Educators May Turn Their Students’ Challenges into Strengths

For Jewish educators, this parsha serves as a reminder of the resilience and potential within every student. Just as Balaam’s curses were transformed into blessings, in order for educators to bring out the best in their students, they are called to help their students turn challenges into opportunities and strengths. [Rabbi Simcha Weiser]

Educators May Turn Their Students’ Challenges into Strengths Read More »

Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

San Diego: A Place for Shell-Shocked Israelis to Unwind

Over the past few weeks, we hosted two delegations from our sister region of Sha’ar HaNegev, offering the opportunity for processing and respite. It was a chance to take a moment, with their San Diego family, to come back to themselves and breathe. [Heidi Gantwerk]

San Diego: A Place for Shell-Shocked Israelis to Unwind Read More »

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

Beating the Heat During Jewish-Event-Filled Summer

is the heat getting to be too much in the middle of the day? Temple-Emanu-El offers a safe COOL place to get out of the heat. If you need a place to hang out to beat the heat and enjoy air-conditioning, it will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. [Cailin Acosta]

Beating the Heat During Jewish-Event-Filled Summer Read More »

Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

An Israeli-American Perspective: The Military’s Impact on Society

about leadership, resilience, and the importance of unity. The military in Israel is existential. Surrounded by countries that are often hostile, our military is essential for our survival. This creates a society that is always alert and deeply connected through shared experiences of service. In contrast, military service in the United States is voluntary, unless there’s a mandatory draft due to war. [Shahar Masori]

An Israeli-American Perspective: The Military’s Impact on Society Read More »

Israel, Shahar Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Howard Schultz

Courtesy of Wikipedia Howard Schultz (July 19, 1953) is an American businessman and author who was the chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks from 1986 to 2000, from 2008 to 2017, and interim CEO from 2022 to 2023. Schultz owned the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team from 2001 to 2006. Schultz began working at Starbucks in 1982. He later left and opened Il

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Howard Schultz Read More »

Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Satire: The Political All-Star Game

The second day of the Republican National Convention coincided with baseball’s All-Star Game.  Worried that most viewers would watch the game rather than the convention, Donald Trump challenged Joe Biden’s team to a one inning game of baseball pitting the Milwaukee MAGAs against Biden’s team which Trump dubbed the Washington National Insiders.  Here are some highlights. [Satire by Laurie Baron]

Satire: The Political All-Star Game Read More »

Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

OpEd: The Folly of Academic Boycotts Against Israel

That research is important in the quest for cures for Alzheimer’s Disease, Cancer, Schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s Disease. The research helps physiologists calculate the length of a person’s step; makes strides toward thought-activated speech; and utilizes mathematics for defining medical issues. [Donald H. Harrison]

OpEd: The Folly of Academic Boycotts Against Israel Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

OpEd: The Black Community and Its Zionist Heritage

His overall point was that the Black community in America, which descends from Africa, knows that: Zion is Jerusalem and that since ancient times Zion has been spoken of and written about; that African/Black Americans have always sung about Zion; and that Zion was culturally embedded in Black American culture centuries before the modern state of Israel. [Barrett Holman Leak]

OpEd: The Black Community and Its Zionist Heritage Read More »

Barrett Holman Leak, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Parsha Balak: A Call for a Unified, not Uniform, Jewish Community

Here, we share fences with Conservative, Reform and Orthodox congregations and yet we remain judgmental and distant. How can we bridge these schisms and find harmony? Can we express our beliefs without descending into conflict? Can we maintain love for one another despite passionate disagreements? [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

Parsha Balak: A Call for a Unified, not Uniform, Jewish Community Read More »

Israel, Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Clifford Odets

Courtesy of Wikipedia Clifford Odets (July 18, 1906 – August 14, 1963) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and actor. In the mid-1930s, he was widely seen as the potential successor to Nobel Prize–winning playwright Eugene O’Neill, as O’Neill began to withdraw from Broadway’s commercial pressures and increasing critical backlash.[2] From January 1935, Odets’s socially relevant dramas were extremely influential,

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Clifford Odets Read More »

Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

OpEd: How NOT to Fight Antisemitism

A veteran pro-Israel organization which spent $14.5 million to oust U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman in the June 25 Democratic primary displayed excessive wealth and power. Bowman, who is widely viewed as anti-Israel, probably would have lost without the expenditure of $14.5 million to educate voters in New York’s 16th congressional district of his failings. [Bruce S. Ticker]

OpEd: How NOT to Fight Antisemitism Read More »

Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA