The Arts

Shari Lyon is an Author, Performer, and Classroom Lecturer

Long before language was codified, every culture passed on its values, traditions and dreams through storytelling. The Oral Torah was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. West African griots told stories through song and tales while traveling village to village. [Eva Trieger]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger, Holocaust, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Dorothea Shefer-Vanson Novels Now Available on Audio

A few weeks ago, Dorothea received at her home office in Mevasseret Zion, Israel, an email from ‘Customer Support’ of KDP, the arm of Amazon which publishes books, telling her that she had been selected to produce the audiobook version of her books using virtual voice narration. [SDJW staff]

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

Memoir Combines Career in TV News with LGBTQ Memories

Glaser believes he was the first on-air news personality to publicly identify as gay, commenting during a 1994 broadcast on KNBC: “As a gay man who’s lost more than a few friends to the virus, I am grateful to Elizabeth Glaser [no relation] for helping to heighten awareness of AIDS outside the ga and lesbian community.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Lifestyles, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Yom HaShoah Remembrance: Miriam Samuel, My Aunt, z”l

Oh, Marijke, that scene is etched in my mind,
As friends turned to foes, oh, how cruel and unkind.
Neighbors swooped in like vultures in flight,
“Let me take this; I’ll claim it,” they’d bite. … {Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Netflix Documentary Tells of 7 Jewish Siblings who Survived Nazi Germany

‘Unbroken’ is based on the true story of the Weber family that escaped Nazi Germany and immigrated to America. The World War II documentary by Beth Lane explores the areas in Germany where her mother’s family lived and re-traces her family’s stories of survival. This documentary is streamed on Netflix as of April 23 in honor of Yom HaShoah. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Yom HaShoah Remembrance: Leo Samuel, My Father, z”l

Religion shaped our lives every single day,
My father was faithful, guiding in his way.
With Rabbi skills, though he chose business,
His heart stayed true, despite the stress. … [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Poets Florsheim, Patlis, and Shames to Read Their Works May 6 at JCC

Stewart Florsheim, son of a Holocaust survivor; Simon Patlis, immigrant from the former Soviet Union; and Adam Shames, Chicago native, will be the three featured poets for the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices program at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, in the Astor Judaica Library of the Lawrence Family JCC. [Eileen Wingard]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: George Steiner

George Steiner (April 23, 1929 – February 3, 2020) was a Franco-American literary critic, essayist, philosopher, novelist, and educator. He wrote extensively about the relationship between language, literature and society, as well as the impact of the Holocaust. A 2001 article in The Guardian described Steiner as a “polyglot and polymath”. [Wikipedia]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Yasher Koach to Staffs of These 4 Jewish Organizations

– Jewish Federation of San Diego, Lawrence Family JCC, Israeli American Council and Jewish Community Foundation San Diego have three community gatherings happening all in one week. If you work for the Federation, JCC, IAC or JCFSD or know someone who does, they deserve a hug, yasher koach or, L’Chaim for all the work that goes into coordinating these events. All three of these events are free and open to the public but register for them for attendance purposes. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Aaron Spelling

Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 – June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer and occasional actor. His productions included the television series Family (1976–1980), Charlie’s Angels (1976–1981), The Love Boat (1977–1986), Hart to Hart (1979–1984), Dynasty (1981–1989), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000), Melrose Place (1992–1999), 7th Heaven (1996–2007), and Charmed (1998–2006). He also served as producer of The Mod Squad (1968–1973), The Rookies (1972–1976), and Sunset Beach (1997–1999). [Wikipedia]

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Jewish Celebrities, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Jewish Biography: Isaak Dunayevsky, Soviet Pop Composer

Isaak Dunayevsky, the USSR’s most famous and highly paid pop composer, twice winner of the Stalin Prize, was the most talented and most influential composer of his genre in the Land of the Soviets. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Public Speaking Book Offers Helpful Philosophy of Life

I originally picked up the book hoping to find a few practical speaking tips to support my growing professional speaking. But what I found instead was something that felt both familiar and profound. With decades of Zen practice behind me, the essence of Glickstein’s message—showing up with presence—felt like coming home. Only this time, applied to the stage. [Shayna Kaufmann, Ph.D.]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors