In honor of Chanukah, the Jerusalem-based nonprofit Shavei Israel designed and produced hundreds of dreidels with Mandarin lettering for the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, China, as well as for 20 members of the community who have already made Aliya to Israel with the organization’s assistance. [Shavei Israel]
Kaifeng Dreidels Inscribed in Mandarin Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
Stephen Sondheim’s upbringing included attendance at summer sleepaway camp with many other Jewish campers. Where did Sondheim go to summer camp?
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Stephen Sondheim, z”l Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Trivia, Humor & Satire
You’ve heard about Black Friday? Us, too. More than any other gimmick, we’ve heard about Black Friday, throughout the month, with sales advertised on TV, radio, and in the newspapers. But so far, no sales for Chanukah. [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
‘Black Friday’ Has Come to Israel in a Big Way Read More »
Business & Finance, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Comic-Con@Home once again took place online this past summer due to Covid fears. However, Comic-Con also hosted a live convention in San Diego this year, perplexingly on Thanksgiving weekend. So, I took my tryptophan-laden self, picked up my recently Black Friday bruised wallet, and headed downtown to see an all new and all different Con, one from 30 years ago. [Shor M. Masori]
Comic-Con on the Come-Up Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori
The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet was founded in 1945 and makes its home in Balboa Park. As the resident dance school, the company puts on three shows a year at Casa del Prado Theater. In addition to the classic and holiday favorite The Nutcracker, there is a full-length spring ballet, and a summer gem, Fairy Tales in the Park. When possible, the company takes its performances to the community to share the joy of storytelling through movement. I had the great fortune to speak with a former, and current student, Sara Goldman. [Eva Trieger]
San Diego Civic Youth Ballet Builds Skills and Self-Confidence Read More »
Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County
The nation’s Second Gentleman, Douglas Emhoff spoke at the ceremony lighting the National Menorah on Sunday evening, the first night of Chanukah. Following are a transcript of his remarks as released by the Office of the Vice President. [Doug Emhoff]
Douglas Emhoff Celebrates Chanukah with Lighting of National Menorah Read More »
Jewish Religion, USA
This week’s parasha, Miketz, falls out during Chanukah. Yet, Chanukah isn’t mentioned even once in all of our Torah. Recall that in last week’s parasha, Vayeishev, Joseph was thrown into a pit. Joseph prayed and Hashem answered his prayers. This week, we read how his life changed, how Hashem saved his family and by extension, our lives as Jews as well, and how Joseph prayed prayers of thanksgiving…as do we, for Hashem delivering us miraculously as he did Joseph. Our endurance has little to do with military capacity or political perceptiveness, both clearly important, but rather from our own inner determination that is launched in our faith. This is the link between Miketz and Chanukah. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Joseph, Zechariah, the Maccabees, and modern-day Chanukah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell
Today, we speak of a largely forgotten ethnic cleansing largely unparalleled in the history of humanitarian abuses. Recall the coordinated international expulsion of some 850,000 Jews from Arab and Muslim lands, where they had lived peaceably for as long as 27 centuries. As some know, in 2014, the Israeli government set aside November 30 as a commemoration of this mass atrocity. It has had no real identity or name like “Kristallnacht.” But today, from this day forward, the day will be known as Yom HaGirush: “Expulsion Day.” [Edwin Black]
The Inside Story of Yom HaGirush (Expulsion Day) Read More »
Edwin Black, International, Middle East
Rabbis sometimes invent short stories or elaborate on Jewish folktales to amplify the readings in Jewish Scriptures. Such a tale is known as a midrash. With Comic-Con in town November 26-28 and my grandson Shor in attendance, I learned that comic book writers also engage in a bit of midrashim. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Midrash on Samson at Comic-Con Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Shor M. Masori
Amid a widespread rise in antisemitism in North America, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) has joined an unprecedented coalition of over 60 American and Canadian Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and corporations to launch Shine A Light, a comprehensive initiative to illuminate the dangers of antisemitism through education, community partnerships, workplace engagement, advocacy, and media. [Anti-Defamation League]
‘Shine A Light’ Campaign to Expose Antisemitism Read More »
USA
he Jewish Agency for Israel, The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Keren Hayesod applaud the decision Monday by the Government of Israel, led by Minister of Aliyah and Integration Pnina Tamano-Shata, to approve the continuation of Aliyah (immigration to Israel) from Ethiopia. These olim (immigrants) are among the thousands in Ethiopia waiting, some for over a decade, to be reunited with their family in Israel. The Jewish Agency is immediately commencing implementation of the groundwork needed to facilitate the Aliyah of these new immigrants, including preparing the olim for their new lives in Israel. [Jewish Agency for Israel]
Israel Authorizes More Immigration from Ethiopia Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
In the November 28, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–Two Israeli breakthroughs in cancer research.
–Two Israeli women “break the glass ceiling” – in innovation and IDF leadership.
–Two historic events uniting Israel and the UAE.
–Two more cool Israeli energy-saving innovations.
–Boost in Israel’s economic ties with Serbia and Morocco.
–Four more billion-dollar Israeli companies.
–Israeli wins at the Emmy awards and in the World jiu-jitsu championships.
–Two major Temple-era archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (November 28, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Brazilian-born San Diegan Carla Berg has issued a music video in Ladino, with English subtitles, in which she teaches that we can make our own Chanukah miracles by bringing light to other people’s lives. [Donald H. Harrison]
San Diegan Records Chanukah Music Video in Ladino Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
– Celebrating the Israel Philharmonic’s 85th anniversary, the Israel Philharmonic String Quartet is touring the United States. Their San Diego stop will be Wednesday evening, December 8 in the Baker-Baum Concert Hall at the Conrad, 7600 Fay St. in La Jolla. The hour-long concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and feature single movements from quartets by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and Haydn. There will be a Gala Reception prior to the concert, sponsored by Sharon and Richard Gabriel and a dessert following the concert.
Israeli Philharmonic String Quartet to Perform in La Jolla Dec. 8 Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA