The Arts

OpEd: Sara Jacobs, Please Explain Your Political Philosophy and Mideast Outlook

I have asked Lauren McIlvaine, the press secretary in Rep. Sara Jacobs’ Capitol office, for an explanation from the congresswoman about her voting record, specifically about what her guiding principles may be as she considers legislation affecting Israel and the Middle East. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

His ‘Life as a Jew’ is an Introspective Search for Definition

In lengthy, brilliant, and painfully introspective essays, he examines not only conflicts between Jews and their non-Jewish detractors, but also delves deeply into the sometimes- internecine divisions among Jews themselves. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Customs Surrounding Food Told Entertainingly

Ways of Eating does not contain recipes. Instead it is packed with “takeaways” that illuminate food culture. For instance, “restaurant” derives from the “restoratives” of broth served at inns to travelers. The chapter “Medieval Tastes,” aka middle ages, presents a spirited discussion of periodization and geography. [Olivere B. Pollak]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Oliver Pollak, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Barbra Streisand

Barbara Joan “Barbra” Streisand (born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, film and television producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment and is among the few performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). [Wikipedia]

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Music and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Two Whose Memories are Blessings: Joel Cohen, Ellen Fox Lorang

One of our beloved humor columnists, Joel Cohen, has died in New York City, his children have informed me. The news came just two days after I had attended the funeral in San Diego of Ellen Fox Lorang. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Joel H. Cohen, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Love Competes with Jealousy in YA ‘Summer Nights and Meteorites’

There are passing mentions of b’nai mitzvah, Shabbat, and studying Hebrew but these are not essential to the plot, and I wonder sometimes whether such Jewish content is there simply to be placed on Jewish reading lists.  You won’t learn anything about Judaism or Jewish culture, but interesting information abounds about the space and the sea. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Holocaust Rescuer Nicholas Winton Profiled in ‘One Life’

One Life is a film about the selfless heroism of Nicholas “Nicky” Winton (1909-2015), a self-effacing humanitarian. He directed the rescue of 669 Jewish children in Prague in 1938. The story moves soul searchingly back and forth between the events of 1938 and 1988 when Winton was honored by a BBC television special that brought together, a reunion of sorts, of several hundred rescued children, their children and grandchildren. [Oliver Pollak]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Nordot, Oliver Pollak, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

The Lion’s Trail Through Biblical Israel: First in a Series

  By Jerry Klinger BOYNTON BEACH, Florida — Benny Kashriel, the mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, a bedroom community of 30,000 just over the Green Line from Jerusalem, shared with me in November 2022 that Ma’ale Adumim is mentioned in the book of Joshua 18:17. The mayor presented me with a special recognition.  Judy and I

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Israel, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Music and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Estelle Liebling

From 1902 to 1904 she was committed to the Metropolitan Opera, and from 1902 to 1905 she toured internationally in more than 1,600 concerts with John Philip Sousa and his band. After her marriage in 1906, she performed only occasionally in the succeeding two decades. Liebling began her teaching career in the 1910s, not stopping until her death more than 50 years later. [Wikipedia]

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Music and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Israel’s National Library and Me

We unloaded our books onto the counter. They looked lovely there, the covers all being based on my own watercolor paintings. Unfazed, the librarian handed me an empty form and told me to start filling it out. I began to embark on the task, expecting to have to make an effort to get my books into the annals of posterity. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Biographer of Abe Cahan Illuminates a Bygone Era

The newspaper also taught new immigrants about American folkways—dishing out advice on such diverse topics as how baseball is played, how Americans set their tables, and to sneeze into handkerchiefs to avoid spreading germs in crowded tenements. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Lifestyles, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Pearl Takes Over as JCF’s President and CEO

Jeremy Pearl: “Since the October 7th attacks on Israel, our donors have directed $10,606,324 to 99 organizations supporting needs from crisis management to mental health support.” (SDJW staff)

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Fifths’ of Schostakovich and Beethoven Presented by TICO

the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) tackled Schostakovich’s 5th Symphony at their April 14 and 16 concerts at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. If that were not challenging enough, Conductor David Amos, paired it with Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto, the “Emperor,” performed by Pianist Ines Irawati. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors