By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California I attended the funeral Friday morning of my second cousin, Russ Christensen, and learned so much about him from all the speakers. When I was a child, he was more like an uncle to me. My husband had to work, but said he enjoyed all the computer programming
A cousin’s funeral has her wondering about her own legacy Read More »
Travel and Food
Within a month after passage, a complaint seeking to halt the Jan. 1 implementation of the bill was filed against Newsom, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. The complaint claimed the law restricts teachers’ free speech rights, is vague and ambiguous, and denies students full learning opportunities. [Marsha Sutton, Times of San Diego]
AB 715, abolishing antisemitism in K-12 classrooms, ruled constitutional Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Israel, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Efrat Sopher, head of the World Jewish Congress’s International Task Force on Iran and Islamic Extremism, said Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi may have the experience and the experience of the team around him, as well as widespread support in Iran, to lead the country which overthrew his father, the Shah, in 1979. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Wikipedia
This moment of raw courage—ordinary Iranians facing murder squads, risking torture and death for dignity, women’s rights, and an end to clerical tyranny—deserves global attention. Yet, much of the Western liberal establishment, academia, mainstream media, and progressive circles have responded with disturbing silence or minimal engagement. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
The apathetic West needs to wake up! Read More »
International, Israel, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
A day of national mourning for the 15 slain victims of the Bondi Beach massacre will be observed in Australia on Thursday, Jan. 22. The preceding Monday at 9:30 a.m. Australian time (2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, San Diego time) the federal Parliament will consider a condolence motion. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Thursday, Jan. 15. 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The question many readers are asking is not whether Gaza deserves coverage; it is why this conflict receives such singular, repetitive attention while other humanitarian catastrophes are treated as footnotes or ignored altogether. [Helene Ziman]
An open letter to the editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune Read More »
International, Israel, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Police have not acted quickly enough, and they have not prosecuted to the max, if at all. Forceful enforcement of the law is the only way to deter these lawbreakers. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Opinion: Anti-Israel rhetoric, demonstrations get a free pass Read More »
Bruce Ticker, International, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Domestic terrorists carry cell phones to video ICE operations [operations in the literal sense of removing cancerous dissenters)). Since you can never be sure if their cell phones aren’t lasers or tasers, you should incapacitate the people holding them, confiscate their phones, and stomp on them. [Laurie Baron]
Satire: The ICE handbook Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
Reich began with Sarah Imeinu, whom she described as the matriarch of resilience. Sarah’s life was marked by immense trials. She left her homeland for an unknown land, endured famine, was abducted not once but twice, and suffered years of barrenness. Even after the birth of Yitzchak, she faced the painful situation involving Hagar and Yishmael, which ultimately led to their being sent away. [Cailin Acosta]
Rebbetzin Brooke Reich: Painful experiences can transform us Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Golda Meir, drenched in cold sweat, knows exactly what that call means: war is coming, lives are hanging by a thread, and the weight of a nation rests on one trembling hand reaching for the receiver. Do you answer? Or do you let it ring, pretending the nightmare hasn’t begun? [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
History that reads like a heart-stopping suspense novel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors
“Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jews in the news: Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAPharaoh embodies the classic addict’s cycle, swearing after every devastating “hangover” (plague) that he’ll change—”I swear I’ll never do it again!”—only to relapse the moment the pain subsides, as he did time after time. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
‘Disabled’ people throughout history have been the most able Read More »
Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The plagues themselves are not acts of revenge. They are acts of moral clarity. Pharaoh believes power comes from domination. Hashem reveals that true power flows from justice, accountability, and truth. Va’eira teaches that when lies go unchallenged, cruelty flourishes. Silence enables oppression. Moral clarity requires voice, even when speaking is uncomfortable. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]
Parsha Va’eira: Growing through the hail Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Because multiple bystanders were exercising their First Amendment rights by filming ICE’s actions on their cell phones, we all saw her brutal murder with our own eyes — which makes the Trump administration’s immediate and ongoing attempts to gaslight the public and cruelly twist the truth even more outrageous. [Sara Jacobs]
Rep. Sara Jacobs: Renee Nicole Good murdered by ICE agent Read More »
Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA