San Diego County

Passover Observance is Relevant for Current Moment

I have been reflecting on the enduring relevance of the Passover holiday, and why the story of the Exodus always seems to meet the current moment. I wish that was not true; that instead the story of Passover felt purely historical. But this year especially, it feels more relevant than ever. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Heidi Gantwerk, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

75 UCSD Students Petition for More Contemporary Jewish Studies Courses

Seventy-five students at UC San Diego signed a letter to the administration and faculty requesting that more Jewish studies courses be offered in the upcoming term.  The letter, to which Kyle Gilbert a junior majoring in political science was the lead signer, is printed below. [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Pathetique Symphony Dedicated to the Memory of Lee Amos, the Wife of TICO’s Founding Conductor David Amos

Particularly moving were the passionate melodies in the first violins, the section Lee once led, when the orchestra was first formed, over half a century ago, in the old 54th Street JCC. She was the competent concert master of the fledgling ensemble and she also soloed with them during their early years. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Music Catchy But Workshop Format of ‘Chagall’ Confuses

Chagall was written by Yale Strom and Todd Salovey who directed the play. Strom scored the music. According to Strom, this play was 15 years in the making. This will be the last workshop before they bring it to a regional theater. [Mimi Pollack and Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jewish Travel: Yale Strom Recalls First Visit to Jewish Prague. Now, He’s Scheduled to Lead an Ayelet Tour There

One of the most popular travel destinations in Europe is the Czech Republic. In its beautiful capital city, Prague, the most visited tourist attraction is the former Jewish ghetto in the old city. It was in this Jewish ghetto that Rabbi Jehudah Loew ben Bezalel (The Maharal) wrote the story “The Golem”, which inspired Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” [Yale Strom]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Holocaust Survivor Edith Eger Wins 2nd Writing Award

Holocaust survivor and author Dr. Edith Eger won her second Christopher Award for the book “The Ballerina of Auschwitz.” (Cailin Acosta)

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Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

ADL Urges San Diego Unified School District to Take Seriously Reports of Antisemitic Bullying at Lewis Middle School

-Updated April 7 with School Trustee Shana Hazan’s comments–
Fabienne Perlov, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, on Tuesday, April 1, urged the San Diego Unified School District and Lewis Middle School to take allegations “seriously” about antisemitism, racism and bullying at Lewis Middle School. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Author Tells Harrowing Story of 3-Year-Old Israeli Hostage

Liz, the great-aunt of Abigail, Michael, and Amalia, had released a book titled Saving Abigail, which recounts the harrowing and miraculous story of her family’s experience on October 7, 2023—the day of the brutal Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish History, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Community to Gather April 27 for Holocaust Commemoration

In solemn remembrance of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and in honor of those who survived, Jewish Federation of San Diego, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, and Jewish Community Foundation San Diego will host the annual Yom HaShoah: Community Holocaust Commemoration on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 1 p.m, at the Lawrence Family JCC | JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS in La Jolla. [Press Release]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Press Release, San Diego County

Volunteer of the Month: Robin Kaufman, Founder of 4 Paws of Love

4 Paws of Love is a non-profit that takes trained and personable poodles to visit senior residences, memory care facilities, and any place where the residents can benefit from seeing, petting, and talking to a loving poodle. [Mimi Pollack]

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Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Novel Envisions Trial of a University for Not Protecting Jewish Students

It’s a novel based in San Diego County about a pro-Palestinian campus demonstration in which a Mexican-American student is fatally shot while trying to save the life of his Jewish friend. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

A Busy Week for San Diego’s Jewish Federation

Every Monday morning, our entire Federation staff sits down for a 30-minute “huddle.” We talk about what’s happening in the world, share joyful simchas and heartbreaking tragedies, reflect on the past week’s “wins,” and brief everyone on what’s coming in the week ahead. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Antisemitism, Heidi Gantwerk, International, Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA