International

Jewish biography: Alexander Goldman, Soviet physicist

On January 22, 1938, Goldman was arrested. He was charged with participation in counter-revolutionary crimes – anti-state subversive and terrorist activities. He was brutally tortured during interrogations, but he categorically denied all charges and said nothing that would have allowed a case to be fabricated against others, as the investigators demanded. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

John Doe ‘Shoah: The unknown Holocaust survivor

October 27, 2021, Rabbi Yonasan Abrams of Chabad Temecula and Baruch Bloom, of the Chesed Shel Emes Society of California, buried the remains of a Ploni Ben Abraham, in the Chabad Mt. of Olives Cemetery in Los Angeles. Ploni Ben Abraham means unknown but to God. [Jerry Klinger]

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California, Holocaust, Jerry Klinger, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Poll: Majority of Jewish K-12 teachers experience or witness antisemitism in the workplace

Alyson Brauning, Interim Chair of the National Education Association (NEA) Jewish Affairs Caucus said, “as a Jewish public-school educator, these findings, while disturbing, do not come as a shock. They reveal a serious disconnect between stated commitments to equity and the lived realities of Jewish educators. …” [Press release]

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Antisemitism, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jews in the news: Saturday evening, Jan. 24, 2026

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that principals at the first direct meeting among U.S. negotiators and those of warring Russia and Ukraine discussed “possible parameters for ending the war” and went well enough to merit a second meeting next Sunday in host Abu Dhabi, part of the United Arab Emirates.  U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, were among the U.S. delegation. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

County Supervisors to consider temporary fix for air-borne feces

[O]n Wednesday, January 28, the Board of Supervisors will consider a new proposal by Supervisor Paloma Aguirre and myself to advance a targeted, near-term fix: A temporary pipe extension that keeps sewage below the waterline — instead of crashing against rocks and sending contaminants into the air people breathe. {Terra Lawson-Remer]

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International, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

Opinion: Learning to Hate Yourself or Whence Cometh the Hate? 

With false statements such as California State Senator Scott Wiener’s that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, is it surprising that Alliance San Diego disinvited Rabbi Hanan Leberman to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.?  [J. Barry Gurdin]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, International, Israel, News Media, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Eli Sharabi’s ‘Hostage’ recounts his will for survival

I recently read Hostage, written by Eli Sharabi, who survived 491 days as a hostage in Hamas tunnels. This was the first published account by a released Israeli hostage and it appeared while the war raged on. A ceasefire was signed months later and Israel now controls 53% of Gaza. [Steve Kramer]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Steve Kramer

Feeling pride as I parade the Torah through my congregation

I am always so humbled and honored to be asked and trusted to carry such a sacred possession through the aisles as people kiss their siddurim (prayer books) or tallits (prayer shawls) and touch them to the Torah. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, California, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Jews in the news: Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026

Including the U.S., 20 countries attended the signing ceremony: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA