Travel and Food

Young Adults from Sha’ar HaNegev, Israel, Enjoy San Diego Hospitality

Thursday night was the perfect night for cold, poured-from-the-tap ciders and making new friends. The Jewish Federation of San Diego hosted the Young Adult Delegation from Sha’ar HaNegev at Bivouac Ciderworks Adventure Lodge in North Park. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: Getting to the Point Here and There

One of the most striking differences between American and Israeli communication is the approach to politeness and directness. Americans are generally known for their politeness and often indirect communication style. They use euphemisms, hedge their statements, and tend to avoid direct confrontation. This is rooted in a cultural preference for maintaining harmony and avoiding offense. For example, an American might say, “That’s an interesting idea,” even if they disagree, to soften the blow. [Shahar Masori]

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Israel, Lifestyles, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Dubrow’s Cafeteria Comes Back to Life in ‘Kibbitz & Nosh’

History, culture and gastronomy collide in this collection of photographs that depicts the American Jewish palate, fashion and routines of Brooklynites from 1970 to 1985. As an art major of Brooklyn College Halperin sought out subjects for her medium. She landed on Dubrow’s cafeteria as a spot to hone her skill. Though it was in her own Flatbush neighborhood, she’d never been inside. [Eva Trieger]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Ner Tamid Bids Farewell to its Rabbi and Cantor

Ner Tamid Synagogue’s Farewell Shabbat Weekend for Rabbi Sammy Seid and Cantor Heather Seid will begin at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, June 29. Additional farewell opportunities include Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Oneg at 7 p.m., Friday, June 28 and Minyan, Torah Café at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, June 30. Click here to let the caterer know you’re coming. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Visits to Cities along the Danube: Both Depressing and Enlightening

The tour guides were not Jewish and referred to the inhabitants of the quarter as “Our Jews.”  They would point out highlighted areas in the German towns where the synagogues had been. One town even had a memorial in what had been the Jewish quarter that consisted of a permanent cement outline, 40 x 20 feet, of a former shul. [Ben Dishman]

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Antisemitism, Ben Dishman, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Sweet Memories of a Short-Order Cook

The man at the grill never fully turned around, just swiveled his head slightly to acknowledge the newest person to grab a coveted spot at the counter or listen to the takeout order shouted at him by the person standing over the shoulder of somebody seated. He provided equal service to all — working-class men in coveralls, prim secretaries all made up and wearing high heels even on icy days, and Wall Street types in pinstripe suits. Nobody got special treatment. Nobody got special attention. First come, first served. [Karen Galatz]

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Karen Galatz, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

OpEd: The Powerful Lion Symbols at Entrance to Ma’ale Adumim

A unique, long-term partnership between the Diaspora and Israel resulted in Ma’ale Adumim being the beneficiary of two huge Lion sculptures. The two Lions of Judah, each eight feet in height and ten feet in length, majestically supine and serene, are sited at the city’s entrance for maximum visibility. They are just below the large, bold “I Love Ma’ale Adumim/ Welcome Visitors” sculpture. [Jerry Klinger]

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Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

An Israeli-American Perspective: Different Attitudes Toward Time

I remember countless instances when passengers would arrive at the gate a solid hour before boarding, itineraries in hand and a sense of urgency and exhaustion plastered on their faces. In contrast, my Israeli passengers had a different vibe. Israelis have a more relaxed relationship with time. (Shahar Masori)

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International, Israel, Lifestyles, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

U.S.-Built Pier and Causeway to Gaza Victim to Rough Weather

In addition to weather and sea conditions problems, JLOTS has been fraught with logistical problems, security concerns, looting of the cargo coming off the pier by desperate Palestinians. Some U.S. servicemembers have also suffered accidental injuries. [Dorian de Wind, The Moderate Voice]

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Dorian de Wind, Israel, Middle East, Technology, The Moderate Voice, Travel and Food, USA

Wednesday, June 19th, is Juneteenth – A Day for Reflection

On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and ensured that all enslaved people were set free — a last chapter in America’s abominable record of state-sanctioned slavery.  According to History.com, Juneteenth which is short for June Nineteenth, became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

An Israeli-American Perspective: Shabbats in Both My Countries

In Israel, Shabbat is more than just a religious observance; it is a national rhythm that influences the entire country. The word “Shabbat” itself stems from the Hebrew root “shin-bet-tav,” which means to cease or to rest. For Israelis, Shabbat is a time to “sit” and relax, to pause the hectic pace of life and find peace. [Shahar Masori]

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Israel, Jewish Religion, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Change in Available Animals Led to Tools Change 400,000 Years Ago

For about a million years, starting 1.5 million years ago, early humans used stone tools called scrapers to process hides and scrape the flesh off the bones of mostly large game. In the Levant they mainly hunted elephants and other large herbivores that provided most of the calories they needed. The study found, however, that about 400,000 years ago, following the elephants’ disappearance, hunters turned to a different kind of prey. [Press Release]

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Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food