The Arts

Antisemitism disguised as anti-Zionism by Democratic Socialists of America

The San Diego chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America requires those seeking its endorsement to refrain from any affiliation with what it calls “Zionist lobby groups,” a prohibition that encompasses liberal organizations that criticize Israeli policy and support Palestinian statehood. When the label attaches regardless of what a group advocates, “Zionist” has stopped describing a political position and become shorthand for “Jew.” (Jason Nevarez, Heidi Gantwerk, Sara E. Brown)

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Antisemitism, California, Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Jewish History, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Sept. 11 anniversary coincides with Erev Rosh Hashanah

The 9/11 story is the account of four coordinated terrorist hijackings by 19 al Qaeda militants on September 11, 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people and targeted the two buildings of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a fourth site thwarted by passengers. (Cailin Acosta)

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Today’s Jewish descendant’s birthday: Kitty Carlisle

Kitty Carlisle (September 3, 1910 – April 17, 2007) was an American stage and screen actress, opera singer, television personality and spokesperson for the arts. She was the leading lady in the Marx Brothers movie A Night at the Opera (1935) and was a regular panelist on the television game show To Tell The Truth (1956–1978). [Wikipedia]

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

What kind of year can we help create for someone else?

Here in San Diego County, approximately one in four Jewish households live in or on the edge of poverty. Many struggle quietly. They may even be our neighbors or friends. An illness, job loss, divorce, aging, or one unexpected crisis can suddenly change a family’s life. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Jewish dilemma in popular media portrayals of Nazis

While watching Peacemaker, season 2, I thought about how the portrayal of Nazis in popular media creates a dilemma for the Jewish people. The DC Comics television show was about an obscure anti-hero who found an alternate universe in which the Nazis won World War II and became the prevailing political party in America. The Nazis were the villains of the story. But no Jewish people were portrayed in the show. [Evan R. Goldman]

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

‘Blurred Vision’: A suspense-filled examination of the working of cults

The sto­ry ignites when vet­er­an Atlantic City Detec­tive Alex Wald­man answers an ear­ly-morn­ing homi­cide call and dis­cov­ers a Black teenag­er with a knife pro­trud­ing from his ribs. The grue­some scene instant­ly res­ur­rects psy­cho­log­i­cal ghosts and unre­solved PTSD Alex has spent twelve years try­ing to bury. [Amy Neustein]

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Amy Neustein, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Mensa’ unwinds theory that if you put two adults with opposing viewpoints in the room, they’ll eventually come to an understanding

Sophia can diagnose echo chambers and still miss the oldest hatred in the room. She can ask people to listen and still not hear what it means when a Jewish man erases his name to sell certainty to a crowd. She can talk about systems and still treat Jews as a complication rather than as people who can be hunted. (Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel)

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Antisemitism, Business & Finance, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Today’s Jewish birthday: Alan Jay Lerner

Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 – June 14, 1986) was an American lyricist and librettist. In collaboration with Frederick Loewe, and later Burton Lane, he created some of the world’s most popular and enduring works of musical theatre both for the stage and on film. Lerner won three Tony Awards and three Academy Awards, among other honors. [Wikipedia]

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