Mimi Pollack

Mimi Pollack

Mimi Pollack is a retired ESL teacher.  Born in the United States, she moved as a child with her family to Mexico City, where she learned Spanish.  She is particularly interested in immigrant and refugee issues, animals, and reporting on different cultures and ethnicities.

‘Stay in Mexico’ policy shifts charitable focus

After the Trump Administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy was introduced in the summer, many asylum seekers were forced to stay in Mexico. While they wait for their court date, the need for shelters and other assistance in Tijuana has dramatically increased. Enter two grassroots organizations that were started in 2018 and early 2019 to support migrants in the Tijuana area. In 2018, Birdie Gutierrez, the daughter of migrant farm workers, founded Bridge of Love Across the Border and began to collect much needed items which were sent to migrant shelters in Tijuana. [Mimi Pollack]

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International, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County

‘Bad Hombres, Good Wives’ surprises, pleases

Bad Hombres, Good Wives, a delightful new comedy at the San Diego Repertory Theater, is a cheeky take on Northern Mexico’s narco culture and the relationship between men and women. Written by Playwright in Residence Herbert Siguenza, the play explores the age-old problems of relationships between men and women with a mix of The Importance of Being Ernest, Moliere’s School for Wives, a narco telenovela, and some “Guillermo” Shakespeare thrown in for good measure.

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Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

San Diego holds its first Sephardic Festival

I had to smile on Saturday night at the Sephardic Festival held at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center [JCC] this past weekend.  There was a short film, Our San Diego Sephardic Voices, about the Sephardim in San Diego.  One of the women interviewed said she was in a “mixed marriage” as her husband was Ashkenazi. Another woman spoke about the differences in food as the Sephardic eat much more rice than their eastern European counterparts.

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International, Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

‘Schlepping, Schmoozing’ celebrates S.D. Jewish stories

The nice thing about this book is that you can either read it cover to cover or go through the extensive Table of Contents and choose the chapters that catch your eye. The book is in chronological order starting in 1987 and ending in 2019.

I did the latter and there were 18 stories that I was particularly drawn to read, such as his stories on immigrants –“Immigrant Stories Told at the New Americans Museum”- and his stories on Jewish Family Service and how they have served the community for over 100 years-“JFS, Looking Back a Century, Recalls Rose Neumann>” Moreover, I liked his stories on people who converted and intermarried couples- “Christina de Jesus is a Jewish Song Leader” and “Intermarried Couple Honors Each Other’s Beliefs.” His curious nature has served him well in life.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County

‘Bus Station Project’ migrates across the border

By Donald H. Harrison CHULA VISTA, California – After President Donald Trump’s administration began enforcing its “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers, the flow of migrants arriving at the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown San Diego was reduced to a trickle.  This posed a big question – what to do now? — for the

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, USA

Bravo series focuses on Mexican Jewish family

By Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — The Bravo TV channel, owned by NBC, is known for its over the top reality shows. These shows include, The Real Wives of Beverly Hills, etc. The shows portray the everyday trials and tribulations of wealthy women and their families. Now, Bravo has decided to expand that repertoire

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International, Mimi Pollack, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Bus Station Project helps immigrant travelers

    Story and Photos by Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — While the political situation for asylum seekers who come to the United States’ southern border seemingly changes day by day, Mimi Pollack, 65, and Paula Sassi, 71, are among the few constants. Twice a week since last July, the two women have driven

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Rafael Mareyna art exhibit: ‘Art is Time’

By Mimi Pollack LA JOLLA, California — “Art is Time, Time is Life” is the name of a new exhibit by Rafael “Fallo” Mareyna that is currently on display at the La Jolla Library. Both “Art” and “Time” have played important roles in Mareyna’s life.   He has had a talent for art, but didn’t really have

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International, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Yes, Virginia, there are Jews there too

By Mimi Pollack LA JOLLA, California — As an ESL teacher who has worked for 35 years with people from all over the world, I was very interested in going to see the presentation at the Gotthelf Gallery at the JCC last Monday evening on December 17th. First, there was the presentation by civil rights attorney

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County