And yet, as the world watches in horror, one question burns brighter than any menorah: How could this happen in a nation that prides itself on solidarity, fairness, and freedom? The answer is devastatingly clear—the Australian government, under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, bears direct responsibility. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Two gunmen with automatic weapons opened fire, killing at least 11 people and wounding at least 29 others at a celebration of the first night of Chanukah at the beach in the Bondi neighborhood of Sydney, Australia. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Chanukah Massacre in Australia, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The Trump Administration has halted naturalization ceremonies for people from 19 countries it deems “high risk.” Given that those affected have been vetted and have met the qualifications for citizenship, there can only be one reason why the President Trump has decided to take this step: he realizes that they are more qualified than he is to be an American citizen. [Laurie Baron]
OpEd: Some Immigrants are More Qualified than Trump for U.S. Citizenship Read More »
International, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
We are prepping to do some lobbying on Capitol Hill on Monday on Israel, voting rights, immigration, healthcare and more. We will also learn how to bring effective racial and social justice action steps and training for organizing to our local congregations. [Barrett Holman Leak]
Ms. Holman Leak Goes to Washington Read More »
Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Senior Hamas commander Ra’ad Sa’ad left the Gaza tunnel in which he was hiding Saturday and soon thereafter the IDF blew up the car in which he was riding. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Saturday evening, Dec. 13, 2025 Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, News Media, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
As restaurant owners learned that Jews often eschewed pork, some began to offer traditional dishes with chicken instead – allowing more observant Jews to eat “kosher style,” without eating explicitly forbidden food. Today, there is wide variation in Jewish dietary practices, making Chinese food even more accessible for most Jews. (Samira Mehta)
The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous is distributing $380,000 to economically challenged Righteous Gentiles in nine European countries and Australia who risked their lives saving Jews from the Nazis. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 Read More »
Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
The French lesson was just coming to an end last Monday morning when I received a call from my Other Half (OH) saying that he had fallen and hurt himself and was waiting for me in the nearby shopping mall. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Husband Receives Emergency Medical Service in Israel Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors
bout 20 mezuzahs were snatched from the doorways of Jewish apartment tenants this past Sunday in the North York section of Toronto, where a large Jewish community lives, according to reports from The Times of Israel and Canada’s National Post. [Bruce S. Ticker]
OpEd: Anti-Israel Protesters Resort to Petty Tactics Read More »
Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Entertainers Barbra Streisand, Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner, Debra Messing, Jason Alexander, Julianna Margulies, Mayim Bialik, Steve Guttenberg, Adam Arkin, Shulem Lemmer, Tovah Feldshuh, Barry Manilow, and CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer will participate. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, Press Release, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
It was difficult to select the 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, program for Treasures of the Jewish Music Collection: Great Jewish Pianists, because there are so many of them. [Eileen Wingard]
So Many Great Jewish Pianists to Choose From Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Rachel Goldberg-Polin: “We’re in a real Chanukah moment, because today, like in the story of Chanukah, asking ourselves who we are, who we want to be, what we want to project to the world, and our why, are the most important questions…” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country’s failure to deliver an agreed amount of water to Texas is not because of ill will, but because of “the amount of water there is and the amount of water that can be taken by pipeline.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Political Briefing: Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 Read More »
Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Across English and Arabic content, CyberWell found that the majority of emojis and code words categorize Jews into four dehumanizing archetypes: animals, devils, proxies and classic tropes. [Press Release]
Hate Groups Using Emojis Online to Demonize Jews Read More »
Antisemitism, Business & Finance, International, Judaism, Press Release, Technology, USA