Yafa Yarkoni (December 24, 1925 – January 1, 2012) was an Israeli singer. She won the Israel Prize in 1998 for her contributions to Hebrew music. She was dubbed Israel’s “songstress of the wars” due to her frequent performances for Israel Defense Forces soldiers, especially in wartime. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Yafa Yarkoni Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Many Jewish fathers and mothers take their children to sit on Santa Claus’s lap—just like the author Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut did, when he was only seven years old. I laughed at the picture because I remember my father, Leo Israel Samuel—a Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz—did the same for me when I was about the same age [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Book Traces History and Humor of Jews and Christmas Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
As we made it past the Franklin Mountains above the University of Texas at El Paso, there was an illuminated star on the mountainside. I don’t remember the star having been lit as blue prior to this occasion. [Cailin Acosta]
El Paso Lights Up Ceremonial Star in Celebration of Hanukkah Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
Ministers in Israel’s government approved a bill establishing a commission of inquiry into the events leading up to the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, according to The Times of Israel. Israel’s Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara said the legislation, scheduled for a Knesset vote on Wednesday, Dec. 24, “politicizes the commission …” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
In an opinion piece headlined “The Movie I Was Afraid To See,” Gessen recalls his experience of watching the film The Voice of Hind Rajab, which chronicles the frantic efforts of rescue-center workers at their office in Ramallah to obtain clearance for an ambulance in Gaza to pick up Hind for an eight-minute drive. [Bruce S. Ticker]
OpEd: What If a Film is Made about the Voice of Matilda? Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
There is one Chanukah song by a New York rock band, the LeeVees, which somehow manages to work what unexpected words into the lyrics? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Chanukah Songs Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Comprised of the more advanced seventh- and eighth-grade musicians, the orchestra performed a medley titled “Chanukah Holiday,” weaving together the “Dreidel Song,” “Tum Balalaika”, and “O Chanukah.” [Cailin Acosta]
La Mesa Arts Academy Concert Features a Chanukah Medley Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Herzog commented: “The rise in Jew hatred across the world is a global emergency. The battle against antisemitism, must be everyone’s battle against antisemitism. This is an urgent call to action to prevent the next catastrophe.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 Read More »
Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, San Diego County, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Michael Tilson Thomas (December 21, 1944) is an American conductor, pianist, and composer. He is Artistic Director Laureate of the New World Symphony, an American orchestral academy in Miami Beach, Florida, Music Director Laureate of the San Francisco Symphony, and Conductor Laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. [Wikipedia]
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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Alain de Botton (December 20, 1969) is a Swiss-born British author and public speaker. His books discuss various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophy’s relevance to everyday life. He published Essays in Love (1993), which went on to sell two million copies. [Wikipedia]
Today’s Jewish Birthday: Alain de Botton Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss with U.S. President Donald Trump the danger posed by Iran’s ballistic missile and renewed nuclear programs. At the two leaders’ upcoming meeting at the end of this month, Netanyahu will suggest joint action to eliminate the threat, according to a story in The Times of Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Saturday Evening, Dec. 20, 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
French citizen Ivan Beltrami saw a tree planted in his honor at Yad Vashem’s Avenue of the Righteous. He commented in wonder: “I don’t think I really deserve this.” The director of Israel’s Holocaust memorial responded: “All the Righteous say the same thing but why didn’t everyone do ‘this ordinary thing?’” [Donald H. Harrison]
‘This Ordinary Thing,’ Helping Fellow Humans, was Extraordinary During the Holocaust Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Australia’s Prime Minister attended a ceremony in Sydney’s Great Synagogue memorializing the 15 people slain in the attack on the first night of Chanukah. All 15 have now been identified as Matilda, 10, and adults Edith Brutman, Dan Elkayam, Boris Gutman, Sofia Gurman, Alex Kleytman, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Peter Meagher, Reuven Morrison, Marika Pogany, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Adam Smyth, Tania Tretiak, Boris Tetleroyd, and Tibor Weitzen. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego We encourage our readers to follow the links below to the stories that attract their interest. INTERNATIONAL The Bondi Beach massacre in which 15 innocents were murdered on the first day of Chanukah has had repercussions in Australia and around the world. Australian Jewish News reports that Australia’s
Jewish Political Briefing: Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA