A ravine near Kyiv. A place where German perpetrators murdered around 34,000 Jewish people in just two days, on 29 and 30 September 1941. (Andreas Albrecht)
Massacre anniversary at Babyn Yar coming up Sept. 29-30 Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
This interreligious gathering is an opportunity to come together to honor the dignity and sacredness of migrants and refugees and stand in solidarity with those who have fled war, persecution, and hardship. (Cailin Acosta)
Interreligious salute to migrants scheduled in Balboa Park on Sunday, Sept. 27 Read More »
Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Jason Alexander (September 23, 1959) is an American actor and comedian. Over the course of his career, he has received an Emmy Award and a Tony Award as well as nominations for four Golden Globe Awards. He gained stardom for his role as George Costanza in the NBC sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Jason Alexander Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) brought 240 bereaved Israeli teens to the United States this summer through its signature Legacy Program, marking the 20th year of the program and its largest summer to date. Each participant lost a parent or sibling in defense of Israel on or since Oct. 7, 2023. (Press Release)
In a hearing on Yom Kippur day, a court provisionally dismissed felony charges against five students who vandalized the executive offices in Stanford University’s administration building, prompting the Jewish Community Relations Council – Bay Area and Jewish Silicon Valley to issue this statement on Tuesday, Sept. 22: (SDJW staff roundup)
The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: September 22, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Press Release, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
David Stern (September 22, 1942 – January 1, 2020) was an American lawyer and business executive who was the commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1984 to 2014. He oversaw NBA basketball’s growth into one of the world’s most popular sports during the 1990s and 2000s. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: David Stern Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, WikipediaShotgun wielding Sean Ward, 29, of Quinte West wounded a police officer stationed outside The Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Canada, on Kol Nidre night. Constable Jeff Smith and another officer returned fire, seriously wounding Ward, the Associated Press reported. [SDJW staff report]
The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: September 21, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Ethan Coen (September 21, 1957) is an American filmmaker. Working alongside his brother Joel, he has directed, written, edited and produced many feature films, the most acclaimed of which include Blood Simple (1984), Raising Arizona (1987), Miller’s Crossing (1990), Barton Fink (1991), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998). [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish birthday: Ethan Coen Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Hessen had to formally acknowledge his mistakes and repent for the separation of theory from practice. He continued to be exposed for his fascination with bourgeois sciences, among which the theory of relativity was mentioned, and was accused of “mathematical idealism” and a “non-Marxist approach to the laws of thermodynamics.” (Alex Gordon)
Jewish biography: Boris Hessen, science historian Read More »
Alex Gordon, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined ContributorsRabbis across Michigan will devote part of their sermons to five “non-negotiables” that they hope Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed will honor. (SDJW staff roundup)
The fight against terrorism and antisemitism: September 20, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, News Media, Press Release, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Maimonides teaches his readers to distinguish between the biblical attribution of an event to God and its immediate physical cause. In other words, biblical language saying that “God did” or said something does not necessarily mean God directly intervened in nature the way a human being might. God was the ultimate cause of the event because God created the laws of nature, but the act happened according to those laws. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Why ‘Jonah’ is appropriate to read Yom Kippur afternoon Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Perhaps its most powerful feature is that we don’t say, “For the sin I committed.” We say, Al chet shechatanu, “For the sin WE committed.” We share responsibility for the kind of community we create. Inspired by that idea, I wrote a version of the Al Chet for our JCC community. (Betzy Lynch)
Al Chets for the JCC (and any large organization) Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Kremlev, who has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reportedly will be funding the divorce of First Lady Melania Trump, with negotiations and possible litigation beginning January 21, 2029. (Bruce Lowitt)
Satire: Russian oligarch financed simchas of Trump relatives Read More »
Bruce F. Lowitt, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
For decades, American Jewry succumbed to a seductive illusion: that we could champion universalism while abandoning particularism; that if we only aligned ourselves with every fashionable political dogma, the world would grant us a permanent pass. We imagined our progressive credentials and refined assimilation would serve as an impenetrable shield. (Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel)
Where do you stand after the Oct. 7 massacre? Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Obituaries & memorials, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food