Staff and Bylined Contributors

Author Tells of Finding His Birth Parents and Learning Their Secrets

This memoir and autobiography is filled with secrets, doubts, anticipation, anxiety, temporary disappointments, regrets, the thrill of the chase and the exaltation of success. He repeatedly states the discoveries changed his life, and it also enriched the lives of the brothers and sisters he discovered. [Oliver Pollak]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Oliver Pollak, Staff and Bylined Contributors

David Landis, Shira Ehrlich in the Hunt for Broadway Jimmy Awards

Only 10 male-identifying leads, and 10 female- identifying leads are chosen to compete from all the high school theater departments in San Diego County.  From there, one student from each category will be chosen to go to New York to compete in the Broadway Jimmy Awards. [Sandi Masori]

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

Jewish Swag, Singing, Soften Blow of Padres Loss to Rockies

Special Padres hats bearing the “Chai” (Life) symbol were distributed to them, and they got to hear and cheer Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel of Congregation Beth Israel sing “The Star Spangled Banner” in pre-game ceremonies. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Mourning and Celebrating All in One Night at Tifereth Israel

The night started with standing together in silent solidarity as we listened and closed our eyes to the sound of a siren. Leberman noted that not only do we observe and honor the fallen Israeli soldiers but unfortunately this year we also have to include the hostages, families, and all of Israel that is hurting. [Cailin Acosta]

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

OpEd: U.S. Policy Will Prolong Israel-Hamas War, Guarantee Another War

The Biden Administration, which purports to support Israel as its greatest Middle East ally, is appalled by Israel’s retaliation against Hamas, and to a much lesser extent, Lebanon. It has duplicitously failed to back Israel fully while restraining the IDF. [Steve Kramer]

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

Parsha Emor: Not Simply a Guardian of Shabbat but a Guardian of Torah

Sure, a shul may seem to be “crowded with prayers,” but those prayers are more “show-mer” than “shomer,” authentically rising to Hashem. Our religion’s observances and practices aim to enliven our spiritual awareness, our religious development, not our self-interest. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Book Teaches Children about Trying New Foods, Diversity

In this Australian-based story, when the Jewish community has a cholent competition, onlookers and most other competitors are surprised when Amira, whose Jewish roots are in Iraq, stuffs a chicken with such ingredients as garlic, ginger, onion, paprika, baharat, cinnamon,  and rice.  She cooked the stuffed chicken inside a mixture of sauteed tomatoes and cardamon, hard-boiling eggs on the side. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Tears Flow at Community’s Yom HaZikaron Commemoration

I cried. I cried a lot during this event and looking around, many others did too as they were also comforting one another. The poems hit me. There was one poem, “You Will Raise A Child”- I’m at a point in my life where my husband and I are considering children. I have always wanted kids. It was never a question or a doubt in my mind. Now I wonder, is it safe for us to have them? [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Agriculture, Sharing, and A Dollop of Torah for Toddlers

Shavuot arrives this year on Tuesday night, June 11.  This hard-cover book is intended to introduce your toddler to the holiday of Shavuot, getting your hands dirty gardening, the joy of sharing, and the names of the seven species of ancient Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Legally Blonde is now in session at San Diego Musical Theater 

For those who haven’t seen the 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon, the basic plot is that California sorority girl Elle Woods (Johnisa Breault) gets jilted by her boyfriend Warner (Eli Wood) because she’s a “Marilyn” when he needs a “Jackie” and decides to follow him to Harvard to prove how serious she is. [++

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