The forces of hatred and cruelty are once again being indoctrinated to a young generation, a legacy of antisemitism that seeks to finish what Hitler and the Nazis only started. [Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel]
A Modern-Day Chanukah Miracle Read More »
Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
[O]ver half of American Jews report feeling worried about their personal safety. Perhaps most chilling: 14 percent have developed plans to flee the country if antisemitism continues to worsen. The incidents pile up. The data paints the picture. The isolation intensifies. And unfortunately, Jewish history means this moment feels both urgent and familiar. [Jonathan Greenblatt]
OpEd: The Light We Build Ourselves Read More »
Antisemitism, International, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Australia’s Prime Minister attended a ceremony in Sydney’s Great Synagogue memorializing the 15 people slain in the attack on the first night of Chanukah. All 15 have now been identified as Matilda, 10, and adults Edith Brutman, Dan Elkayam, Boris Gutman, Sofia Gurman, Alex Kleytman, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Peter Meagher, Reuven Morrison, Marika Pogany, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Adam Smyth, Tania Tretiak, Boris Tetleroyd, and Tibor Weitzen. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
This has prompted Trump to wonder how he would eulogize other famous figures (such as Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr.) [Laurie Baron]
Satire: Cruelogies Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Obituaries & memorials, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA
By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego We encourage our readers to follow the links below to the stories that attract their interest. INTERNATIONAL The Bondi Beach massacre in which 15 innocents were murdered on the first day of Chanukah has had repercussions in Australia and around the world. Australian Jewish News reports that Australia’s
Jewish Political Briefing: Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
Greg Schneider, Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference, told viewers the program had been recorded before the tragic events in Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, and added: “With horror and heartbreak, we mourn with the Jewish community of Australia.” The speaker then pivoted to the evening’s central message of perseverance: “When faced with tragedy, the Jewish people always choose life,” a lesson the speaker said the world learns “especially from Holocaust survivors.” [Shor M. Masori]
Claims Conference Webcast Focus: Resilience of Holocaust Survivors Read More »
Holocaust, International, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Chanukkah teaches us that authenticity is not negotiable. The miracle did not come from excess, but from purity. That principle lives at the heart of Marianna’s work with Beauty Kitchen. In an industry often driven by trends and shortcuts, she made the difficult decision to turn down a massive opportunity because the formulation did not align with her non-toxic standards. [Michael Adam Cohen]
Heather Marianna: True to the Spirit of Chanukkah Read More »
Business & Finance, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) reported on Wednesday that it and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism sent a team that arrived in Sydney on Tuesday that included “Israeli experts in trauma response, mass-casualty events, and community recovery, with extensive experience supporting communities following extreme incidents and in developing long-term resilience strategies. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, News Media, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAModern anti-Zionism often veers into antisemitism: recycling tropes of Jewish control over media and power, baseless “genocide” accusations, or “Zionist lobby” conspiracies. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
OpEd: Anti-Zionism Indistinguishable from Antisemitism Read More »
Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Sitting at the meeting table at the end of the office, I asked where my representative was, and the staffer told me that Jacobs is only there when she has to vote. [Barrett Holman Leak]
Appointment with Rep. Sara Jacobs Really Means Meeting with Her Staff Read More »
Barrett Holman Leak, California, Press Release, San Diego County, USA
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Tuesday that Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of the slain Hollywood actor and director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner will be charged with their murder. He said, “Their loss is beyond tragic and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Tuesday, Dec. 16 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, News Media, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, San Diego County, USA
Actor/ Director Rob Reiner. 78, and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were stabbed to death on Sunday in their Brentwood, California home. Police booked his son Nick Reiner, 32, on suspicion of murder. Nick, who has struggled with drug addiction, was held without the possibility of bail. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Weaving humor with serious comments, he told us that we need to focus on doing what is right and be vocal about our Jewish values. He closed with answers to a lightning round of Hanukkah questions in which we learned that 1) his favorite Hanukkah gift is not a pair of socks but a copy of the U.S. Constitution 2) his favorite Hanukkah song is Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukkah Song” and 3) when it comes to latkes, he prefers applesauce over sour cream! We differ there. [Barrett Holman Leak]
Prepping to Lobby Senators and Representatives on Issues Important to Reform Judaism Read More »
Barrett Holman Leak, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
It has a beautiful historic center with typical old European streets and an impressive number of museums. It is a delightful area of narrow cobbled streets, small charming squares, and beautiful old buildings. It is a very old city—more than 2,000 years old. It is a green city with many parks. There are 14 churches and cathedrals in this city, although over the years it has become less Christian and more Muslim. [Alex Gordon]
Science in a French City, Which I Shall Not Name Read More »
Alex Gordon, International, Travel and Food