Sports & Competitions

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Moe Berg

In 1934, he joined a group of baseball All-Stars including Ruth, Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Lefty Gomez to play against a Japanese all-star team. Berg was not nearly as good a player as his colleagues, but spoke some Japanese and was invited to address the legislature. On a visit to Saint Luke’s Hospital, he went to the roof and filmed the city and port with his movie camera. This film was later turned over to American intelligence for use in bombing raids. [SDJW staff]

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International, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Biography: Emanuel Lasker, World Chess Champion

Einstein … believed that chess was not Lasker’s goal, but rather his profession. He drew a parallel between chess in the life of the second world champion and the grinding of lenses in the life of Spinoza. He argued that lenses for Spinoza and chess for Lasker were a means of livelihood. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Ted Arison

Arison moved to New York approximately in 1954. In 1966, he moved to Miami, Florida, where with Knut Kloster he co-founded Norwegian Cruise Lines. The partners split in 1971 and the following year Arison founded Carnival Cruise Lines, which he took public in 1987, one month before a stock market crash that left potential competitors without sources of financing. [SDJW staff]

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Business & Finance, Israel, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Travel and Food, USA

Don’t silence Israel’s story at Eurovision

Published by Euronews (English) Each year, I eagerly await the Eurovision Song Contest, a magnificent event where singers from countries across Europe and beyond share their stories. This exceptional gathering provides a cultural stage for participating nations to offer glimpses into their cultures, histories, and ways of life. It is a platform for learning about,

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International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nordot, Sports & Competitions

Helen Mirren, Gene Simmons and Boy George sign letter supporting Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision

Published by Euronews (English) More than 400 creatives from the entertainment industry have signed a letter in support of Israel’s inclusion in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Helen Mirren, Gene Simmons and Boy George are among the people who have signed the letter released by Creative Community For Peace (CCFP), a non-profit organisation working to

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International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nordot, Sports & Competitions

Arab-American Organization Complains About ‘To All the Dads’ Super Bowl Commercial

A Super Bowl advertisement that the Jewish state purchased to call attention to hostages being held captive in the Gaza Strip by Hamas “undermines the integrity of broadcasting standards” and “misleads the public by not providing necessary context about the ad’s origins.” That’s according to Abed Ayoub, national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. [JNS.org]

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Israel, JNS, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA, Videos

Super Bowl Ads: Schwarzenegger #1; ‘Silence’ #18

“Sometimes I imagine what I’d write today for my dear friend Martin,” Jones begins.  “I’d remind people that all hate thrives on one thing: silence.  The people who will change the nation are those who speak out, who refuse to be bystanders, who raise their voices against injustice.  When we stand up to silence, we stand up to all hate.”  [SDJW staff]

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Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Videos

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Mark Spitz

At Indiana University under coach Doc Counsilman, he won eight individual NCAA titles. In 1971, he won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the U.S. Then came the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, where he won seven gold medals, setting new world records in each of them. They were the 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 300-meter butterfly, 4×100-meter freestyle relay, 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay and 4 x 100-meter medley relay. [SDJW staff]

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International, Israel, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday, USA

Super Bowl Will Include ‘Stand Up to Jewish Hate’ Commercial

The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, a nonprofit dedicated to ending hatred against Jews in the U.S., will air its first-ever Super Bowl TV commercial during the Feb. 11 telecast on CBS as the group seeks to raise awareness of the rise in antisemitic incidents following the Oct. 7 assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists. [Rick Griffin]

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Antisemitism, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Times of San Diego, USA

July, September May Be Best Months to See Jewish Baseball Heritage in Action

The San Diego Padres will play five teams at Petco Park in May. Two of them–the Colorado Rockies and the New York Yankees — have Jewish players, Rockies pitcher Jake Bird and Yankees pitcher Scott Effross.  The Padres, who do not have a Jewish player, have designated the middle game of the May 13-15 series with the Rockies as the day to celebrate Jewish heritage at Petco Park.  May is nationally recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Turning the Grading Tables on Local Universities

The shoe will be on the other foot for San Diego State, UC San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, the University of San Diego and other 4-year colleges and universities throughout the nation. The Anti-Defamation League has announced it is “developing a new tool to evaluate the climate of antisemitism on individual campuses.” [SDJW staff]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Solidarity Ride Marked 100 Days Israelis Held Hostage by Hamas

Faulconer, now running for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors, commented, “It is a privilege today to ride with 100 others in strong solidarity with Israel and our Jewish community in San Diego.”  Zimmerman said, “Today is the 100th day since the brutal Hamas attack and for the hostages still in captivity.  They must be all be safely returned now.  We pedal in solidarity with our sister city Sha’ar Hanegev and all of Israel.” Essakow pointed out that the riders were of all faiths, who pray for the safe return of approximately 130 hostages.[SDJW staff report]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

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

Running for the Lives of the Hostages in Gaza

The goal of this global movement is to show world leaders that we all care about this. With every step we take, we would like for these leaders to help put pressure on Hamas to release the hostages. Wonderfully, locals, who are not Israeli or Jewish and have no connection to Israel are joining this movement because of their compassion for the hostages. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, International, Israel, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA