At the heart of Shyfrin’s project lies an informational ontology—the view that information, rather than matter or energy alone, constitutes the fundamental substrate of reality. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Kabbalah conforms with some modern scientific theories Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In 1998, Perutz published a collection of essays about scientists and science titled I Wish I’d Made You Angry Earlier: Essays on Science, Scientists, and Humanity. Among these essays was the following: “Friend or Foe of Mankind?” (Fritz Haber, “a man’s fascination with poison gas”), where he attempted to decipher the “structure of the hemoglobin molecule” of world history through the example of Haber. [Alex Gordon]
Jewish biography: Max Ferdinand Perutz, molecular biologist Read More »
Alex Gordon, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Augustin Hadelich proved once again, at his Saturday, March 21, recital at the Conrad, that he is one of the foremost violinists of his generation. [Eileen Wingard]
Violin soloist Hadelich, pianist Piemontesi delight at the Conrad Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Death is a certainty, and the emotional and spiritual thoughts that it precipitates agonize and often leave mourners disoriented and alone. Co-authors Batya L. Ludman and Gina Junger provide a compassionate guide to navigating grief through the lens of centuries of Jewish tradition. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Jewish journey through loss: From death to healing Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors
HFLSD is part of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans, a network of more than 50 Jewish free-loan agencies built around the same basic idea: helping people remain self-supporting and self-respecting through access to interest-free loans. [Shor M. Masori]
Founders, supporters, recipients tell philosophy behind ‘free loans’ Read More »
Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Our protagonist was a math nerd because unlike people, numbers don’t lie about who they are. A 3 is a 3, a 5 is a 5. And a 2? That’s where doubles come in. Lonely at the children’s farm, she felt like 1/2 a person — half at Valleyview, the other half back in her rightful home, living with her father, older sister Vicki, younger brother Hank, and grandma. That was 4 other people. It had been 5 before her mother died from breast cancer. [Donald H. Harrison]
By Betzy Lynch in La Jolla, California Every day at our JCC, I have the gift of witnessing incredible educators share knowledge, curiosity, interpretation, and genuine connection. Many of these educators have been formally trained and are intentionally tasked with creating optimal learning environments and delivering curriculum with skill and care. This includes our early
‘Make for yourself a teacher’ and that could be your seder guest Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and FoodWhat sets Weinstein’s work apart from standard references (ArtScroll’s dictionaries, the Jastrow Talmud lexicon, or even free online tools like Sefaria’s glossaries) is its deliberate accessibility and Orthodox integrity. Every entry was vetted through Torah-centric sources only—no secular etymology or Reform reinterpretations. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
Review: A guide to Jewish religious vocabulary Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors
I’ve said it again and again, we will NOT let this generation define their Judaism by the antisemitism they may experience on campus. [Karen Parry]
Despite provocations, Hillel builds Jewish joy on 4 SD college campuses Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
I don’t sell my items since I limit what we buy when Passover comes around, so it is just a few things that are opened to add to the fire. [Cailin Acosta]
Burning chametz: A family affair Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
New-Russia: Images from a Journey offers remarkable snapshots of the Soviet Union during a brief but revealing historical moment. The book captures the Soviet experiment as it was still taking shape. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Book Review: ‘New-Russia: Images from a Journey’ Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
My first encounter with antisemitism came when I was hospitalized for suspected scarlet fever at the age of ten. The children’s ward contained some 20 beds for both boys and girls, and the treatment we received was coldly efficient. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Attack on ambulances revives memories of British antisemitism Read More »
Antisemitism, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Day 27 of the US/ Israel War with Iran … An IDF soldier was killed on the northern front, the third member of the Israeli military to have fallen in this war. … Israeli media: Negotiation positions of US and Iran are so far from each other that agreement is virtually impossible. {Press Release]
Middle East war update: March 26, 2026 Read More »
Travel and Food
What may be the most anxiety-provoking question a Jew hears this week? “Have you finished cleaning for Pesach yet?” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
Parsha Tzav: The flame that must not go out Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors