Below are the names of writers who are currently active. For others, living and deceased, please type their name into the search box above the masthead on our home page, www.sdjewishworld.com
Under Project Esther, the cause of fighting antisemitism will be used as cover to attack and take funds away from American universities and colleges, state educational programs, local schools, and online academia, among other entities. [Barrett Holman Leak]
OpEd: ‘Project Esther’ Will Not Save Us; Just the Reverse Read More »
Antisemitism, Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
‘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]
Netflix Documentary Tells of 7 Jewish Siblings who Survived Nazi Germany Read More »
Cailin Acosta, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
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]
Yom HaShoah Remembrance: Leo Samuel, My Father, z”l Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
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]
Poets Florsheim, Patlis, and Shames to Read Their Works May 6 at JCC Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors
We need to question everything, even our prayers. By questioning, we learn; by learning, we improve ourselves and help improve others and even inanimate items. An example is a seemingly silly statement in one of our prayers. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A Seemingly Simple, Senseless Sentence Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
– 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]
Yasher Koach to Staffs of These 4 Jewish Organizations Read More »
Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Cody A. Balmer is a man of violence, assuming that police have the right person. He was charged with jumping a fence onto the grounds of the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg and allegedly tossing Molotov cocktail-type devices into the very room where Gov. Josh Shapiro hosted a seder a few hours earlier on the first night of Passover. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Antisemitism Suspected in Governor’s Mansion Arson Read More »
Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Where did Josh Shapiro propose to his wife, who he first met in 9th grade at Akiba Hebrew Academy (now known as Barrack Hebrew Academy)? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Josh Shapiro Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
We’re not in the boardroom with the machers in their tailored suits. We’re going underground to meet the team of worker bees who file the millions of papers like stock certificates and bearer bonds that keep the wheels of global finance turning. [Eric George Tauber]
‘The Vault’ is Easy to Leave Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eric George Tauber, Staff and Bylined Contributors
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]
Jewish Biography: Isaak Dunayevsky, Soviet Pop Composer Read More »
Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
To identify Jesus to the Immigration Centurion Expellers, Stephen approached Jesus and acted as if he were about to kiss him since if he actually kissed him, he would risk being discriminated against as gay. ICE apprehended Jesus and spirited him away on a donkey headed to a notorious Roman carcer in Aegyptus. [Laurie Baron]
Satire: A Gospel for Today Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire
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.]
Public Speaking Book Offers Helpful Philosophy of Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors
The last week has been filled with many words and ten times as much food, with various seders at people’s homes. A very important one took place this year, symbolizing hopes for more liberation through unity. [Barrett Holman Leak]
ADL Seder Highlights Allyship with Other Communities Read More »
Barrett Holman Leak, Holocaust, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
There are no bad experiences in life, just the ones we don’t learn from. Such is a lesson Gwen Borden, now 93 years old as of March 2025 has lived her life and has taught her daughter Amy Goober. [Cailin Acosta]
Mom’s Life Experiences Helped Daughter Navigate Her Own Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors