Holocaust

Women Who Led Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Profiled in New Book

The narrative is gripping and intense—a true “wild ride.” With so many names and situations to follow, it demands the reader’s full attention, yet it’s nearly impossible to put down. For anyone interested in World War II history, this is a must-read. [Sandra Scheller]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘The Stamp Thief’ Documentary Screened at Temple Adat Shalom

As I watched the audience, I noticed that no one moved—everyone was completely captivated. The film evoked every emotion imaginable: sadness, anticipation, and yes, even laughter—something rarely experienced when viewing stories connected to the Holocaust. [Sandra Scheller]

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Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Indonesia’s Bar of Israeli Gymnasts Recalls 1936 Tragedy of Gretel Bergmann

This crushing blow meted out to the young Israeli gymnasts who trained round the clock, often missing family events, parties, and even a good night’s sleep, resonates with me for a very personal reason. [Amy Neustein, Ph.D.]

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Amy Neustein, Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Protecting Jewish Students or Chilling Speech? Inside California’s ‘Hardest’ Fight over Antisemitism

At issue was Assembly Bill 715, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law this month after it went through multiple major, sometimes last-minute rewrites during months of political tussling. [Yue Stella Yu and Mikhail Zinshteyn]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Documentarians Probe Mystery of Missing Stamp Collection During Holocaust

Hollywood screenwriter Gary Gilbert heard a story from David Weisberg about the missing stamp collection. Weisberg said it was told to his father, psychiatrist Paul Weisberg, by a firefighter patient whose wife was the daughter of an SS officer. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Healing History Through Song: A German Musician’s Message of Peace from Auschwitz to Jerusalem

On a gray morning in Auschwitz, Wolfgang Hildebrandt stood quietly, guitar in hand, before the gates that once marked the dividing line between life and death. [Karen Hall]

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Holocaust, International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Welcome! A Fourth Generation of the Shefer Family

Over the years our family has grown, all three of our children have married and produced children, so that by now we have more grandchildren than we can count on the fingers of two hands, and have had to enlarge our dining table several times to accommodate the growing family. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Holocaust, Israel, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel (September 30, 1928 – July 2, 2016) was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, which is based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz and Buchenwald during the Holocaust. [Wikipedia]

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

Federation Conducts Training Program for Students to Fight Antisemitism

This program is for Jewish high school students to join a research-backed initiative that empowers them to combat antisemitism by sharing their Jewish identity and what it means to them personally. Students are provided the conversational and social tools necessary to navigate rising antisemitism and build strong relationships between Jewish and non-Jewish students. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Remarkable Concentration Camp Wedding Featured in ‘Bau, Artist at War’

Scheduled to open Sept. 26 in theaters around San Diego (AMC, Angelika, Cinepolis, Regal, The Lot) is a remarkable Holocaust movie, Bau, Artist At War revealing the initial meeting, romance, and surreptitious wedding of Joseph Bau (Emile Hirsch) and Rebecca Tannenbaum (Inbar Levi) in a women’s barracks at the Plaszow Concentration Camp . [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Mass Execution at Babi Yar and Subsequent Flooding of Kurenevka Part of Ukraine’s Tragic History

After the war, Kiev was rebuilt, constructed, and grew. Brick factories were built. Kiev became a large construction site. Local brick factories dumped their waste, which was diluted with water, into Babi Yar. The ravine gradually filled with slurry, a mixture of sand, clay, and water. The population of Kiev grew. The residential area of Kurenevka was located near Babi Yar. Babi Yar was 65 meters above Kurenevka. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors