing 4 Hostages from Terrorists Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
So, of course she tried to suppress the fact that she was physically stimulated by the touch of women and conversely deadened by the touch of men. She took no joy in marital sex; it was a duty imposed upon her by the expectation of the Gur community. The only benefit of having sex with her first husband was her two children, for whom her love knew no bounds. [Donald H. Harrison]
Lesbian Breaks Free from Gur Hasidim Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined ContributorsMany individuals did not want to watch alone the film about the horrific attacks on Jewish women during the Oct 7 massacre. Limiting the number of reservations to women-only, having mental health clinicians facilitate and not listing the location facilitated this event. [Cailin Acosta]
OpEd: ‘Screams Before Silence’ an Intense Documentary Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
At Jewish Federation of San Diego, we are deeply committed to investing in transformational experiences that ensure a brighter, stronger, and more connected Jewish community for generations to come. Our initiatives focus on inspiring a life-long love of Judaism, fostering a robust pipeline of future leaders, and deepening community bonds. [Heidi Gantwerk]
Jewish Federation Invests in ‘Transformational Experiences’ Read More »
Heidi Gantwerk, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
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
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
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
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
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