The ATARA organization and Spotlight on Women have joined forces to create the Jewish Women’s Chanukah Playlist 2021 Channel on YouTube, featuring music videos exclusively from Torah-observant (Orthodox) female artists from around the world. [Toby Klein Greenwald]
A YouTube Channel featuring Jewish Women Performers Read More »
International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Shana Hazan, former public school teacher, parent of an SDUSD student, and candidate for the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Board of Education District B, announced on Thursday that she has received the endorsement of District 9 San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. [Shana Hazan for School Board press release]
Shana Hazan Rolling Up Democratic Endorsements for School Board Read More »
San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
It was Chanuka, 1986. I had arrived at the Gorky Prison in June. In September I was sentenced to three years of hard labor. As the time drew close for my appeal, to be held in Moscow, Chanuka also drew near. [Ari Volvovsky]
The Miraculous Bread Menorah: Celebrating Chanukah in a Russian Prison Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Toby Klein Greenwald
If you haven’t seen the show, it’s based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion and is the story of a professor (Henry Higgens, played by Laird Mackintosh) who takes in a young woman who sells flowers in the street, (Eliza Doolittle, played by Shereen Ahmed) and makes a bet with his friend (Col Pickering, played by Kevin Pariseau), that he can turn her from a gutter rat into a duchess by teaching her to speak proper English instead of Cockney. [Sandi Masori]
An Enjoyable ‘My Fair Lady’ at the Civic Through Dec. 5 Read More »
Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Even the most thought-out plans can be derailed by a last-minute change, especially when a leader falls ill. This wasn’t true for the Chabad of East County on Sunday, Nov. 28, though, as they pulled off their first night of Hanukkah event at the El Cajon Civic Center without a hitch, despite the absence of Rabbi Rafi Andrusier and his wife Chaya, who tested positive for COVID-19 the day before. [Elijah McKee, East County Magazine]
Despite Organizer’s COVID Absence, Chanukah Celebration Goes On Read More »
Jewish Religion, Joe Gandelman, San Diego County
In the year since Facebook banned Holocaust denial from its platform and finally classified it as hate speech instead of “misinformation,” a new ADL (Anti-Defamation League) analysis of the platform has found “cracks in enforcement” that have allowed Holocaust denial posts to still be accessible to many users. [Anti-Defamation League]
ADL: Facebook Still Permitting Some Holocaust Denial Posts Read More »
International, Jewish History, USA
Most people do not attempt to define words, even words they use daily, such as religion, spirituality, and the various words used to describe God. As a result, they usually have only misconceptions about God. The following are some words used to describe God in Judaism. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
What we don’t know about God’s names Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion
In early July, I set out with colleagues of the High Atlas Foundation—a U.S. and Moroccan non-for-profit organization—to meet with agricultural cooperatives in Morocco to understand their needs and goals and create action plans toward lasting development. Along the way, we visited Jewish and Christian cemeteries, and met their caretakers and neighboring community members to discover their heritage stories. [Yossef Ben-Meir]
Moroccan Cemeteries Waiting to be Visited and Remembered Read More »
International, Jewish History, Travel and Food, Yossef Ben-Meir
“Postmistress” is a euphemism for “messenger,” which was the role that Nanée, an American heiress, played while in Paris, prior to the German invasion. Initially, she and her compatriots focused on getting well-known artists and intellectuals — many but not all of them Jewish — out of Nazi Germany and into safety in France. [Donald H. Harrison]
Love, Loyalty, and Suspense in World War II France Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Published by AFP New York (AFP) – Ghislaine Maxwell set young girls up to be abused by “predator” Jeffrey Epstein, prosecutors said Monday, as the sex trafficking trial of the British jet-set socialite and heiress began in New York. While the defense urged jurors not to “scapegoat” Maxwell for Epstein’s crimes, government attorneys described her
Ghislaine Maxwell ‘served up’ girls for sex to Epstein: prosecutors Read More »
Shanda File
Jewish historian Joellyn Zollman will discuss “Editing American Jewish History–Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Stories,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, at Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego.
[Beth Israel Men’s Club]
Historian Joellyn Zollman to Address Beth Israel Dec. 22 Read More »
Jewish History, San Diego County
The World Health Organization employs Greek letters instead of people’s names or places to label new variants of Covid-19. It does so to avoid derogatory terms like the ones coined by Donald Trump who called Covid the China virus and the Kung Flu. Frankly, I wish the WHO had retaliated against him and dubbed Covid Donald’s Disease [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Satire: A Covid Variant By Any Other Name Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Science, Medicine, & Education, Trivia, Humor & Satire
With people eager for community experiences, more than 300 congregations, JCCs, Federations, schools, camps, independent minyanim and Jewish organizations are mounting gatherings this Hanukkah marking a worldwide rededication of relational communities. Under the banner, Hanukkah Homecoming, events around the world will be held onsite and online November 28 – December 5, 2021, inviting those engaged and those not-yet-engaged to connect with community and each other. [Hanukkah Happenings]
San Diego Congregations Join in National Hanukkah Happening Read More »
Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
Former Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Director Abe Foxman, in a newly released episode of the All Inclusive with Jay Ruderman podcast, claimed that President Joe Biden is well underway in his work to reverse the growing levels of antisemitism which the U.S. experienced during his predecessor’s presidency. [Ruderman Family Foundation]
Abe Foxman Compliments Biden on His Reactions to Antisemitism Read More »
USA