Today’s Jewish Birthday: Sacha Baron Cohen

Courtesy of Wikipedia Sacha Baron Cohen (October 13, 1971) is an English comedian, actor, screenwriter and film producer. He is best known for his creation and portrayal of the fictional satirical characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, and Admiral General Hafez Aladeen. At the 2012 British Comedy Awards, Baron Cohen received the Outstanding Achievement Award and accepted the […]

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Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

‘Nobody Wants This’ Trades in Stereotypes of Jewish Women

Bina Roklov, her daughter-in-law Miriam, Miriam’s friends, and Rebecca the ex-girlfriend, are all portrayed in stereotypes and tropes of Jewish women as toxic: the overbearing mother, manipulative, materialistic and status-conscious, dishonest, secretive, a religious hypocrite, nagging and critical. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Richard Meier

Courtesy of Wikipedia Richard Meier (October 12, 1934) is an American abstract artist and architect, whose geometric designs make prominent use of the color white. A winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1984, Meier has designed several iconic buildings including the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the Getty Center in Los Angeles, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, and San Jose City Hall.

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

It’s Kol Nidre Night with Yom Kippur Day on Saturday

Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Rabbi Hanan Leberman reminds congregants that tonight is the big night, not referring to the San Diego Padres vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Divisional Playoffs, But it is Kol Nidre night. There will be a seat for you but sorry, no hot dogs. Kol Nidre service at 5:45 p.m., Friday, Oct.11 and Yom Kippur Day Service at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct.12 with Ne’ilah at 5:45 p.m. and Break the Fast at 7 p.m. [Cailin Acosta]

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

S.D. Jewish Federation Strengthens Ties with Grieving Sha’ar Hanegev

Where else but in Israel do you get in a cab only to hear a beautiful version of Unetaneh Tokef on the radio? Where else but in Israel does your airline pilot welcome you upon landing with a Chag Sameach, Shanah Tovah and G’mar Chatimah Tovah?  [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jerusalemites Have Been Mostly Spared, but They Worry About Israelis Elsewhere

I live just outside Jerusalem, and this central part of Israel has been less subjected to rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah, though the missiles from Iran have been directed here. The bottom line is that we have not had to go to our bomb shelter as often as our compatriots in the north and south of the country. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Reminiscences of Jewish History on the Eve of Yom Kippur

One of the obstacles to Jewish self-determination seems to have been a tradition deeply embedded in the people’s self-consciousness: Jews are responsible for each other; a Jew who does a good deed does it for the good of the entire Jewish people, and, on the contrary, a Jew who does a bad deed brings harm to the entire people. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

An Israeli-American Perspective: High Holidays There and Here

You could feel it in the air as the days of Elul led up to Rosh Hashanah, and as Yom Kippur approached, the entire country seemed to shift into a different gear. The streets got quieter, the radio stations started playing more reflective tunes, and even the non-observant friends and neighbors seemed to move with a sense of introspection. [Shahar Masori]

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Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Michelle Trachtenberg

Courtesy of Wikipedia Michelle Trachtenberg (October 11, 1985) is an American actress. Trachtenberg began her career at age three, appearing in several commercials, films, and television series as a child. Her first credited role was her starring role on the Nickelodeon television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994–1996) as Nona Mecklenberg. She starred

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Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Daniel Pearl

Courtesy of Wikipedia Daniel Pearl (October 10, 1963 – February 1, 2002) was an American journalist who worked for The Wall Street Journal. On January 23, 2002, he was kidnapped by Islamist militants while he was on his way to what he had expected would be an interview with Pakistani religious cleric Mubarak Ali Gilani in the city of Karachi] Pearl had moved to Mumbai,

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Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

South Pacific Nations Appreciate Israel’s Spirit of Tikkun Olam

Regrettably, the number of countries that consistently vote with Israel in the UN can be counted on two hands. For example, in May 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution favoring Palestine’s bid for full UN membership, with 143 votes in favor, 25 abstentions, and only 9 votes against. The dissenting votes came from the United States, Argentina, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Nauru. [Gedaliah Borvick]

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Gedaliah Borvick, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors