Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Rob Reiner

In 1970, he hit the big time in All in the Family, Norman Lear’s situation comedy, in which his father-in-law Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor, was contemptuous of his liberal views and called Reiner’s character “Meathead.” That name stuck with Reiner beyond the series. “I could win the Nobel Prize and they’d write ‘Meathead wins the Nobel Prize,'” he complained.  He did win two Emmy Awards for the role. [SDJW staff]

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California, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Jewish Election Winners: Schiff, Jacobs, Elo-Rivera; Losers: Williamson, Phillips

In the wide-open race for the U.S. Senate, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank will face Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey, mostly on the strength of Schiff’s television advertisements giving name recognition to Garvey in a successful ploy to defeat his Democratic rivals and fellow members of Congress, Katie Porter of Irvine and Barbara Lee of Oakland. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: UCSD Hillel Girds for Tomorrow’s Anti-Israel Demonstration on Campus

“We’ve been coordinating closely with campus security and administration, Hillel International, our Jewish Federation, ADL, AJC, SWU and other partners to ensure there are strong plans in place, including additional security officers on campus and effective strategies for students.” [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Who Are the True Colonizers in the Middle East?

By Alex Gordon HAIFA, Israel — In the world of “progressives,” Israel’s struggle for existence is presented as something outdated, unfashionable, and not modern. This perception is linked to a picture of the conflict that is convenient and profitable for them. The Israelis are seen as imperialists oppressing the aboriginal Arabs. But the fact is

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Louis Kahn

From 1958 through 1965, he collaborated with biologist Jonas Salk on what some have described as his defining work, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla. The architecture, sometimes described as brutalism, emphasized the cement and wood materials used in its construction. The laboratory cluster, consisting of two parallel blocks, frame a long view of the Pacific Ocean, accentuated by a thin linear fountain that seems to reach for the horizon. [SDJW staff]

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Business & Finance, California, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Parasha Vayakhel-Shekalim: Teaching One Another in Unity

The name “Betzalel” means “being in God’s shadow,” suggesting that he had attained the level of tzadik and achieved yihud with Hashem. But simply possessing chochmah, t’vunah and daat, simply sharing a unity with Hashem, are not enough. It’s what you do with your education and knowledge to help others, that matters. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Children’s Literature: A Job for an Out-of-Work Monster

Do you remember Puff, the Magic Dragon, about whom Peter, Paul & Mary sang?  Eventually, “painted wings and giant things” gave “way to other toys.” And so it was too with the monster that used to live in Sophie’s closet; Sophie just outgrows him in this tale written for 4-to-8-year-olds by Sandy Asher and illustrated by Alexandra Colombo. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Children’s Story Tells of the Animals Who Helped Noah

This fictional story for children between the ages of three and seven imagines that such animals as beavers, woodpeckers, and alligators helped Noah to build the Ark.  Furthermore, two hedgehogs who were marvelous event planners had matters well in hand, although Noah did not recognize their talents. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Charlene Seidle Becomes President and CEO of Leichtag Foundation

Farley said: “This step reflects the overall strategy of the Foundation as we plan for our future as a limited-life foundation and our phased transition to three independent successor organizations, two based in San Diego and one in Israel: Coastal Roots Farm; Impact Cubed, which will assume ownership of Leichtag Commons; and Jerusalem Philanthropy Initiatives.” [SDJW Staff]

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Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA