Staff and Bylined Contributors

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Families of Hamas Hostages to Speak in La Jolla Jan. 15

“They will share their stories, shedding light on the challenging circumstances they face,” according to an IAC announcement. “Together, let’s raise awareness and advocate for the freedom of our hostages.” [SDJA staff report]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish, Muslim, Christian Peace Activists from Middle East Coming to S.D. on Regional Peace-Building Tour

The Arab Middle East is divided between moderates who want peace with Israel and radicals who want to promote conflict, says Dan Feferman, an American-Israeli, who serves as executive director of Sharaka. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

‘The Wiz’: A Celebration of Color and Dance 

Before we get into the actors, let’s talk about the sets…  wow!!! Using an LED projection screen as the background, the colorful scenes used a variety of illustration styles. Some backgrounds looked like they came out of the pages of children’s books; others were hyper-realistic. [Sandi Masori]

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

OpEd: Important Differences Between African-American Cause and Goals of Hamas

Many Palestinians are determined to destroy Israel, and there has been no similar conspiracy among African-Americans. Black leaders have sought to expand their place at the table, Palestinians have refused to speak with Israel or consider its peace proposals. Black protesters during the civil rights era did not whine about going to jail, but the anti-Israel bunch balks when they are arrested for more serious offenses. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: A Potpourri of Jewish News Items

Chabad of La Costa has notified its congregants of a “new mitzvah opportunity.”  In its weekly update, it reports: “there are a number of patients at UCSD La Jolla that have come from Israel to receive transplants here. They need our help.  Bikur Cholim of S. Diego is a community organization helping the sick with care packages, visitation, driving spouses to and from the hospital, etc.  [SDJW staff report]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A Klezmer Adventure in old Bessarabia

Shloyml Boyml and his band receive an invitation from a rebbe from some distance away to play at his Purim party.  The rebbe requests that the band compose and play on the violin a special Purim melody.  Shloyml is both ecstatic and worried by the invitation.  It’s a great honor to play for the rebbe.  But his band does not have a violinist. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Fiction, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Amid War, US Pain Specialist Offers Israel a New Spin on Rehabilitation

Over the course of two weeks in November, Spinner, a celebrated pain management specialist now living in New Rochelle, New York, worked with the staff at the Harvey and Gloria Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran in southern Israel to provide relief to war-wounded civilians by performing minimally invasive pain management procedures never previously implemented in Israel. [Elie Klein]

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

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Jared Kushner

When Ivanka’s father, Donald Trump, became U.S. President in 2017, Jared became a senior advisor in the White House and director of the Office of American Innovation. He was put in charge of Trump’s initiative in the Middle East, which resulted in the Abraham Accords among Israel, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and Morocco.[SdJW staff]

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Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: The Local Jewish Political Scene

County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer was re-elected as vice chair of the County Board of Supervisors, which once again will be chaired by Supervisor Nora Vargas.  There’s an interesting split among three Democrats and two Republicans on the technically non-partisan Board of Supervisor.  The Democrats are all women – Vargas, Lawson-Remer, and Monica Montgomery-Steppe – while the Republicans are both men: Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond. [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, Business & Finance, California, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

StandWithUs Unites Diverse Ethnic Groups in Defense of Israel

Laniado, the regional director, told me that correcting lies and misinformation about Israel while fighting domestic antisemitism are missions so urgent that without such an effort, “in five years, we won’t be able to put the mezuzahs on our doors,” maybe even sooner than that. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Hebrew Calendar Based on Controversial Approximations

Scholars, such as Azariah de’ Rossi, in his The Light of the Eyes, speculate that the anno mundi — also known as the Hebrew calendar — may have originated around the sixth century, after the Talmudic Period. While this seems to be the date of its origin, it was not until relatively recently that Jews began to use it. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Parasha Va’eira: Accepting Life’s Challenges

This week we learn of Abraham’s test to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. It’s the only challenge of the ten trials in the Torah clearly identified as a “test.” Hashem needed to test Abraham? After all, isn’t He omniscient? Yes, but the purpose of these tests are to elevate Abraham, to help him grow. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors