Today’s Jewish Birthday: Soleil Moon Frye

Courtesy of Wikipedia Soleil Moon Frye (August 6, 1976) is an American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. She began her career as a child actress at the age of two. When she was seven, Frye won the role of Penelope “Punky” Brewster in the NBC sitcom Punky Brewster. The series debuted in September 1984 and earned consistently low ratings, […]

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Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Schumer’s Challenge to Courts Should Inspire Mothers in Child Custody Cases

Specifically, children are dying because the courts are proving, in case after case, that they are giving custody of young children to men who are active drug-users, and alcoholics, while also being violent and sexually and physically abusive to their young children. [Amy Neustein and Michelle Etlin]

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Amy Neustein, California, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Derecho’ Dramatizes Conflict Between Assimilation and Loyalty to Immigrant Culture

Playwright Noelle Viñas tells of the struggle of first-generation American Eugenia (Ashley Alvarez) to balance her desire for upward mobility and achieving the American dream against her responsibility to her people and heritage, especially as she prepares to run for local office.  [Sandi Masori]

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

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Josh Shapiro

He ‍is ‍a ‍strong ‍supporter ‍of ‍Israel ‍but ‍very ‍critical ‍of ‍the ‍leadership ‍of ‍Prime ‍Minister ‍Benjamin ‍Netanyahu. ‍What ‍is ‍one ‍example ‍of ‍social ‍justice ‍and ‍political ‍leadership ‍that ‍Shapiro ‍showed ‍when ‍he ‍was ‍still ‍young?  [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Israel, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Miriam Rothschild

Courtesy of Wikipedia Miriam Rothschild (August 5, 1908 – January 20, 2005) was a British natural scientist and author with contributions to zoology, entomology, and botany. Miriam Rothschild was born in 1908 in Ashton Wold, near Oundle in Northamptonshire, the daughter of Charles Rothschild of the Rothschild banking family of England of Jewish bankers and Rózsika Edle Rothschild (née von Wertheimstein), a Hungarian sportswoman, of Austrian-Jewish descent. Her brother was Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild and

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Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Jewish Fiction: The Education of Boris Mikhailovich Borisov

Boris Mikhailovich Borisov loved the Soviet power. It lifted him up from the bottom of society and equalized him with its many multinational subjects in rights and lack thereof. Boris Mikhailovich could not pray, but he often and almost prayerfully thanked the dear power for the good life. To succeed, he joined the Communist party, received a law degree, and began seeing a speech therapist to correct his embarrassing Yiddish pronunciation. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Israel, Jewish Fiction, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Former San Diegan Fashioned Simone Biles’ Goat Necklace

She founded and operates her own business, Janet Heller Fine Jewelry, specializing in custom pieces. She doesn’t consider herself and artisan but rather a person with the ability to transform vision into story through jewelry, with meticulous skill and precision. [Barrett Holman Leak]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Some Advice for Parents with Children Returning to School

As a kid and even in college, I looked forward to this day, to learn new things, see friends I hadn’t seen since last term and “get back to work.” On the other hand, my kids are not happy about summer ending but I think once they start and see their friends and make new ones, it will be a fun time for them. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Holmes and Watson Reimagined as Modern Women

What if Sherlock Holmes lived in modern times and were a woman?  And what if Watson were also a woman and the two met accidentally when Watson answered an ad for a flatmate?  That seems to be the inspiration for Kate Hamill’s reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes story in Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B now playing at the Old Globe.  [Sandi Masori]

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

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Richard Belzer

Courtesy of Wikipedia Richard Belzer (August 4, 1944 – February 19, 2023) was an American actor, comedian, and author. He was best known for his role as BPD Detective, NYPD Detective/sergeant, and investigator John Munch, whom he portrayed for 23 years in the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order: Special Victims Unitand several guest

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Jewish Celebrities, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Karlie Kloss

Courtesy of Wikipedia Karlie Kloss (August 3, 1992) is an American fashion model. She was a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2013 until 2015, when she resigned to study at New York University. By 2019, Kloss had appeared on 40 international Vogue covers. Apart from modeling, Kloss has an interest in technology. She founded the “Kode with Klossy” camp to get young

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Jewish Celebrities, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Woeful News from Israel; Mixed News from Olympics and at Home

This week, I found my attention torn in so many directions. We marked the unthinkable 300th day of war in Israel since October 7 and the heartbreaking 300th day of captivity for the remaining hostages. The terrible attack in Majdal Shams, the increasingly tense situation in the North of Israel, and our own divisive election cycle competed for views with the pageantry, patriotism, and moments of incredible athleticism of the Olympics. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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