Literary success came to Zweig in 1915, when he was awarded the Heinrich Kleist Prize for his drama Ritual Murder in Hungary (1914), about a blood libel against Jews in the town of Tiszaeslar in 1882. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish Biography: Arnold Zweig and the Smoke of the Fatherland Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
She wrote Denying the Holocaust in 1994, later defending herself successfully against a libel suit by author David Irving that brought her name to public attention. She won the 1994 National Jewish Book Award and an appointment by President Bill Clinton to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. [SDJW staff]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Deborah E. Lipstadt Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA
When he first got the part in the Yiddish “Fiddler,” Skybell had studied Yiddish but he “certainly wasn’t fluent.” And at the start, only three of the 26 members of the cast spoke Yiddish. So getting ready for the show was a mammoth task, with most of the actors learning the language phonetically from tapes. [Joel H. Cohen]
Kvells Keep Ringing For Steven Skybell’s Tevye in All-Yiddish ‘Fiddler’ Read More »
International, Joel H. Cohen, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
A few things were different about this production, first the non-fairy actors wore modern dress, the part of Hermia’s father was turned into that of her mother, and the show we saw had swing actor Ruth Russel filling in for the role of Demitrius. [Sandi Masori]
Shakespeare with Some Contemporary Twists at Coronado Playhouse Read More »
San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
I see our more than 2,000 volunteers from the U.S. going to Israel, clamoring to get dirty – filthy even – to help build back the southern communities and lend a hand any way they can. People in Israel who were divided over policies before the war are now sitting around the same table, figuring out how to build back their country — together. [Russell F. Robinson, JNF-USA]
JNF-USA Volunteers Help to Rebuild Southern Israel Read More »
Israel, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
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